If you’re suffering from bad breath that smells a bit like rotten eggs, you probably need to take a closer look at your gut health.
So say experts, who say you don’t necessarily have to blame acid reflux, gum disease or tonsillitis.
Stinking breath can be caused by hydrogen sulfide, which has an egg-like odor.
The colorless gas can be released when there are too many bacteria in the intestines or when bacteria grow in the small intestine, dietitians say.
Dr. This Morning’s GP Zoe Williams says bad ‘belly breath’ usually smells like something bad and can vary in severity.
It may also be accompanied by belching and gas.
Eating fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi and sauerkraut can help reduce your bad breath, says Dr. Zoe Williams
“Your microbiome is made up of trillions of microorganisms that live in your gut and communicate with the brain through the vagus nerve and by sending chemical signals,” says Dr. Williams.
‘If there is an overgrowth of bacteria, or too much of the wrong kind of bacteria, this can lead to bad breath.’
Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria found in the stomachs of 40 percent of people in Britain, increases the risk of stomach ulcers and can cause bad breath, she says.
This is because the bacteria produce hydrogen sulfide.
While it is normal to inhale some hydrogen sulfide, high levels of it have been linked to several serious digestive diseases.
An overproduction of bacteria in your intestines may be the reason you have bad breath. But it can also be caused by tooth or gum problems and by eating spicy or strong-smelling foods
Anna Pettit, intestinal specialist dietitian at The Gut Health Clinicclaims that small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may also be the cause.
Large numbers of bacteria live in the large intestine and are essential for digestion and promoting health.
With SIBO, patients experience an uncontrolled growth of these bacteria that can invade the small intestine and cause intestinal problems.
They can produce here large amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas as a byproduct, causing bad breath, diarrhea, loose stools and excessive wind, she says.
‘Generally speaking, hydrogen sulphide is involved in controlling inflammation and repairing the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, so it is good for us,’ said Ms Pettit.
However, there is too much attached to it ulcerative colitis, she warns.
The long-term condition is caused by inflammation in the colon and rectum, which can cause small ulcers to form.
Those who suspect that their intestines are the cause of their bad breath can change their lifestyle and diet.
Eating a wide variety of plants and consuming plenty of fermented foods, such as yogurt, kimchi and sauerkraut, can boost the gut microbiome, according to Dr. Williams, who works with yogurt brand Activia.
She also recommends getting enough sleep, exercising regularly and reducing stress levels support the intestines.
Mrs. Pettit suggests eating parsley until ‘cto combat the taste and odor of volatile odor-causing sulfur compounds in the mouth’.
“Try chewing some fresh leaves after a meal,” she says.
Probiotics containing the bacterial strains lactobacillus and bifidobacteria are also thought to help reduce bad breath within weeks, Ms Pettit said.