There is some controversy between the use of proton pump inhibitors to treat acid reflux disease (GERD) and their possible side effect of causing halitosis (bad breath). The confusion arises from the fact that GERD itself is thought to be a cause of halitosis.
GERD is often cited as a cause for halitosis and proton pump inhibitors are a standard treatment for GERD-the idea that these drugs may cause the bad breath, or make it worse is a relatively new development. Some medical professionals, in fact, will assume halitosis in a patient with acid reflux is caused by the condition and use GERD drugs to treat it. More research is needed to clarify these issues. hjyIn 2006, Brazilian researchers reported on a study that suggested a link between bad breath and proton pump inhibitors. They reported that a large percentage of patients taking these drugs have halitosis. Furthermore, their research showed a relationship between halitosis and proton pump inhibitors regardless of whether the breath odor originated in the mouth or from a non-oral source. They suggested that the underlying cause was an overgrowth of bacteria, in either the mouth or the intestine, caused by the drug.
Interestingly, many experts feel that relatively few cases of halitosis are caused by acid reflux and that the odors are traveling up the throat from the stomach. This lends more support to the suggestion that halitosis and proton pump inhibitors may be linked: it is possible some cases of bad breath associated with GERD in the past were actually caused by the medications. In addition, it suggests that treating halitosis in GERD patients with these drugs may actually make the problem worse.
At present, when patients suffer from bad breath and proton pump inhibitors are necessary for the treatment of GERD, the best recourse is still a good breath product that targets the bacteria that produce bad odors in the mouth. Patients suffering from either halitosis or GERD should consult a qualified medical professional to determine the best course of treatment.
