Q. I have a problem with bad breath though I brush my teeth three times a day and use mouthwash. My dentist said, “It’s not your mouth, which is very clean.”
I have read that a stomach infection with the H. pylori bacteria could cause bad breath. What can I do about this?
A. Bad breath may result from gum disease, but there are also other causes. Many years ago we spoke with Nobel Prize laureate Barry Marshall, MD. He discovered that the bacterium Helicobacter pylori could cause stomach ulcers. He told us that these germs are behind some cases of hard-to-treat bad breath.
Over the years we have heard from several readers who reported success after curing the infection:
“When I read about a blood test for a germ in the stomach that causes bad breath and gastritis, I saw my doctor. He hadn’t heard of this but he gave me the blood test. It turned up positive. Now I am fine, after years of bad breath.”
Treating the H. pylori bacteria requires medical supervision, so you will need to see your doctor. Multiple medications are often required to rid the stomach of this bug.
For more details about this infection and its treatment, we are sending you our Guide to Digestive Disorders.
