Does helicobacter pylori cause bad breath?
Does helicobacter pylori cause bad breath? A recent Japanese study published in the 2008 issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology found helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that causes a host of gastric illnesses, including ulcers and stomach cancer, can live in the mouths of people who show no signs of stomach diseases.
The Japanese researchers wanted to determine if H. pylori can live in the mouth and if it causes bad breath. They tested over 300 patients who complained of bad breath for the presence of H. pylori, and they found the bacteria in 21 out of the 326 people tested. In the study, patients with H. pylori in the mouth had higher levels of periodontal gum disease than the average person. Bad breath is often associated with periodontitis (gum inflammation) and poor oral hygiene. So does H. pylori cause bad breath? Not directly, but…
The researchers found that presence of Helicobacter pylori in the mouth does not cause bad breath -- but that the presence of the bacteria is associated with gum disease, and gum disease can cause bad breath. While H. pylori does not directly cause bad breath, eradicating the bacteria can improve general oral health, and that may eliminate bad breath. Helicobacter pylori bacteria is commonly associated with reflux, dyspepsia, and nausea; it is also one cause of peptic ulcers and other types of gastric distress, including stomach cancer. If you believe you may have H. pylori infection, speak to your doctor. A simple, noninvasive BreathID 13C-urea breath test can detect H. pylori, and once diagnosed, an effective course of antibiotic treatment can begin.
For more information about how the BreathID breath test system is used to detect H. pylori at the point-of-care, please watch a short film on Urea Breath Tests or contact a company representative by completing the contact form.