Don’t take bad breath lightly! It may be your liver calling for help

Do you have bad breath when you wake up in the morning? Does it go away after brushing your teeth? Don’t be careless, bad breath may not only be a problem of the mouth, it may be a health alarm sent by the body, and it may even be closely related to liver disease!

The liver is "crying out in pain", and bad breath is the "warning"

The liver is our body's "detoxification factory". Once the liver function is damaged and the metabolic capacity decreases, the levels of substances such as ammonia and urea nitrogen in the blood will increase and be discharged through the respiratory tract to form bad breath, which is medically called "liver odor".

1. Abnormal liver function and metabolic function

Ammonia metabolism disorder: After liver disease (such as cirrhosis), the metabolism of substances such as protein is affected, and the ammonia produced by protein metabolism in the body cannot be converted into urea and excreted from the body normally, resulting in increased blood ammonia levels. Ammonia has a special pungent smell, which will reach the lungs through the blood circulation and be excreted from the body with breathing, thus producing an odor similar to rotten eggs, causing bad breath.

Abnormal thiol metabolism: Liver disease may also affect the metabolism of thiol. When liver function is impaired, thiol metabolism is impaired, and excessive accumulation of thiol in the body will be emitted through breathing, causing bad breath, which usually has a pungent smell of rotten apples or garlic.

2. Abnormal bile excretion

Bile reflux: When there is a problem with the liver or biliary system, bile excretion may be poor and bile reflux may occur.

Bile salts and other components in bile flow back into the stomach and then back up through the esophagus to the mouth, changing the acid-base environment in the mouth and disrupting the normal balance of oral flora, thus causing bad breath. This type of bad breath is usually accompanied by a bitter taste in the mouth.

In addition to liver odor, patients with liver disease may also experience symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, yellow skin, pain in the liver area, abdominal distension and diarrhea.

What health risks are hidden behind bad breath?

In addition to liver disease, bad breath may also signal:

Oral diseases: Oral problems such as caries, periodontitis, and oral ulcers are the most common causes of bad breath;

Gastrointestinal diseases: gastritis, gastric ulcer, Helicobacter pylori infection, etc., can cause indigestion of food and produce unpleasant gas that is emitted through the mouth;

Respiratory diseases: rhinitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, etc., which can lead to increased nasal secretions, breeding bacteria, and producing odor;

Other diseases: diabetes, renal insufficiency, etc. can also cause bad breath.

Say goodbye to bad breath, start with these little things

Maintain oral hygiene: brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss and clean your teeth regularly;

Drink more water: keep your mouth moist, promote saliva secretion, and inhibit bacterial growth;

Light diet: Eat less spicy, stimulating and greasy food, and eat more vegetables and fruits;

Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption: Tobacco and alcohol can irritate the oral mucosa and increase bad breath;

Regular physical examinations: timely detection and treatment of potential diseases.

Bad breath is no small matter, and you should pay attention to your health! If your bad breath persists and is accompanied by other uncomfortable symptoms, please seek medical attention in time, find out the cause, and treat the symptoms. Don't take it lightly!