Alcoholics who are actively drinking often end up reeking of their drink of choice. Gallons of beer, martinis or wine, however, is not the only thing that can give alcoholics bad breath. A number of health issues and habits common among alcoholics, especially those who have been drinking for an extended period of time, also give rise to bad breath.
Drinks
Active alcoholics, or anyone who has even a single drink, will end up with bad breath. The bad breath is not from the smell of the actual alcohol, which has no odor, but rather the components in the alcoholic beverage, says Prof. David Hanson at the State University of New York, Potsdam. The smell associated with alcohol consumption can last for several hours after a drink and will eventually subside only when the body has fully processed the alcohol out of the system.
Smoking
Alcoholics often get bad breath from smoking, as smoking and drinking go hand in hand, Medical News Today notes. The heavier someone drinks, the heavier he is likely to smoke. Smoking stinks up your breath by drying out your mouth, MayoClinic.com says, or, worse yet, by leading to periodontal disease.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, not only leaves your gums swollen, red and sore but can also produce bad breath. Heavy drinking heightens the chances of gum disease, a State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine discovered. The heavier someone drinks, the greater her chances of developing the disease. Oral biologists from the university first presented the study at a 1999 joint meeting of the American Association for Dental Research and International Association for Dental Research.
Other Problems
Alcoholism leads to a host of other diseases and health issues which also cause bad breath, both MayoClinic.com and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention point out. Heavy drinking increases the risk of cancer, stomach and gastrointestinal issues and liver diseases, like cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis, all of which can produce bad breath. Cancer's bad breath comes from the chemicals the disease creates. Liver failure can produce a fishy breath smell.
Solution
In many cases, people can combat bad breath by proper dental hygiene, MayoClinic.com notes. With alcoholics whose bad breath stems from a bad habit or disease, the problem can only be quashed by stopping the habit or treating the disease. Quitting smoking will take care of the bad breath caused by smoking, but medical treatment is often in order for the more severe issues. If someone is already plagued by a medical issue that causes bad breath, even quitting drinking won't cure the bad breath.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath Causes
- State University of New York at Buffalo: First Evidence Found of Link between Gum Disease and High Alcohol Consumption, Low Dietary Antioxidants
- State University of New York, Potsdam: DWI/DUI Facts and Fiction: Urban Myths
- Medical News Today: Alcohol Magnifies the Rewarding Effects of Smoking, Even for Light Smokers
