Although dieting can help achieve weight loss, it can also cause unpleasant side effects. Bad breath may occur from consuming certain types of foods or from poor oral hygiene. However, losing weight doesn't mean you have to suffer from foul-smelling breath.
Poor Nutrition
Individuals who follow certain types of low-calorie diets, including fad diets, may suffer from poor nutrition if the diets are not properly planned. According to Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, the health of your mouth depends on proper nutrition, and poor nutrition can lead to bad breath, gum disease or even tooth loss. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 is a good resource to use for planning healthy, well-balanced meals.
Low-Carbohydrate Diets
Certain types of diets, particularly low-carbohydrate diets, are known for causing bad breath and other unpleasant side effects such as nausea, dizziness, headaches or sleeping problems, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Low-carbohydrate diets of less than 100 g per day can cause ketosis, a condition that occurs when the body breaks down stored fat and produces keto acids for energy. Keto acids that occur in large amounts in the body cause bad breath.
Prevention
A few guidelines can help prevent the presence of bad breath when dieting to lose weight. The Merck Manual encourages people following low-carb diets to consume lots of water to help flush bad breath-causing keto acids that have accumulated in the body. Eating a well-balanced diet that includes all food groups can help prevent bad breath-causing malnutrition. Many times, the cause of bad breath is simply poor dental hygiene. This is usually corrected by brushing at least twice per day, flossing at least one time per day, getting your teeth cleaned twice per year by a dentist, eating more fruits and vegetables and avoiding tobacco products. Mints and chewing gum are sometimes beneficial for bad breath.
Weight Loss
To help prevent bad breath from dieting, you don't have to follow a low-carb diet to lose weight. Although the American Dietetic Association reports that low-carb diets are more effective than other diets for the first six months, differences are not significant at one year, and the reason low-carb diets work is likely due to a calorie reduction rather than the diet's composition. To lose weight safely and effectively and help eliminate symptoms of bad breath, reduce your total daily calorie intake by about 500 per day to lose about 1 Ib. per week.
References
- Columbia University College of Dental Medicine: Simpler Steps to Better Dental Health
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Nutrition for Weight Loss: Is a Low-Carbohydrate Diet Right for Me?
- The Merck Manual of Medical Information: Second Home Edition: Diets
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Halitosis (Bad Breath)
- American Dietetic Association: American Dietetic Association Publishes Evidence-based Nutrition Practice Guidelines for Registered Dietitians
