What causes bitter taste in the mouth, bad breath, and bloating?
Sep 13, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Guo Xiheng
Introduction
In general, symptoms such as bitter taste in the mouth, bad breath, and abdominal bloating may be caused by improper diet, indigestion, gastrointestinal dysfunction, acute or chronic gastritis, Helicobacter pylori infection, and other factors. Consuming gas-producing or hard-to-digest foods can lead to excessive gas accumulation in the stomach, resulting in bloating, belching, bad breath, and a bitter taste in the mouth. These symptoms can be improved by adjusting dietary habits.
Generally, bitter taste in the mouth, bad breath, and bloating may be caused by improper diet, indigestion, gastrointestinal dysfunction, acute or chronic gastritis, Helicobacter pylori infection, and other factors. Specific analysis is as follows:
1. Improper Diet
Consuming gas-producing or hard-to-digest foods can lead to excessive gas formation in the stomach, causing bloating, belching, bad breath, and a bitter taste. These symptoms can be improved by adjusting dietary habits.
2. Indigestion
Frequent overeating or irregular eating patterns may lead to indigestion, impairing food digestion and absorption. Bacterial decomposition of undigested food may result in bloating, bitter taste, and bad breath. Patients can take digestive aid medications under medical guidance, such as Jianwei Xiaoshi tablets or Domperidone tablets.
3. Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
When gastrointestinal function is disturbed, food cannot be properly digested after meals and accumulates in the stomach, where fermentation produces gas, leading to bloating and abdominal pain. The release of this gas through the mouth causes oral odor. It is recommended that patients take medications such as Bifidobacterium triple viable capsules or Clostridium butyricum viable powder according to medical advice.
4. Acute or Chronic Gastritis
Gastritis can damage the gastric mucosa, impairing normal digestion and absorption of food, which may result in bloating, bitter taste, and bad breath. Treatment may include medications prescribed by a doctor to suppress gastric acid secretion, protect the gastric mucosa, and promote gastric motility, such as Rabeprazole Sodium Enteric-coated Tablets or Potassium Citrate Bismuth Capsules.
5. Helicobacter pylori Infection
Infection with Helicobacter pylori can reduce gastric function, preventing normal gastric emptying after meals and causing the aforementioned symptoms. Patients should develop good hygiene habits, such as brushing teeth morning and night and rinsing the mouth after meals. They should maintain a balanced diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and consume more fruits and vegetables. Doctors may prescribe combination therapy including Amoxicillin Capsules, Esomeprazole Magnesium Enteric-coated Capsules, and Compound Potassium Citrate Bismuth and Metronidazole Capsules.
Besides the above causes, liver or biliary diseases may also be responsible. Patients should seek timely medical evaluation and receive etiology-based treatment as directed by a physician.
