Halitosis, or bad breath, is commonly experienced by almost everyone around you. While few experience it occasionally, some people get it on a regular basis. It humbles those with the condition, especially when the person is in close proximity to another person. For those who are fasting, bad breath is a very common experience. Fasting and bad breath are strongly correlated because the body’s digestive juices still try to mutliply and process themselves, even without any food there to be digested.
Bad breath is caused by various factors, some of which include tooth and gum problems, stomach and gastrointestinal tract problems such as gastritis, heartburn, dyspepsia (digestive problems), reflux, etc., upper respiratory problems, problems lung diseases and some illnesses such as colds. , infections, fever, etc.
Some people may experience intermittent episodes of mild or temporary halitosis due to dry mouth (xerostomia), poor oral hygiene, and during illness. Temporary bad breath can also be seen if the person is fasting and is on an empty stomach for a long time.
In the absence of food, the release of digestive juices occurs that begins to break down and also has an effect on the stomach lining that can result in a bad odor that smells like stale food.
Fasting also results in a reduction of salivary flow in the mouth leading to dryness of the oral cavity which can end up causing an odor. This is due to the accumulation of bacteria that occurs when saliva is not present to remove bacteria from the surfaces of the teeth and tongue. This, along with the increase in digestive juices, adds to the terrible smell that emanates from the breath.
When a person goes a long time without eating, the absence of food causes the body to start breaking down fat stores. This breakdown of fat causes the release of ketones that are expelled along with the breath and give off a foul odor that resembles the stench of sour apples.
When a person is about to go for a special occasion or if they are under a lot of stress and if they are fasting for a long time, there is an increase in dryness of the mouth and a greater release of digestive juices due to the stress that will lead bad breath.
If the person has habits like smoking, this is not considered halitosis, but it can certainly contribute to halitosis problems. Even drinking alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach can increase the incidence of problems.
To avoid bad breath associated with fasting, avoid being on an empty stomach for long periods of time. Even if a full meal is not possible, making sure to have a small snack or even plenty of water will help. This is often very helpful when the person experiences anxiety before a special occasion.
On an empty stomach, the use of a little peppermint, gum or lozenges can help because this increases the flow of saliva in the mouth and helps to better eliminate the bacteria that cause bad breath.
Fasting for a long time is not a good idea, as it can have harmful effects on the digestive tract and also lead to the breakdown of body fat stores, all of which will lead to very smelly breath. Fasting and bad breath can be avoided with a simple combination of treatments and lots of water.
