Can chronic gastritis cause bad breath?

Chronic gastritis is a common digestive system disease with various symptoms, one of which is bad breath. The occurrence of this phenomenon is closely related to gastric mucosal damage, weakened digestive function caused by chronic gastritis, and possible accompanying Helicobacter pylori infection.

Patients with chronic gastritis have inflammatory damage to the gastric mucosa, which may weaken the digestive function of the stomach. If food remains in the stomach for too long, it will ferment abnormally and produce odorous gases. These gases are exhaled through the mouth, forming bad breath. Especially when chronic gastritis is accompanied by Helicobacter pylori infection, this bacteria can decompose urea to produce odorous gases such as ammonia, further aggravating the problem of bad breath.

Patients with chronic gastritis have insufficient gastrointestinal motility and are prone to gastroesophageal reflux. The acidic contents in the stomach flow back into the mouth, which is also an important cause of bad breath. At the same time, long-term chronic gastritis may also affect the patient's appetite, resulting in poor oral hygiene, and the fermentation of food residues will also aggravate bad breath.

In terms of treatment, in addition to conventional oral hygiene measures, drug treatment is also the key to bad breath caused by chronic gastritis. Commonly used drugs include: gastric mucosal protective agents, such as sucralfate, which can protect damaged gastric mucosa and promote repair. Drugs that adjust gastrointestinal motility, such as domperidone, can improve gastrointestinal motility and reduce gastroesophageal reflux. Drugs that inhibit gastric acid, such as omeprazole, can reduce gastric acid secretion and reduce gastric acid irritation to the gastric mucosa.

In summary, chronic gastritis may indeed cause bad breath, but with reasonable treatment and oral hygiene management, this symptom can be effectively controlled.