Bad breath from weightloss?

StephieWheats
StephieWheats Posts: 88 Member
edited September 21 in Health and Weight Loss
A few days ago my husband looked at me and said "Honey I love you, but you have some really skank breath". I have always been on top of my oral hygiene game I was a little concerned. So I sat down and was thinking about all I have changed in the past few weeks that could be giving me "skank breath" as my husband put it.

So I started doing some research and discovered that diets high in protein can cause bad breath. Then it hit me that I added a protein shake to my diet every morning for breakfast, and I have been over my protein lately. So now I am at a point where I dont know what to do. I need the protein to build lean muscle, to help burn fat. So the question: what do I do about this stinking breath? (literally) I even get this weird dry mouth even though i drink about 2 gallons of water a day!

Replies

  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    chew gum
  • pniana
    pniana Posts: 254 Member
    Try green tea.
  • NineInchGirl
    NineInchGirl Posts: 169
    Hey! You know, you don't need to eat THAT much protein to get lean and toned muscle. just eat regularly, drink your water and have 1 of those shakes as a snack during the day. you'll be fine, ur overdoing the whole protein thing and that's the way your body is trying to tell ya. I already lost 75lbs and quite frankly i don't always eat all the recommended protein. I just track my cals and exercises and drink plenty of water and it works wonder. Besides..im not too fond of those shakes, cuz as soon as you get off em..you gain all that weight back cuz that's not how you "normally eat". i rather change my eating habits and eat what i want and just track my cals..so it feels like im not dieting..but if its a crazy 6 packs you want..you might wanna check those crazy diets out there....but once you are like 15 lbs away from you ultimate goal :)
  • ashlee954
    ashlee954 Posts: 1,112 Member
    Are you eating mostly protein and very very little to no carbs at all? This is when ketoacidosis can occur and cause a bad sweet smelling breath. This is often seen in Atkins diet dieters. Adding protein while still maintaining a healthy carb balance should not cause this to occurr though.
  • kiki28riki
    kiki28riki Posts: 17
    Yeah, I used to get this when I did Atkin's (years ago). When your body goes into ketosis (fat burning), your breath gets horrible. I only thought it happened with low/no carb diets, but regardless, it REALLY stinks.
  • StephieWheats
    StephieWheats Posts: 88 Member
    I wouldn't say I eat a lot of carbs. They are always under a lot. Its honestly something that I have just noticed when reviewing my food journal. As for my protein shakes I love them! I went from not eating now breakfast to at least putting something in my stomach. So if I "went back to normal" then I wouldnt be eating anything.
  • StephieWheats
    StephieWheats Posts: 88 Member
    Yeah, I used to get this when I did Atkin's (years ago). When your body goes into ketosis (fat burning), your breath gets horrible. I only thought it happened with low/no carb diets, but regardless, it REALLY stinks.


    well then I will take it as a good sign that I am burning fat! I'll just make sure to have gum handy!
  • MzBug
    MzBug Posts: 2,173 Member
    Snack on cucumbers! Something in them kills bacteria in the mouth and freshens the breath.
  • brettatk
    brettatk Posts: 12 Member
    Just to clarify, it's ketosis not ketoacidosis. They are two very different things but are easily confused. Ketosis is a normal metobolic function where ketoacidosis can be a life-threatening medical condition. It goes along with the famous myth that low carbing causes kidney disease.
  • ileitch
    ileitch Posts: 99
    You can check on your ketones using Ketostix, available at pharmacies. It likely is ketones, which you can see as a good sign because they come from metabolizing fat. That's more from low carbs than from high protein. You could add carbs or alcohol, but that might be counterproductive as far as losing weight goes. Dr. Atkins recommends Sen-Sen as a breath freshener. Any of his books will tell you all about the ketone issue. Good luck.
  • ashlee954
    ashlee954 Posts: 1,112 Member
    Ketosis IS a side effect of low carb dieting but it is typically ketoacidosis that causes the bad breath. Ketoacidosis can be smelled on a person's breath. This is due to acetone, a direct byproduct of the spontaneous decomposition of acetoacetic acid. It is often described as smelling like fruit or nail polish remover. Ketosis may also smell, but the odor is usually more subtle due to lower concentrations of acetone. Ketoacidosis is serious and a long term effect of ketosis. Lets just hope you do not have either. :)
  • Fiedems
    Fiedems Posts: 52 Member
    You want to lose 200+ lbs and are at 14lbs... Good job, however you are attempting to do a lifestyle change not a crash diet. (I assume)

    So maybe review your food diary, add a few carbs, ease up a bit on the protein... I wouldn't necessarily take bad breath as a sign all is right with your body.

    The nutrients are on the food diary for a reason, yes they are averages but they are supposed to give you guidelines on what is a healthy diet. So I wouldn't ignore them completely.
  • edorice
    edorice Posts: 4,519 Member
    Are you eating mostly protein and very very little to no carbs at all? This is when ketoacidosis can occur and cause a bad sweet smelling breath. This is often seen in Atkins diet dieters. Adding protein while still maintaining a healthy carb balance should not cause this to occurr though.

    Actually, ketoacidosis is for extreme prolonged ketosis. She may just have slight ketosis.
    We can all check out wikipedia.
  • Topbobdog
    Topbobdog Posts: 55 Member
    Eating breakfast in the morning is a life style change even if it is a protein shake. Eating smaller meals instead of 2 or even 3 large meals is healthier for the body. Not all protein shakes are crash diet drinks some of them are healthy meal substitutes especially for lunch or breakfast for people who dont normally have time or like to eat meals at those times. The bad breath could be from hundreds of different things just because it is a protein shake doesnt mean that it is ketoacidosis she said it was a bad smell where ketoacidosis is a sweeter smell. If she is happy with what she is eating and losing weight more power to her chew gum or eat more aromatic foods to freshen your breath. Keep up the good weight lose and dont let people drag you down with criticism. 200 lbs is a huge undertaking that starts with 1 step and change at a time and continuing to be willing to take those steps. GOOD LUCK !
  • ssmom
    ssmom Posts: 128 Member
    I had the same problem and I was eating carbs. I think it was just the initial fat burning...I don't know. I do know that it has since gone away and I don't eat any more or less carbs than before. Everyone is different but when you are completely changing your diet some things just happen.
  • rebeccawalkergaroutte
    rebeccawalkergaroutte Posts: 1 Member
    I have developed persistent bad breath recently, too. NOT sweet smelling at all-- my proteins to carbs are right in line, so I doubt that it is Ketone related. I think I am going to try the cucumber advice-- makes sense to me! I also had someone suggest cucumber mint water-- which I love!
  • krawhitham
    krawhitham Posts: 831 Member
    I'm not on Atkins, but my boyfriend told me last night that in the past few days he's been noticing I have really bad breath even though I floss brush and use mouthwash daily!

    After reading about it I see it's probably because of fat loss, and I'm definitely losing weight on the current plan I'm on (I net about 1500-1700 calories a day and exercise between 250-350 calories a day, I only eat some exercise calories back)

    Has anyone actually had success with the cucumbers? I like that idea better than chewing gum or using mints...
  • joepage612
    joepage612 Posts: 179 Member
    Since I started MFP about 3 weeks ago I've noticed a METALLIC bad breath taste and smell. Im averaging about 2 lbs /week loss. My carbs are NEVER below 50% and sometimes MFP warns me they are too high. I WAS vegan before my diet but since beginning MFP, I've taken up eating fish and cheese. Eggs and Meat other-than-fish is still omitted. Is the bad breath ketosis? Its not sweet nor fruity. Its like I have a penny in my mouth. Metallic.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories