I have had real big problems with my gut for years now and have been diagnosed with IBS years back.

I suspect I have Candida after reading information here and other places. I have bad breath at times and wondered if Candida could cause this? It's not that other people have said anything, I actually get a bad taste in my mouth!

Thank you for your help.

Judy

Hey Judy!

Welcome to the forums

A Candida overgrowth in the intestines could certainly cause bad breath. When there is an abnormally high number of fungal organisms like Candida you will get increased fermentation of the carbohydrate rich foods you eat. This produces a variety of toxins including ethanol (drinking alcohol), acetaldehyde, and gases such as hydrogen sulphide (H2S).

If you think about how the breath of someone who has been drinking smells and realise that hydrogen sulphide has an eggy smell it's obvious that Candida could cause bad breath!

Of course you can also get an overgrowth of bacteria which could cause the same problem. A condition called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is thought to be quite common in people with IBS.

In either case it is worth trying a low carb diet for a few weeks to see if that makes a difference. If this is the problem you may find other symptoms improve too!

Of course Candida/bacterial overgrowth isn't the only potential cause of bad breath.

Does you IBS often cause constipation? If you are constipated all the waste matter is hanging around a long time in your body where it putrifies and this can also cause bad breath.

Bad breath is also commonly caused by bacteria in the mouth so it's worth using an anti-bacterial mouthwash of some kind.

Hope some of these suggestions are of benefit. Let us know how you get on.

Hi Judy,

I have Candida and IBS also and have found when I am most constipated is when the bad breath is really noticeable. I know it's not very healthy but I usually chew gum when it gets bad!

I'd also agree with Maff that the fermentation by Candida can be a problem for smelly breath. I often get a bad taste in my mouth at the same time as I get gassy and bloated which I guess is from the Candida.

I've had some success with probiotics. They seem to reduce gut symptoms including bad breath. The one I usually use is Jarrow-dophilus - not too expensive.

is it safe to try the acidophilus bifidus, and i looked at he ingredients, it has dextrose! it is a sugar right?

Thank you for this post. I have Candidiasis and I was wondering why my mouth don't smell good no matter how I clean my teeth regularly. I really hate this condition. It's a big hassle in my career and personal life. I am on a treatment by the way..