Does diabetes cause bad breath?

Diabetes is a medical condition that causes the body to have high blood sugar caused by the body’s inability to either produce an ample amount of insulin or inability to respond to the produced insulin by the body. This uncontrollable and fluctuating blood sugar level makes a person with this condition more prone to bacteria growth, infection and gum diseases that causes bad breath. Thus diabetes and bad breath usually go hand in hand. If the breath of a person with diabetes smells of acetone (fruity smell) indicates that there are high levels of ketones in their blood. As the ketones build up, they increase the acidity of the blood. This can be toxic.

There are several steps in eliminating diabetes bad breath. The most important step is to try to control blood sugar levels. In addition to this, oral hygiene regimens have to be strictly followed. Brush the teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Drinking lots of water every single day will flush out toxins from the body, and enhance the mouths saliva production, making it a less conducive environment for bacteria to grow. It is also advised to avoid using mouthwashes that contain alcohol as this will only dry the insides of the mouth causing bad breath.