What’s the Deal With Keto Breath?

Ketogenic Diet manual with associated foods

Share This Post

Share on facebook
Share on linkedin
Share on twitter
Share on email

The keto diet has taken the world by storm. People are experiencing fantastic results including weight loss, increased energy, lower blood pressure, and other health benefits by following this low-carb diet.

Unfortunately, there are some not-so-pleasant side effects from the diet, and one of these is something called keto breath. If you are currently following this diet, or know somebody who is, you might have already experienced this issue.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to mitigate the odor, and they won’t take much time or effort.

 

What is Keto Breath? Why Do I Have It?

One of the ways you can tell if the ketogenic diet is working is your breath might take on a fruity smell. While it’s good to know you have entered ketosis, your friends and family might not be as enthusiastic if you develop keto breath.

The source of the bad breath comes from your stomach. It’s the result of acetone, a ketone, forming inside your stomach.  There is no quick-fix solution for keto breath, but you can mitigate the intensity.

Develop A Consistent Oral Hygiene Routine

The key to taking care of your keto breath is to have a consistent dental hygiene program you follow every day. An effective hygiene routine is one that is easy for you to do, doesn’t require a lot of time, and you don’t need special equipment. All you need for this is brush and floss regularly.

This is How Successful Keto Dieters Have Beaten Keto Breath

While some of these steps won’t deal directly with the odor caused by the acetone in the stomach, they will help keep your breath fresh.

  • Floss daily after every meal.  This is particularly important since the Keto diet encourages consuming meat and fibrous foods. Those food particles get caught between your teeth. As they decompose, they can cause bad breath.
  • Brush Twice a Day. Read that as ‘at least twice a day.’ Be sure you are cleaning your teeth and gums after you eat and before going into a social situation.
  • Drink water. Your body rids itself of ketones through urine. Drinking water helps this flushing process. Make a habit of sipping on water throughout the day to keep acetone from building up in your stomach.
  • Don’t overload on protein. Remember, the ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate protein, low-carb diet. Too much protein in your stomach could produce an ammonia odor.
  • People begin diets in different ways. Some jump right in and others ease themselves into the new way of eating. Many people find easing into the keto diet helps them control their keto breath. This gives your body time to adjust to the change.
  • Visit Your Dentist. Just because you are no longer eating sugar, cakes, and candies doesn’t mean you should stop your regular visits to your dentist. All food can cause problems for your teeth and your gums if you don’t properly care for them. The only way to keep your mouth, and your breath, in top shape is to make visiting your dentist part of your regular oral hygiene plan.

One last thing to keep in mind is that keto breath is usually temporary. Most keto dieters say the odors go away after a few weeks. So, take comfort that you won’t have to live with it the entire time you are following the diet. If you are experiencing any bad breath issues, whether keto related or not, contact Caven Dental today.

More To Explore

You Are Welcome Here.

Schedule your consultation today.