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- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: Lactose Intolerance -- Information for Health Care Providers
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Lactose Intolerance
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
Bad Breath and Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance, which is the body's inability to properly digest lactose, is a condition that affects up to 50 million people living in the United States. It's possible to live comfortably with lactose intolerance, however, provided that you make the necessary changes to your diet, specifically, if you avoid milk and other foods that contain lactose. Continuing to drink milk products can cause a variety of unpleasant side effects, including bad breath.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Bad Breath Doesn't Mean Lactose Intolerance
Bad breath is not a common symptom of lactose intolerance, notes the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse 1. The organization's list of common symptoms includes abdominal pain and bloating, excess gas, diarrhea and nausea. If you have bad breath, the condition more likely relates to poor dental hygiene, stress, smoking or medication that dries out your mouth. Speak with your dentist or doctor to pinpoint the cause.
- Bad breath is not a common symptom of lactose intolerance, notes the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse 1.
- The organization's list of common symptoms includes abdominal pain and bloating, excess gas, diarrhea and nausea.
Related Articles
References
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: Lactose Intolerance -- Information for Health Care Providers
- Better Health Channel: Halitosis or Bad Breath
- TeensHealth: What Causes Bad Breath?
- US National Library of Medicine. Lactose intolerance. Medline Plus. 2019.
- National Institutes of Health. Lactose Intolerance. Genetics Home Reference. 2019.
- Borghini R, Donato G, Alvaro D, Picarelli A. New insights in IBS-like disorders: Pandora's box has been opened; a review. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2017;10(2):79-89.
- Szilagyi A, Ishayek N. Lactose intolerance, dairy avoidance, and treatment options. Nutrients. 2018;10(12). doi:10.3390/nu10121994
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Lactose intolerance.
- KidsHealth from Nemours. Lactose intolerance. 2015.
- UW Integrative Health. The elimination diet. School of Medicine and Public Health University of Wisconsin Madison.
- Dekker PJT, Koenders D, Bruins MJ. Lactose-free dairy products: Market developments, production, nutrition and health benefits. Nutrients. 2019;11(3). doi:10.3390/nu11030551
- Cleveland Clinic. Gas: management and treatment. 2016.
- Ferreira-lazarte A, Moreno FJ, Villamiel M. Application of a commercial digestive supplement formulated with enzymes and probiotics in lactase non-persistence management. Food Funct. 2018;9(9):4642-4650. doi:10.1039/c8fo01091a
- Ferreira-Lazarte A , Moreno FJ , Villamiel M .Application of a commercial digestive supplement formulated with enzymes and probiotics in lactase non-persistence management.Food Funct. 2018 Sep 19;9(9):4642-4650. doi: 10.1039/c8fo01091a.
- Varjú P, Gede N, Szakács Z, Hegyi P, Cazacu IM, Pécsi D et al. Lactose intolerance but not lactose maldigestion is more frequent in patients with irritable bowel syndrome than in healthy controls: A meta-analysis.Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2019 May;31(5):e13527. doi: 10.1111/nmo.13527. Epub 2018 Dec 17.
Writer Bio
Toronto-based journalist William McCoy has been writing since 1997, specializing in topics such as sports, nutrition and health. He serves as the Studio's sports and recreation section expert. McCoy is a journalism graduate of Ryerson University.