Got Bad Breath? You May be Dehydrated

Bad Breath is a sign that you need more water, bad breath is 1 sign that you’re dehydrated. You may even struggle with constipation when you go to the bathroom, and no amount of lotion seems to soothe your dry skin. You may even have headaches, and probably feel tired every afternoon after lunch. If this is you, more than likely you’re dehydrated, and a little more water might be just the ticket to get rid of that bad breath.

CDC: 3 out of 4 Americans are chronically dehydrated

Chances are good that you suffer from the conditions described above. Because there is a 3 out of 4 chance that you are chronically dehydrated, according to the Centers for Disease Control. What chronic dehydration means is that over the long term (5 years and longer) you aren’t taking in enough water to replace what you’ve lost. When your body lacks water, it makes adjustments to preserve its remaining water, including:

• Generating less saliva
• Reducing water levels in your intestines
• Sending less water to your skin
• Slowing down your metabolism
• Your brain may even shrink slightly

It’s these biological compensations for dehydration that lead to the symptoms of dehydration. Unfortunately, the way many chronically dehydrated people respond to the symptoms of dehydration can make the problem even worse. For example: Your body tries to retain as much water as possible when you’re dehydrated, which leads to bloating due to water retention. Many people in this condition wrongly blame water for their bloating, so they drink even less water and become more dehydrated!

Why dehydration can cause bad breath – Saliva washes away food particles and bacteria that can cause bad breath.

If you are chronically dehydrated, then it’s likely that your body can’t produce enough saliva to keep your mouth clean. The obvious solution is to drink more water. The extra water will serve two purposes: It will wash away some of the bacteria that causes bad breath, and it will stimulate saliva production. In addition, the Mayo Clinic recommends you also:

• Brush your teeth after eating
• Floss after dinner
• Brush your tongue
• Clean dentures or other dental appliances
• Avoid foods that cause bad breath
• Change your toothbrush every 3 – 4 months
• Get regular dental checkups and cleanings
• Of course, drink more water!

Other reasons to hydrate well:

• How dehydration causes headaches
• Dehydration can make joint pain worse
• Dehydration is a major factor in constipation
• It may even make you look fat.
• 3 O’clock crash caused by dehydration

Read the full article: Bad breath is 1 sign that you’re dehydrated

How much water should you drink

The Mayo Clinic recommends drinking eight, 8 ounce glasses of water per day, as a general rule. It isn’t an exact figure, but the “8×8” rule is recommended simply because it’s easy to remember. To be more specific, men should drink 3 liters of water per day, women should drink 2.2 liters of water per day, according to National Institute of Health guidelines.

The kind of water you drink matters

Alkaline water hydrates faster and better than plain water. Multiple studies done at the University of Montana suggest that alkaline water hydrates about 17% better than plain water with a neutral pH of 7. You can actually feel how much better alkaline water hydrates. It tastes slightly sweeter and feels more refreshingthan plain water. That feeling of refreshment is your body’s way of signaling your brain that it is becoming hydrated.

Improving your hydration status with alkaline water may even help you eat less so you lose weight. If you are aged 50+ your body may mistake thirst for hunger if you are dehydrated. This could cause you to eat when what you really need to do is drink water. Drinking alkaline water can help you hydrate more thoroughly, and that would help to reduce your feeling of hunger so that you eat less.

Try this: Have a glass of water about a half hour before every meal. It may help reduce your hunger so you eat less. It may also help you avoid the 3 O’Clock crash by pre-hydrating your body prior to your meal. Click here if you want to learn more about how bad breath is 1 sign that you’re dehydrated.