Is long-term bad breath definitely caused by Helicobacter pylori?

Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
Updated on April 21, 2025
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Chronic bad breath may be caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, but this is not always the case. Other causes of bad breath include dental issues, such as cavities and tooth decay. Additionally, stomach diseases can also cause bad breath, many of which are associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. After ruling out dental diseases, it is recommended to undergo a Carbon-14 breath test to determine if there is an infection of Helicobacter pylori. If the test for Helicobacter pylori infection is positive and accompanied by some stomach symptoms, such as upper abdominal bloating, burping, acid reflux, nausea, and vomiting, it is advisable to undergo a 14-day treatment for Helicobacter pylori. Generally, after treatment, the Helicobacter pylori can change from positive to negative.

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Written by Wang Jing Bin
Gastroenterology
1min 44sec home-news-image

How to treat Helicobacter pylori positivity?

A positive test for Helicobacter pylori requires distinguishing the specific method used for detection. If it is a positive result from a Helicobacter pylori antibody test, a breath test, including both the Carbon-14 and Carbon-13 breath tests, should be conducted. If the breath test comes back positive, further examinations are necessary, including gastroscopy and analysis of Helicobacter pylori virulence factors. The analysis of virulence factors can help determine if the Helicobacter pylori infection is highly toxic. If positive, it may indicate a potential for severe gastric diseases and necessitate treatment. For individuals with a positive Helicobacter pylori breath test, a gastroscopy is also recommended, as it is the only way to precisely determine the type of gastric disease present, such as ulcers or gastritis. Depending on the gastroscopy results, some individuals may need eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori, especially those with a history of gastric ulcers, a family history of gastric cancer, gastric polyps, erosive gastritis, or gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Others, if the virulence factor analysis is negative, might not require immediate treatment for Helicobacter pylori. However, if a patient insists on treatment for Helicobacter pylori, it can be considered, but it must be clear that there are risks involved and that the treatment should be conducted properly. Finally, treatment for Helicobacter pylori is not recommended for minors, i.e., individuals under 18 years of age.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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What should I do if Helicobacter pylori infection is not cured after two treatments?

If Helicobacter pylori infection has not been cured after two treatments, it is necessary to consider the possibility of bacterial resistance or that the treatment was not standardized. It is advisable to visit the gastroenterology department of a hospital. Based on the doctor's experience, it may be necessary to adjust the medication plan. The choice of specific medications and their dosage should be determined according to the doctor's prescription. During the treatment period, one should eat easily digestible food and avoid spicy and irritating foods, as well as avoid drinking alcohol, strong tea, coffee, etc. It is also important to eat slowly and avoid overeating or drinking excessively.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Can Helicobacter pylori infection heal itself?

Helicobacter pylori infection generally does not heal on its own. Currently, the infection rate of Helicobacter pylori in our country has exceeded 50%, which is very high. After being infected with Helicobacter pylori, most patients do not show any symptoms. However, some patients may develop chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and even stomach cancer due to Helicobacter pylori infection, presenting symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. These patients need to undergo gastroscopy to confirm the diagnosis. Additionally, eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori is required, involving a proton pump inhibitor plus two antibiotics, along with a bismuth agent, totaling 14 days of treatment. If eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori is not conducted, Helicobacter pylori will not heal on its own.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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Helicobacter pylori symptoms

Helicobacter pylori itself is just a bacterium, often parasitizing the stomach or oral cavity of the human body. It cannot be said that Helicobacter pylori has symptoms, but rather that symptoms may occur after being infected by Helicobacter pylori. Many normal people infected with Helicobacter pylori may not exhibit any discomfort. However, if Helicobacter pylori causes gastritis or peptic ulcers, etc., related symptoms may appear. For instance, abdominal pain, bloating, belching, acid reflux, and so on; in cases of peptic ulcers, corresponding symptoms, such as periodic, recurrent episodes of upper abdominal pain associated with eating and so forth, may also occur and will need to be determined based on the specific situation.

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Written by Yang Chun Guang
Gastroenterology
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Is a gastroscopy examination accurate for detecting Helicobacter pylori?

Gastroscope testing for Helicobacter pylori is conducted under a gastroscope and is quite accurate. However, nowadays, if one is only testing for Helicobacter pylori, it generally does not require an endoscopic examination, since undergoing a gastroscope is an uncomfortable process that can cause nausea. Currently, Helicobacter pylori can be detected using a breath test method involving carbon-13 or carbon-14. This involves swallowing a capsule and then performing a breath test. It is crucial to fast before the test, as eating can affect the accuracy of the results. Therefore, although gastroscope testing for Helicobacter pylori is accurate, it is less commonly used nowadays.