Does bile reflux gastritis cause bad breath?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 11, 2024
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Bile reflux gastritis can cause bad breath due to stomach contents flowing back to the throat through the esophagus, where the remnants of food create an odor in the mouth. First and foremost, maintaining oral hygiene, brushing teeth promptly, and consuming more vegetables and fruits can help improve bad breath. Additionally, active treatment may involve the use of proton pump inhibitors to suppress gastric acid secretion, as well as medications that protect the stomach lining. It is also important to manage diet by eating regular meals, increasing vegetable and fruit intake, and reducing consumption of spicy, stimulating, and greasy foods. Engaging in appropriate exercise after meals can help enhance gastrointestinal motility, speeding up the digestion and absorption of food. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Can bile reflux gastritis turn into cancer?

Bile reflux gastritis is relatively common in clinical practice and is generally considered a type of chronic gastritis caused by bile reflux. Clinically, it presents with abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. A complete gastroscopic examination can confirm the diagnosis, showing gastric mucosal congestion, edema, and even erosion. Generally, bile reflux gastritis does not lead to cancer; however, it is recommended that patients undergo regular follow-ups, including gastroscopy and histopathological examination, especially for middle-aged and elderly patients who have had gastric diseases for many years. If the gastric mucosa shows signs of congestion, edema, and erosion—particularly if the erosion is atypical and irregular—a biopsy is recommended to rule out cancer. Thus, while bile reflux gastritis generally does not become cancerous, it is advisable for elderly patients to have regular follow-ups with gastroscopy and histopathological exams, typically every six months to a year.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Bile reflux gastritis is what?

Common symptoms of bile reflux gastritis include stomach pain, bloating, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and indigestion. A gastroscopy can reveal bile stains on the gastric wall, which can be used to diagnose bile reflux gastritis. The main cause is closely related to poor gastric motility. It is also recommended to perform a Carbon-14 breath test to determine if there is a Helicobacter pylori infection. If the infection is positive, a 14-day treatment for Helicobacter pylori is required. Additionally, the treatment for bile reflux gastritis involves acid suppression, gastric protection, promoting gastric motility, and protecting the gastric mucosa, typically for a duration of about six weeks. Regular exercise is advised as it can promote gastrointestinal motility and enhance gastric motility, which is very important for the treatment of bile reflux gastritis.

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Written by Yang Chun Guang
Gastroenterology
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Can bile reflux gastritis cause chest pain?

Once symptoms such as abdominal bloating, acid reflux, and belching are noticed and diagnosed as bile reflux gastritis, there could be chest pain which should be noted. This supposed chest pain is related to the esophagus; therefore, it occurs in the center of the chest, not on the sides. In such cases, symptomatic medical treatment can be applied. Typically, for bile reflux gastritis, proton pump inhibitors along with mucosal protectants and gastrointestinal prokinetic drugs can be used for treatment. Drugs that improve bile metabolism may also be used. Additionally, it's important to note in terms of diet, that chest pain is not necessarily caused entirely by reflux and other causes of chest pain should also be ruled out.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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What should I do if bile reflux gastritis recurs?

If bile reflux gastritis recurs, proactive treatment measures need to be taken. For instance, if it is caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, active treatment with triple or quadruple therapy to eradicate Helicobacter pylori is necessary. If the recurrence of bile reflux gastritis is due to stomach diseases, it is crucial to actively treat the primary disease. For example, if caused by a malignant tumor in the stomach, aggressive surgical treatments should be employed, followed by adjunctive therapies such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and comprehensive treatment measures including traditional Chinese medicine. If caused by peptic ulcers, it is necessary to actively inhibit gastric acid secretion and protect the gastric mucosa, among other treatments.

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What dishes are good for bile reflux gastritis?

Patients with bile reflux gastritis can eat some leafy and other vegetables such as baby rapeseed, spinach, bok choy, tomatoes, carrots, and cucumbers. It is advisable to avoid eating vegetables with coarse fibers, such as celery, leeks, or chili peppers, as these can exacerbate digestive system disorders and lead to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and bloating. In cases of severe bile reflux gastritis, it is best to reduce the intake of fruits and vegetables. Consuming soft or liquid foods, such as millet porridge, is recommended.