Is it true low carbs gives you bad breath? :)

[simmo39]

Can anyone reassure me that being on a LC diet will NOT give me bad breath. I think DH keeps winding me up because I asked him and he said yet it has! I can't smell anything funny but have heard this rumour before.
Please someone reassure me as this diet is going so well and don't want to be suffering from Halliatosis (not sure if spelt that right )

The Atkins diet works by puttin your body into ketosis. Your breath does smell much in the same way it would if you were a bit poorly. But this is an extreme diet- reducing your carbs a little wouldn't do it but I'm not familiar with the diet you are on

When you are in ketosis your breath smells sort of like milky pear drops, very faint though. It is not bad breath as in stinky sulphur breath. You do have to floss and clean your tongue and generally pay close attention to oral hygiene though, as things like cheese and meat can react and cause sulphur producing compounds - though is true also of normal diets, where for eg alcohol too can cause an increase in sulphur compounds - which give you bad stinky breath.

However the mild ketones smell is inoffensive and most people don't notice it.

The LC = bad breath thing is often trotted out but I know plenty of people who low carb and they do not have bad breath at all (and I am a v. fussy supersenser so I would definitely notice). I think it is once of those snowballing myths with a slight element of truth to it (ie the ketone smell).

I wouldn't worry.

Yes actually Prosecco described it very well - it's that slight pear drops smell that kids have when they are poorly and not eating very well etc.

Hi All - thanks for your replies feel much better now!
Prosecco - I am on a LC diet called Go Lower, have you heard of it? They deliver the food to you to begin with so you don't have to think too much and its really tasty. Am on target to a 1 stone weight loss in the first month

Simmo- yes I have heard of it. Sounds as if it isn't too extreme so I think the smelly breath won't be an issue. Good luck with the weight loss!