Question:
4 weeks post-op and have had a disgusting taste/ bueild up in my mouth.

it's the worst after i've been asleep all night. has anyone experienced it and does it go away?    — [Anonymous] (posted on May 24, 2000)

May 23, 2000
It seems that everyone who experiences rapid, significant weight loss (whether from surgery or stringent dieting) also experiences this "bad breath" to some degree. Because you're taking in dramatically less calories than before, your body begins to burn its own fat stores for energy. This process is called ketosis and causes the bad breath and taste in your mouth. Drinking as much water as you can through the day seems to help, and as your weight loss slows down a little over the next weeks and months, it shouldn't be as noticeable. "Binaca for Smokers" is a spray that is the most effective thing I've found...it may become your best friend when you have to be close to people! Also, I've heard other patients refer to Altoids (breath mints) as a real lifesaver for this problem. Good luck!
   — Diana T.

May 23, 2000
I usually keep sweet breath that you get from gas stations in my purse and at work I use a bottle of listerine.
   — Sharon T.

May 24, 2000
The bad taste in your mouth, and "dry mouth," if you have that, is the price we are forced to pay with this surgery. Make sure you brush yhour teeth a lot, or they will rot out quickly.
   — [Anonymous]

May 26, 2000
Sometimes the rapid weight loss will cause bad breath. Also, if you enter into protein or iron deficiency, your breath can become practically unbearable. Be sure your supplments are the correct ones for people who have had WLS, as some are not properly absorbed by us.
   — vitalady

March 16, 2002
One thing I do that always works is,I brush the back of my toungue really good. Use just a little toothpaste. I use Kid's toothpaste because it tastes milder and works well. Dena K.
   — Dena K.

March 17, 2002
I also had THRUSH when I left the hospital and didn't know it... it makes everything taste horrid, your mouth is swollen and hurts. Your tongue will be covered with a whitish build up and it looks as though your taste buds are white as well. Just a thought.
   — Karen R.

June 5, 2002
I had thrush when I came home, 5 days post-op, but didn't know. Nothing tasted good, I smelled like a diaper, and had thick speech. I just went back in for a mega-dose of antibiotic IVs. Before I came home, I inquired as to whether I had thrush. I did. Got the prescription and now (16 hours later) am noticing a significant improvement. I have heard that eating yogurt can improve mild cases. Major point is that this would NOT have been diagnosed if I had not stumbled on the question in this website.
   — Karen F.