There is always acid in the mouth

There are many reasons why there is always sour water in the mouth, which can be mainly divided into physiological and pathological phenomena. Physiological phenomena are related to bad eating habits, spicy food, and high mental stress. Pathological factors are mostly caused by diseases. Understanding the main causes is very helpful for judging our own situation. So, why is there always sour water in the mouth? Let’s take a closer look below.

Causes and common diseases 1. Physiological acid reflux When you are nervous, overly tired, or in a bad mood, the cerebral cortex will be dysfunctional and cannot properly control the nerves that secrete gastric acid, causing increased gastric acid secretion; improper diet, such as food that is too sweet, too salty, too spicy, too sour, too cold, or too hot can stimulate increased gastric acid secretion; and some coarse grains, sweet potatoes, potatoes, etc. contain a lot of starch, sugar, acid, etc., which will stimulate the stomach to produce a lot of gastric acid; food that is difficult to digest, the remaining sugar will ferment in the gastrointestinal tract, which can also induce acid reflux.

2. Pathological acid reflux Acid reflux can also occur due to excessive stomach acid. If acid reflux occurs repeatedly or is chronic, it is called gastroesophageal reflux disease. If not treated promptly, it may cause more serious complications, such as esophageal erosion, ulcers, bleeding, esophageal stenosis, and even esophageal cancer. 3. Other factors such as long-term alcoholism, spicy food preference, irregular lifestyle, irregular meals, mental stress, excessive drinking of soda, heavy smoking, taking certain drugs that are harmful to the stomach, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs aspirin, indomethacin (Indomethacin), reserpine, phenylbutazone, etc., surgical operations, severe burns or bacterial infections, and genetics can also stimulate increased gastric acid secretion.

The differential diagnosis between acid reflux and vomiting is that the former is not accompanied by nausea and retching. Acid reflux is distinguished from rumination in that the latter is the involuntary regurgitation of ingested solid food into the mouth and subsequent re-chewing or re-swallowing, usually occurring within half an hour after a meal and seen in healthy people who eat large amounts of food in a hurry or in severe mental illness. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy can be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Esophageal pH monitoring or dynamics testing can be performed if necessary. The principle of treatment is to eliminate the cause and reasonably control and relieve the symptoms. Eliminate anxiety, quit smoking, quit drinking, eradicate Helicobacter pylori, stop taking medications that may damage the gastric mucosa, etc. Use proton pump inhibitors to inhibit gastric acid secretion, such as omeprazole, rabeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole, and ilaprazole; and H2 receptor antagonists such as cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, etc. Alkaline drugs can also be used to neutralize gastric acid, reduce gastric acidity, and reduce damage to gastric mucosal epithelial cells.

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