What causes acidic mouth?

Many people experience acid reflux in their stomach and mouth. Most of the time, it is because they have been too nervous recently and have no reasonable emotions to regulate, or they often have the habit of eating too sour, spicy or cold food. This will cause certain damage to the oral mucosa and gradually cause acid reflux in the mouth. This situation is normal and there is no need to worry too much.

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 whole 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, and can also induce acid reflux.

2. Pathological acid reflux

Acid reflux can also occur due to excess 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. Others

Long-term alcoholism, spicy food preference, irregular lifestyle, irregular meals, mental stress, drinking too much 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, genetics, etc. can also stimulate increased gastric acid secretion.

Differential Diagnosis

The difference 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.

examine

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy can be done to confirm the diagnosis. Esophageal pH monitoring or dynamics testing can be performed if necessary.

Treatment principles

The principle of treatment is to eliminate the cause and reasonably control and relieve 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.