5 days in ... only one complaint

(Rob ) #1

So far, everything I have feared about this diet has proved to be unfounded fear. I feel pretty good. I had a really bad cold when I started, so it’s possible I had keto flu symptoms already and assumed it was related to that. I might have had the actual flu!

My one complaint is that my mouth tastes terrible! Maybe some of that is from the cold, but I’m afraid to use cough drops because of their likely impact on my insulin level. Normally, I live on cough drops when sick. When not sick, I’m one of those people who is always chewing minty gum. Now that I am on keto, I’m afraid to chew my usual (sugar free) gum because I hear artificial sweeteners raise insulin. I want to brush my teeth 5 times per day, but I’m wondering if toothpaste has the same effect? I’m assuming that you don’t actually have to ingest something for your brain to say, “That tasted sweet, better make some insulin.” My wife and kids haven’t complained about my breath yet (and I’m sure they would), but I know the taste is bad.

Any gums, toothpastes, or mouthwashes that have been documented to NOT raise insulin? Thanks!

BTW, I apologize for whining in my first post. I really am thrilled with how keto is going for me … except for this one thing.

(Marianne) #2

I had “keto breath” in the beginning - I could smell it myself. I have to say that it went away permanently after being on keto probably a month. Are you making sure you are drinking enough? I think this helps, too, and in time this issue will rectify itself. If it is really getting to you, use warm salted water like a mouthwash - swish it around, gargle and the spit. It will help.

I rarely use artificial sweeteners, also - except a half a packet of Splenda in my morning coffee. If you can do without, I would stay away. As you say, I bet your cold when you started may have masked any signs of “keto flu” you may have had.

I am thrilled to hear that this is going well for you. I took to it immediately as well and found that I fretted beforehand needlessly. Most major changes we tackle come with some concessions, so you’re not whining, just being realistic. The good thing for me is that the benefits of keto far outweigh the small sacrifices of things I don’t eat anymore - and, there isn’t anything I can’t have. There are some things that I just choose not to indulge in anymore.

Best!

(Scott) #3

Many sugar free gums have 1 to 1 1/2 carbs. I used to chew at least ten sticks a day so it does add up. The keto breath is wasting ketones and it should improve after fat adaption. The taste comes and goes as I stay kind of on the edge of ketosis I think. I sort of like the metallic acetone taste because it is my only ketone meter. When I taste it I know I am in the zone. I guess you get used to it over time.

(Natasha) #4

I don’t ‘think’ I have keto breath anymore (been doing this 18 months) but definitely did have it in the beginning. My guess is that it will go away within 6 months as your body becomes more effective at using ketones. I did and do still chew gum every day but if you choose not to do that, lots of water (don’t forget electrolytes especially when drinking large quantities) and staying well hydrated will help to diffuse the smell.

(Mike Glasbrener) #5

Your burning fat which produces ketones. This fuel is new to your body so your blood ketones are high. You’ll pee and breath them out. After a while your body will also use ketones, a byproduct of fat burning, for fuel and the accumulated ketones in your blood will go down. Thus you won’t pee them out much, why pee strips stop registering much after a few weeks. So… it will go down/away in a few weeks. I noticed the tase the most, metal mouth. No one ever seemed to notice the smell except me.

(Jerry Driggers) #6

My orthopedic Dr put me on keto to drop some weight and help with inflammation in my hip joint before my hip replacement surgery. The first couple months I had bad " keto breath", and my Dr suggested I gargle with apple cider vinegar and water to help with the bad taste in my mouth and it worked for me. About the 2.5 to 3 month mark, the bad breath and taste went way for me and hasn’t returned. Now I’m 15 months into keto, down 98lbs and finally have my sugary scheduled for Feburary the 19th!! Whoop! Whoop!

(Rebecca 🌸 Frankenfluffy) #7

I don’t have keto breath - but when I used to get high blood sugars pre-keto (T1 diabetic) I would get what I used to call ‘high breath’. I guess this was due to a large volume of ketones due to my body not having enough insulin to harness energy from glucose spurred on by the excess glucose in my saliva being an efficient breeding ground for bacteria in my mouth (sorry if tmi!).

My days of high blood glucose are pretty much gone thanks to keto - and I don’t have a breath issue.

(Full Metal KETO AF) #8

Sometimes I get an awful taste in my mouth, cleaning my tongue gets rid of it. Usually there’s a greasy coating that tastes foul, and it seems to absorb the espresso I drink making it bitter too. :cowboy_hat_face:

(Rob ) #9

Thank you very much for your helpful and encouraging response. The gargling does help - with my cold and the taste. I am drinking way more water than I ever have before, so I think I’m okay there. Not sure this is true keto breath, though, because I know what acetone smells like. This isn’t it. Just a bad taste. I’m encouraged by your post that it will go away over time. Thanks again!

#10

I used to drink diet coke like water. So I missed it - alcohol was not my thing. So with keto I switched to drinking mineral water with a bit of apple vingar in it on ice. It gives a similar “sour twang” on the sides of the mouth that coke does, minus the sweetness. I like it. It has become my go to drink all day long. Maybe this is why I dont have such keto breath? Well anyway- thats what Ido and I was surprised to read this up above by crome. Welcome to all the newbies. Crome- 98 lbs off is magnificent!!

(Little Miss Scare-All) #11

@Iceman66 I honestly wouldn’t worry about the sugar free gum. I really doubt it’d impact you in any major way. I’m not a doctor. I’m not going to cite 3 articles, but all I know is I’ve been keto almost a year now, and I also hate that mouth taste you speak of, and I chew my sugar free citrus blast gum all the time and it doesn’t affect my blood sugar or my ketone level that I can ascertain. I mean everyone’s different, but that’s my own personal experience.

Just so you know, if youre anything like me, youre going to drive yourself crazy for the next month or two, until you realize that you can unobsess over every minor thing and have a feeling of freedom rather than compulsionary micro analytics. :black_heart:

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #12

As for oral health, and to help with the mouth taste, I brush with toothpaste in the morning, baking soda before bed and floss after meals. I eat more fibrous meat now and need to floss more. I also like tea for it’s astringent effect on the mouth. Good luck working it out until you find something that works.