Does Keto Breath Mean You’re In Ketosis And Will It Go Away?

You’ve probably heard of keto breath if you’ve been on the ketogenic diet.

Keto breath occurs when you are in ketosis. In ketosis, ketones are produced as the by-product of fat burning. Acetone is a type of ketone that is produced and has a fruity smell. Acetone is exhaled through the breath, which results in what is called keto breath. 

The good news is that keto breath is not permanent and it only lasts for a few weeks, also there are ways to get rid of it as well. 

In this blog post, we’ll give you some tips on how to get rid of keto breath effectively. So keep on reading to find out!

What Is Keto Breath?

A ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that helps shift your body’s metabolic state to ketosis. 

Ketosis is the state in which the body switches its primary fuel source from sugar to fat.

Ketosis has many health benefits, including fat loss, improved blood sugar, and insulin sensitivity. 

Ketones are the byproduct of ketosis. Ketones are produced in the liver and can be used by all tissues in the body, including the brain. 

In fact, Ketones are the preferred fuel source for the brain and the body. 

There are three types of ketones: Acetone, Acetoacetate, and Beta-hydroxybutyrate.

• Acetoacetate is a little more complex and is produced when the body breaks down protein for energy. 
• Beta-hydroxybutyrate is the most complex form of ketone. It is produced when the body breaks down both fat and protein for energy. 
• Aceton is the simplest form of ketone and is produced when the body breaks down fat for energy. 

Acetone is the reason for the fruity smell of the breath on keto, known as keto breath. 

The acetones and other ketones exit the body in two ways: through breath or through urine. 

While most of the produced acetone is excreted in the urine, some of it is exhaled through the lungs. That’s why people on a ketogenic diet often have “keto breath.”

How To Get Rid Of Keto Breath?

Drink plenty of water. 

The ketones, including acetone, will be excreted through urine instead of breath if you drink plenty of water.

The water will help your kidneys flush out all the extra ketones. 

Brush your teeth Three times a day.

Instead of two times per day, brush your teeth three times, in the morning, afternoon, and nighttime, right before sleep.

Floss right before bedtime. 

Also, brush your tongue daily, be gentle when brushing your tongue.

One of the most important ways to get rid of Keto breath is to step up your oral hygiene because it will help remove the build-up of ketones on your teeth and tongue.

To learn about creating a great morning routine click here.

Eat More Vegetables

Eating more vegetables on a keto diet, especially leafy greens can help wash out the acetone from your body and get rid of keto breath faster. 

Dr. Eric Berg, our favorite keto expert on youtube, highly recommends eating anywhere between 7 to 10 cups of leafy greens per day. 

Peppermint Oil

Using essential oils is another proven and effective way to hide your keto breath.

The essential oils can get in the hard-to-reach areas of your teeth and gums, providing long-lasting protection from bad breath.

Peppermint oil is known to help mask the smell of ketones. In addition, peppermint oil can help freshen up your breath and it also promotes digestive health. 

Just one or two drops of organic, peppermint oil in water or tea is all you need. Or you can add it directly to your toothpaste while brushing your teeth.

Sugar-free peppermint gum also can help hide your breath.

Parsley

Parsley is an aromatic herb that can help mask the smell of ketones, making it a useful and natural tool for anyone who wants to get rid of keto breath while on a ketogenic diet. 

So if you’re struggling with keto breath, add some parsley to your diet, it tastes great and gives you a fresh breath you won’t have to worry about.

Time and Patience

Time is critical when it comes to keto breath because the keto breath mainly happens during the initial stages of fat adaptation and goes away once you are fully fat-adapted. 

Therefore, patience is critical during this time. 

Be mindful that your body is going through a significant change, and it takes time for everything to balance out. 

Keto breath is usually worst when you first start keto. But, it gradually goes away as your body becomes adapted. 

If you stay consistent and don’t give up, the keto breath will eventually go away.

In Summary: To get rid of Keto Breath, drink lots of water, eat lots of veggies, chew peppermint gum, brush your teeth regularly and use peppermint essential oil, and be patient, because the keto breath will evetually go away.

Takeaway:

Although keto breath is an unfortunate side effect of ketosis, it’s not permanent. Think of it as a right of passage; to get to the benefits of ketosis, you might have to endure a period of bad breath. 

Just know that the bad breath will go away with time and patience. In the meantime, you can try using sugar-free mints or gum or essential oils like peppermint or spearmint oil to help mask the smell.

And don’t forget – staying hydrated and eating your leafy greens can help get rid of the pesky keto breath faster. Thank you for reading!

References

PubChem [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; 2004-. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 180, acetone; [cited 2022 Apr. 7]. Available from: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Acetone

Alkedeh O, Priefer R. The Ketogenic Diet: Breath Acetone Sensing Technology. Biosensors (Basel). 2021 Jan 19;11(1):26. doi: 10.3390/bios11010026. PMID: 33478049; PMCID: PMC7835940.