Comments on: What Causes Acid Reflux?

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:53:24 +0000

I’m amazed at this and off to buy some new toothpaste. I am being treated with omeprazole but it hasn’t helped very much, and every day I find myself dreading cleaning my teeth because it seems to trigger the reflux, so it suddenly occurred to me there may be a link – all this has arisen since I started buying the new much mintier Colgate Total. The doctor really frightened me with the possibility of an endoscopy to look for ’something nasty’ to use her words and I have to go back to see her after Christmas. I’m off to look for a new toothpaste without whitening or mint. Fingers crossed …

By: JS

JS — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:02:22 +0000

I was having problems with reflux too and no matter what I did it seemed to be getting worse, especially at night, even if I hadn’t eaten for hours before going to bed. One night it occurred to me that the last thing I did at night was to brush my teeth. After I found this thread in mid-June, I went to the bathroom and saw that we had been using Crest Whitening. I switched toothpaste that very day and began improving right away. For some people, it may not be the mint as much as the whitening formula. I am now using Jason “Healthy Mouth”.

By: JT

JT — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:12:53 +0000

I recently had the same problem with acid reflux and terrible raw throat/mouth congestion and phlegm. White ropey saliva. I was taking prilosec and elevated my bed at an angle, etc. without much help. I stumbled on a site where people had found the connection between the thick phlegm and whitening toothpaste. I immediately quit using Crest Whitening (with baking soda & peroxide added) and Listerine mouthwash and started feeling much better after a couple of days. Throat is clearing up and reflux is minimal, almost gone. These new toothpastes seem to have very harsh and potentially dangerous combinations of chemicals.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 21:39:54 +0000

Peter, I wonder if eating the mint is causing you to salivate more. Saliva is alkaline and will neutralize the stomach acid in your throat (this is why some heartburn sufferers chew gum). The link I typically see is that mint worsens acid reflux, but everyone is different and what triggers others may not trigger you in the same way.

This is an old thread but still interesting…I’m going to try switching away from the mint dental products too after heartburn is getting worse. I’ve done everything I can with my diet and nothing seems clear except tomato sauces causing issues. I do recall having heartburn from the Crest Cinnamon whitening formula so we switched to mint; now I wonder if that is starting to bother me too. I will post back if switching mouthwash and toothpaste has any effect.

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:25:56 +0000

I have had acid reflux pretty much lifelong, but it only became a problem later in life and it is treated by omeprazole – for me it appears to cause caughing, particularly when eating certain foods. But I would like to get on to what brought me to this website.

Firstly I don’t use the Colgate Total toothpaste – I used Sensodyne – but, I have found that when I become slightly asthmatic – coughing a lot, slightly wheezy – I can control this by taking an extra dose of omeprazole – but I also discovered that by eating mints (Trebor Softmints) – it seems to ease the reflux – so I assumed that mint might actually dampen down acid reflux – I also find that mint in herbal tea also seems to soothe the refulx and I take it before bed sometimes.

Is there research that links mint to acid reflux? I’m curious now.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:08:15 +0000

Up to a few weeks ago, I have never experienced acid reflux. It was really weird for me because I felt very uncomfortable after eating a big meal. I went to my doctor the next day and he said that it could be heart burn, or acid reflux. So now I am going to consider the different factors you mentioned, and hopefully this will solve my problem. Thanks!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 06:40:37 +0000

Hi,
I just came to the same conclusion, but my reflux is actually caused by Tom’s toothpaste. The culprit? Calcium carbonate, a binder. This is a strong base that reduces the acid in your stomach, which, paradoxically, causes more heartburn. Look into it – taking HCl or bitters has cured my chronic heartburn, which is why I knew something was wrong with the actual toothpaste.

Lots of toothpastes have calcium carbonate. Funnily, my aqua fresh never caused me heartburn.

By: Leilani

Leilani — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:19:45 +0000

Folks I just returned from a doctor’s appointment in which I was told that my Colgate Total toothpaste was the culprit of my acid reflux and migraine headaches. The doctor also told me to eliminate any whitening mouth rinse as well. All of these products slowly eat away at the esophagus and digestive path. It’s like drinking acid. I was thinking I had a sinus infection along with the burning in my chest. Even my teeth were aching like I had been hit in the mouth. YES LET’S GET THE WORD OUT!!!!

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 22:27:44 +0000

I just became suspicious of my toothpaste with my reflux – and I’ve been using the Crest 3D like Ashley has for awhile now. Guess what? I’ve had the same symptoms, too. I also have had some issues with bleeding gums so was using a disinfecting rinse (you’re not supposed to swallow it, but you know some of it’s going down the hatch). It wasn’t until I thought back to being given a whitening rinse by a dentist a few years ago and having to stop it after reflux and a sore throat that I clued into that maybe I should check up on this.

I am sure damage has already been done, but at least I can avoid making it any worse. I’m getting new toothpaste today and also clearing out any of my herbal teas that contain mint or peppermint. I’ve been on prescription drugs for the reflux since November and I still have it as well as the sore throat issues. Along with the toothpaste, I am re-examining my diet and how I eat. I have Crohn’s disease and use a gluten-free, dairy-free diet to keep things under control so it may mean figuring out some additional food options that can help both the reflux and stay within the dietary restrictions.

Thanks to all who have posted input. This has been a fantastic discovery!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 02:40:05 +0000

I also looked this up as a fluke. I always get that horrible throat heartburn as I go to bed. I’ve been watching what I eat & never eat less than 2 hrs before I go to bed. It just hasn’t gotten any better. I’m gonna try switching my toothpaste. I’m done w the crest 3d.