One ‘smelly’ IBS symptom that has nothing to do with the bathroom

Our bodies can do weird and wonderful things, and irritable bowel syndrome is known for being an embarrassing one.

Around 1 in 5 adults in the UK suffer from the condition, according to Metro, and it can cause a whole host of symptoms.

From stomach cramps, diarrhoea, and constipation to bloating, chances are many people with IBS are very familiar with their bathroom.

It turns out though that there's a random symptom that isn't anything to do with toilet habits.

There's nothing worse than your stomach letting out a loud gurgle in the middle of a meeting, or while stuck in traffic.

As well as the obvious and well-known digestive issues, it turns out that the environment IBS causes in the body can be responsible for giving you smelly breath, too.

Smelly breath can be an unwanted side effect of IBS (Getty Stock)

If you find yourself regularly reaching for the mouthwash, or giving your teeth an extra brush, then it might be linked to your IBS.

VJ Hamilton is a nutritionist and autoimmunity practitioner.

She told Metro that she's witnessed patients experiencing bad breath alongside the more common symptoms.

What causes IBS bad breath?

"If food isn’t being properly broken down, it can sit and ferment," said Hamilton.

This can lead to an imbalance with the delicate gut bacteria.

The nutritionist warns: "Certain microbes can produce gases and compounds that affect breath, and when gut motility is slower, there’s more opportunity for that stagnation to build."

Yum, who else just grabbed some chewing gum?

Hamilton says patients with IBS frequently describe their breath as ‘sulphuric, musty, or slightly sour'.

‘Sometimes it has that fermented quality to it, which tends to reflect what’s happening in the gut, particularly if there’s excess bacterial activity,’ she says.

While extra brushing and being hot with oral hygiene can help, the nutritionist says the key is to sort out the balance in your gut instead.

According to Patient.info, it can also be referred to as small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

IBS is very common, but can be painful as well as embarrassing (Getty Stock)

How to prevent IBS bad breath

The expert advises one of the best things to do is improve your digestion, so that 'food is properly broken down, addressing any microbial imbalance and supporting gut motility so the system is moving well.’

If you're the type to inhale your food in seconds, slowing down, chewing properly and eating mindfully can help.

So can resting after meals, too, as Patient.info says it can help to reduce bloating, excessive flatulence, and frequent burping.

For some patients, Hamilton recommends 'digestive bitters or enzymes, or even looking at stomach acid levels if someone has ongoing bloating or heaviness.'

When the gut flora returns to normal, many patients find that 'fermented' smell disappears.