The workings of our body are continuously revealing. What Donguibogam describes as stomach heat and food retention can be explained in modern medicine by gut dysbiosis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and slow intestinal motility. The gut functions like a vast microbial factory where countless bacteria assist in breaking down food and absorbing nutrients. When stress, Westernized diets, and irregular habits disrupt the balance of this gut microbiota, problems begin.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is particularly tied to food retention. When bacteria that normally belong in the large intestine migrate into the small intestine and multiply, they excessively ferment undigested food. This process produces high levels of volatile sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan. These compounds travel through the blood flow to the lungs and exit through breathing, serving as primary causes of bad breath. These volatile sulfur compounds do more than produce an odor; they can also worsen gum inflammation and periodontal disease, directly affecting oral health.
Stomach heat can also lead to a chronic inflammatory state and damage to the intestinal mucosa. When the intestinal mucosa is damaged, leaky gut syndrome can develop, allowing undigested food waste and bacterial toxins to enter the blood flow. The body responds to these toxins with a systemic inflammatory response, which burdens the liver and kidneys and reduces their detoxifying capacity. When toxins build up in the blood, odors can be excreted through the skin or breath, which is closely linked to halitosis.
Constipation is another major factor that worsens halitosis. When stool remains in the intestine for extended periods due to constipation, harmful bacteria multiply more actively and putrefaction intensifies. Toxic gases produced during this process, including ammonia, indole, and skatole, are absorbed through the intestinal wall, circulate through the blood flow, pass through the lungs, and exit through the mouth to cause severe halitosis. Reduced intestinal motility corresponds directly to the Donguibogam concept of food retention.
Modern medicine emphasizes the gut-brain axis, through which gut health influences not only oral health but also overall physical and mental well-being. Stress reduces intestinal motility and disrupts the gut microbiota environment, creating a cycle that leads back to dyspepsia and halitosis. Halitosis is not merely a matter of oral cleanliness; it is an important marker reflecting the overall condition of your gut. Restoring gut health can help relieve bad breath and restore vitality to the entire body.
