Bad Taste, Bad Breath, Heartburn

Hi!  I am a 53 year old male.  I am healthy and of normal weight.  The only medication I take is red yeast rice.  I had my gallbladder out due to stones, June, 2009.  I never drank or smoked.  In the past 1 to 2 months, I have developed a bad taste in my mouth, that varies from salty to bitter, 75% of the time, regardless of what I eat.  My wife and son also notice I have bad breath.  I have occasional heartburn, but very mild. My dentist says my teeth and gums are normal.  I went to my family MD who says I have GERD as the cause.  I tried, first Pepsid, and now am taking omeprazole to try to help it.  My questions please are:  (1)  Can GERD cause these symptoms without significant heartburn?  (2)  Can these symptoms can caused by a more serious condition?   (3)  Can these symptoms be related to my gallbladder surgery?  Thank you!
Bill

[Elliot R Goodman, MD]

Halitosis  (bad breath) can be related to GERD - excess reflux of mucus from the stomach back into the mouth can cause the mucus to coat your teeth. Sticky mucus attracts bacteria onto the surface of your teeth causing the halitosis
GERD  can also cause halitosis through its link to chronic sinusitis and congestion of the sinus passages of the skull

[linda555]

Check out the "GERD" forum, repost ur question & someone could help u ......