Dear Dr. SerVaas: Several months ago your column gave the source of a deodorant to be taken internally to eliminate embarrassing bowel odors. I regret that I cannot find that column at this time. I have had a gastric resection due to cancer, and I believe this product could be most helpful.

Naomi Akins
Port Clinton, Ohio

Dear Reader: Thanks for writing. Devrom tablets containing bismuth subgallate have helped many SatEvePost readers with embarrassing bowel odor. If you can't find Devrom, call 1-800-558-2376 for Nancy Wickham who will fill your order.

In our last issue, we wrote that Devrom also helps halitosis. Reader L. G. Matusek from Wharton, Texas, said that bad breath continued to be a problem despite twice-daily brushing of the teeth and tongue. We asked Indianapolis gastroenterologist Gregory Blitz to comment on other potential sources of halitosis:

"There are conditions involving the upper gastrointestinal tract which could result in bad breath. In general, there would be other associated symptoms. These would be conditions in which food would remain in the upper gastrointestinal tract and decompose rather than being digested and moved expeditiously through the gastrointestinal tract.

"Gastroparesis, where food sits in the stomach for prolonged periods of time, could cause bad breath, along with reflux of this decomposing food. This is particularly problematic in diabetics. In achalasia, the esophagus is dilated and atonic. The lower esophageal sphincter is hypertensive.

Food sits in the distal esophagus for prolonged periods of time. Other esophageal dysmotility conditions, where food would sit in the esophagus, could also cause this. Another option would be a Zenker's diverticulum. This is a diverticulum in the area of the upper esophagus. Rather than food going directly from the mouth into the stomach, food can sit in this diverticulum, or pouch, proximally and decompose.

"I should add the single best study which would yield the most information regarding the above diagnoses would be a good-quality barium upper-GI x-ray, along with an esophogram done by a radiologist with interest and expertise in gastrointestinal radiology."