How can alcohol present in the mouth cause problems for the breath machine?
Mouth alcohol is any alcohol remaining in the mouth, which can cause a falsely high reading on a breath machine. If you burp, hiccup, vomit, or have a reflux condition, alcohol from your stomach can be brought up in to the mouth. Also if you have dental problems (weak gums, bridges, caps) food can become trapped which can then absorb alcohol thus producing a false high on the breath machine. Finally, breath mints, fresheners, mouthwash, cough syrups and cold medications have alcohol in them, which can adversely affect the breath machine.
