Reader’s Question:

My uncle has just been charged with DWI here in Trenton, New Jersey. I’m doing some research to help him on his case and someone told me that there are certain things on the mouth that can cause to have higher blood alcohol content. Would you mind giving me an idea as to what these things are?

Mabel

Trenton, NJ

I don’t mind at all, Mabel, I’ll give you an idea about these things that cause higher blood alcohol content (BAC) so that you can help your uncle on his DWI case in Trenton, New Jersey. DWI breath testing machines ideally detect alveolar air of the deep lungs, which is loosely associated with blood alcohol level. But these breath testing machines could be “tricked” by latent alcohol in the mouth which is often caused by belching, burping or the recent use of cough syrup, breath spray, mouthwash or cold medicine.

When the breath testing machine gathers up the mouth alcohol rather than deep lung air, it would give BAC reading that is higher than the true BAC. This would become a particular problem for people who are arrested for DWI who have food impactions, dentures, denture adhesives, cavities, orthodontic work, braces or those who have food particles trapped between their teeth. All of these conditions actually tend to produce mouth alcohol.

Tags: blood alcohol, breath test, DWI, DWI lawyer