Have you ever noticed that someone with chronic sinus problems also seems to always have bad breath? Have you ever noticed this problem for yourself? There are some minor connections between post nasal drip and bad breath, so if you have one or the other, or especially if you seem to consistently be plagued with both, you may want to consult with your ear, nose and throat specialist for a diagnosis and treatment.
How are post nasal drip and bad breath connected? What is the cause of these conditions themselves, and why would one cause the other? Here are some answers.
In the simplest of terms, post nasal drip refers to what we call a runny nose. The sinuses always produce mucus to keep the nose and other areas of the nasal cavities moist; this helps with breathing and traps allergens, dirt, and other harmful elements as one of the filters before they get to the lungs. The reason that post nasal drip causes bad breath is because this extra mucus may also collect in the back of the throat, not just drip out of the nose.
Bad breath is almost always caused by bacteria in the mouth and throat. This bacterium causes a foul odor under any circumstances, whether it's bacteria in the garbage cans or elsewhere. The reason then that post nasal drip causes bad breath is that the mucus is collecting and trapping germs and bacteria, and then this lingers in the mouth and throat, causing bad breath.
If you have both post nasal drip and bad breath there are some things you can do to help yourself. The first is to always follow a good routine of oral hygiene, especially when it comes to rinsing your mouth. This will get those germs out of all the areas of your mouth and throat, even those deposited by the post nasal drip. The second is to keep your sinuses clear as much as possible. If you have allergies, take your medication.
Keep your environment moist with a humidifier. Blow your nose when necessary, rather than sniffle, which just pulls the bacteria back into your system. And remember to talk to your doctor about your post nasal drip and bad breath so that he or she can perform an examination. You may have damage to your sinus cavities or another condition that's causing your runny nose and that should be treated promptly.
Research shows that proteins are composed of amino acid chains. The amino acid chains contain sulfur which produces the rotten egg smell when they are consumed by the anaerobic bacteria.
People with post-nasal drip produce excess mucus. The excess mucus coats the back of the throat and tongue. Mucus is composed of interlinked strands of protein, the bacteria go into a feeding frenzy and the proteins are transformed into smelly, noxious volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs).
Antihistamines can help, but the side-effect is to reduce the bacteria controlling saliva. Nasal sprays may be a better solution.
Why Bad Breath Can Come From Your Sinuses
Your sinuses will not sustain any anaerobic bacteria, but the VSCs they produce can leak into your sinuses. From there the VSCs can cause the sinuses to be infected and one of the common symptoms is a sinus headache which in many cases can be intense. The headache is caused by the infection which produces inflammation with a resulting pressure. That pressure is what makes sinus headaches so devastating.
But look, if you don't have a headache, your sinuses are probably not infected.
However, once these anaerobic "bugs" find a protein source like mucus or phlegm, bad breath will be the result. Sinus drops and sprays will bring some welcome relief.
Just 1-2 drops or 1-2 squirts into each nostril effectively neutralizes any existing VSCs found in the nose, sinus, and posterior sinus area. However it's important to realize that unless you stop the production of VSC's at the source (the back of the tongue and throat), new VSCs will continue to move into the sinus area.
Why Garlic and Onions Cause Bad Breath.
Garlic and onions contain mercaptans which are sulfur compounds. They enter your body through the digestive system and end up in your lungs. When you exhale, the stinky mercaptans are release just by the simple mechanism of breathing.
The Role Of Milk and Cheese in Bad Breath
Most dairy products including cheese and milk can pose problems especially if you are lactose intolerant. One study showed that almost 67% of Americans suffer from lactose intolerance. When you suffer from this condition, your system cannot digest them and they become available to the anaerobic bacteria as food.
Remember, they contain protein which the VSCs love.
How About Fish
Fish is high in protein. Many people consume a lot of fish and the protein in fish becomes available for the vSCs.
The only solution to avoid bad breath, is to make sure that your mouth is free of the VSCs. If after cleaning the little rascals out, you still have a bad breath problem, it may indicate that there is a more serious problem. In that case, you need to consult your health care professionals, the dentists and physicians. They can make sure it's not a serious condition or if it is, they will treat it.
Both Kelvin Ho & Walt Brown are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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