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.