Causes of Bad Breath: Post Nasal Drip

Of all the causes of bad breath, post nasal drip issues probably do not register to the average person. This is probably because post nasal drips are not nearly as common as bad breath. Plus, we associate having bad breath with a lack of hygiene or eating nasty foods, not a medical condition.  If you have had a post nasal drip, and have had bad breath, you now know why. For those who have not, though, a bad breath cure will continue to elude most people and in this article I will explain the connection between bad breath and problems with your sinus cavities.

Before we begin talking about bad breath, we will first go over some basic human anatomy. Located behind your nose, underneath your eyes, and between your cheeks are pockets of open space in your skull called sinus cavities. We do not really know what sinus cavities are for. Some say they are there to lighten the skull and decrease its weight. Others say they are there to provide a cushion to protect the brain and interior of your skull.  Whatever the reason may be, sinus cavities play a role in your health – most of the time with results that are not so pleasant.

When we say our “sinuses” are acting up, we are really referring to the nasal cavity and the openings that run into it. The nasal cavity is below your nose and is responsible for preparing air that goes into your lungs and removing dust and other particles from it. When these openings get clogged, you have something called sinusitis, which is characterized by an excess of mucus. In other words, you get a stuffy nose.

A post nasal drip is a little more than just a stuffy nose. When bacteria gets into your nose or your nasal cavity, it can result in inflammation or infection that seals off those openings with mucus and gives you those stuffed-up feelings we know and hate. This is also frequently set off with allergies. The excess of mucus runs into the back of the throat and accumulates, and with it comes an unpleasant odor. This is not your normal bad breath, either, like the kind you get in the morning. Instead, it is chronic bad breath, or halitosis.

If you have had a post nasal drip, and it was not caused by your allergies, then bacteria is to blame (as mentioned above). To get rid of halitosis, just brushing your teeth will not suffice. Besides, you will probably feel so bad that brushing your teeth does not cross your mind. Instead, you should get treated for the symptoms. You can use nasal irrigation to help remove that mucus from your throat, and also get antibiotics from your doctor to clear up the infection (if it is caused by bacteria). If you have allergies and that set off your post nasal drip, then you can take antihistamines, nasal decongestants, and related over the counter medicine to relieve your symptoms. If you deal with the cause, the halitosis will go away, and if you manage to mitigate the symptoms the bad breath should decrease.

In essence, you should see a doctor if you have a post nasal drip. While bad breath is probably not your main priority when you are sick, you should know that it will go away when your illness passes. So, to get rid of your bad breath, post nasal drip infections must be cleared up first.