Bad Breath May Be Caused by Sinus Problems

Chronic bad breath, which is also known as halitosis, may accompany a sinus problem. If you have a constant sinus problem, or post nasal drip, the mucus that is produced from this condition runs down your throat and accumulates in the back of your throat and on the back of your tongue. This is one place where the bacteria on the back of your tongue produce plaque. Plaque production causes bad breath.

With a post nasal drip you generally have a thick phlegm in your throat. This phlegm may be infected. Your throat is usually kept moist by secretions from the nasal area and mucous glands in that area. When the liquids that keep your throat moist are reduced then the fluids thicken, and we become aware of this thick goo.

When we notice this thick material, we try to get rid of it by coughing, or even spitting it out. While it's accumulating on the back of your throat and tongue the anaerobic bacteria that live there begin to multiply and produce the foul odors that cause bad breath.

The trick then is to get rid of your sinus problem, which may give you relief from your foul breath condition.

One way to get relief from a post nasal drip is by using a spray. Look for natural nasal moisturizers, ones without additives. Beware of sprays with additives or preservatives. Some of these reportedly make the condition worse and can contribute to nasal congestion coming back. One additive to avoid is benzalkonium. Be sure to read the label when you're looking at moisturizing sprays for your throat or nose.

Clean your nose for sinus problem relief

Here's a way you can clean your nose out with salt water. You will need to have some salt, some water, and a small infant aspirator. Just dissolve a half a teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of warm water. If you have high blood pressure use less salt. Draw the water into the aspirator and place the tip into one nostril. Tilt your head back so that your nose is straight back and the aspirator is pointing straight back into your nose, so that its parallel to the floor. And then gently breathe in through your nose to pull the water into your nostril.

I know this may be uncomfortable, especially the first few times. As you practice you'll become used to it. Do this with the other nostril and spit the water out. You may need to do this a couple of times to get relief. Then when you're finished, thoroughly blow your nose to remove any water. You may have to do this two or three times a day for several days to get relief.

An alternative is to gargle with warm salt water, this will help clear the throat of all the mucus that's accumulated there.

Foods Involved With Sinus Problems

Spicy hot foods may be the cause of chronic problems with your sinuses. If you're suffering from a post nasal drip, try to avoid hot peppers and spicy foods. Try it for a few days, and test whether you can feel a difference in your sinuses and your breathing. Also check your breath!

The production of mucus is stimulated by dairy products. Dairy products contain lactose, which is a sugar. This lactose is a nutrient for the bacteria in your throat and in your in your intestinal tract. If you have too much lactose it can have an adverse affect on your gut and even on your immune system. I discuss lactose in more detail in my article about how your diet can affect your breath, which you can find on my website.

Bad Breath and Tea

Tea can be used to get relief from sinus problems. Hot tea is known to stimulate the movement of the little hair-like structures (cilia) that are at the back of the throat, helping to reduce post nasal drip. This may be why chicken soup is so effective. One reason this helps is that it washes away the mucus from the back of your throat into your stomach, where it gets broken down. And the bacteria in the mucus will be destroyed by the actions in your stomach.

Keeping Things Moist

Medications may make your nose dry out. Especially if you're taking a large number of them. One way to alleviate this is to use a moisturizing spray or humidifier.

A humidifier can be a great help especially during the winter. This helps keep everything from drying out and getting thick. Using distilled water in the humidifier keeps impurities out of the air. It's also a good idea to clean your humidifier about once a week, using water mixed with a little bit of white vinegar. The white vinegar kills mold and mildew that can accumulate in the humidifier.

A Remedy From the Sages of India

This last suggestion comes from the yogis of India. They use a neti pot. It looks like a small teapot with a long spout, and it holds a few ounces of water.

Here's the way to use a neti pot. First put some warm water and a pinch of salt in the neti pot. Start with a very little bit of salt and as you use the neti pot continue to increase the salt until you feel a slight sting when you do the process.

Do this over a sink. Tilt your head sideways and put the spout in one nostril and slowly pour until all the fluid in the pot has drained out the other nostril. Make sure you tilt your head sideways so that the nostril that you are draining is on the bottom.

Refill the pot, and do the same thing with your other nostril. It may take a little bit of practice. Then blow your nose through both nostrils.

Here is a video demonstration of using an neti pot on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8KOsNtpV8w

If you're struggling with sinus problems and bad breath, it may be the sinus problems that are causing your breath condition. I've outlined a few of the ways that you can take care of your sinus problems here. Test a few of them now. Always consult with your doctor if you're not sure which one to do or if you're taking any medications, or if you think you sell have some kind of illness.

The information contained in this article is purely for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for any medical diagnosis or treatment, or consultations with your health-care practitioner.

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Post Nasal Drip and Bad Breath - What You Could Be Doing Wrong

Post Nasal Drip, or PND, is often the result of an infected sinus cavity. When the sinuses become irritated and inflamed, the cilia in the nose and throat, part of the body defense mechanism, slows down and mucus becomes thick. It drips into the throat where it becomes very difficult to pass. When mucus lays stagnant, especially in the presence of an infection, the mucus can also become infected and irritating to the throat. The body's natural solution is to try and clear the throat over and over of the phlegm and is exactly the wrong thing to do.

Mucus is comprised of dead cells which are very rich in protein. This provides a very desirable food supply to the anaerobic bacteria in your mouth which is the beginning of the digestive process. As the bacteria breaks down the protein into amino acids, they release what is called a volatile sulfur compound (VSC) which is the essence of bad breath.

Because post nasal drip alters your sense of taste and smell, it can be nearly impossible to know whether you have succumbed to having bad breath. More often than not, if you have the occasional problem of being unable to clear your throat, you probably suffer from post nasal drip and the halitosis which is often associated with it.

There are a few solutions to post nasal drip that you can try in your home.

1. Try mixing 4 cups of boiling water with one cup of vinegar in a large mixing bowl. Put your face over the bowl and breathe the steam in. The combination of steam and vinegar concentrations will help clear out the nostrils and kill bacteria at the source. Usually, the steam will only last for about 10 - 15 minutes and can be repeated every 2 - 4 hours as needed.

2. Make a saline nasal wash by combining warm water, deionized salt, and a small amount of baking soda. Squirt into each nostril using a squirt bottle, infant aspirator or any other device that can be exerted with pressure until the wash comes out of the other nostril. This often helps break down mucus pools while killing bacteria.

3. Always finish your oral hygiene routine by scraping your tongue with a tongue cleaning tool to help eliminate bad breath bacteria at the source.

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Frequent Bad Breath in Children

Bad breath affects children in the same way it affects adults. It is not necessarily a sign of a more serious health condition though, but a frequent bad breath in children can be distressing not only for the child, but for the parents too.

There are a number of causes associated with frequent bad breath in children. Some medical researches have noted that a frequent bad breath in children may be caused normally by mouth breathing due to colds, allergies, sinus infections, or enlargement of tonsils blocking the nasal passages; dehydration; thumb sucking; increased bacterial activity in the mouth at night; infrequent snacking and drinking throughout the day; and improper brushing. All of these are deemed culprits for the reason that they tend to cause mouth drying, which in turn allows the increase of the number of bacteria in the mouth resulting to a stinky breath.

Knowing the culprits, it is now so far understandable that the real root of frequent bad breath in children is mouth drying. So to prevent or cure frequent bad breath in children, it is necessary to maintain the saliva production so to decrease the mouth bacteria. But, the question is in what possible way will the saliva production be increased? Well, there are actually a lot of ways that parents may consider to treat their child's bad breath. One of the best ways is to ensure that your child gets plenty of fluids throughout the day. This is pretty self-explanatory as less fluids means less saliva, and less saliva means a dryer mouth. So if possible, offer frequent drinks throughout the day as it may helps flush out the odor-causing bacteria in your child's mouth.

In case of allergy and colds, a frequent bad breath in children can be prevented by treating the problem with saline or a nasal aspirator suctioned in your child's nose. You can apply this to your child at night before he or she goes to bed. In this way, post-nasal drip as well as mouth breathing can be reduced. Post-nasal drip and mouth breathing as mentioned earlier are two common causes of frequent bad breath in children.

To further treat frequent bad breath in children, try to teach your children the importance of oral hygiene. Make your child aware that proper cleaning of the mouth right after every meal is very important in treating frequent bad breath he or she is suffering from. Also, teach your child the proper way of brushing the teeth. Assist your child, but while you are helping, make sure that your child knows the importance of brushing not only the teeth, but also the tongue and sides of the mouth. Also teach your child the proper way of flossing.

If after doing all of these suggestions mentioned above and you still find your child suffering from frequent bad breath, don't hesitate to call or see a doctor. A frequent bad breath in children that appears after four to five days of the initial treatment may signal something serious. It could mean an infection, or something that is chronic. So call your dentist or your child's physician and talk about the problem.

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