subject: Bad Breath And Nasal Discharge, Causes and Cures [print this page] Post-nasal drip, also known as Upper Airway Cough Syndrome, occurs when excessive mucus is produced by the sinuses. The excess mucus accumulates in the throat or back of the nose. It can be caused by rhinitis, sinusitis, laryngopharyngeal acid reflux, or by a disorder of swallowing.
It may also be caused by allergies, and as you know, allergies are dependent on the individuals body system. During pregnancy or if a lady is using birth control pills, for example, could lead to post-nasal drip because of the elevated levels of estrogen hormones.
The nose and nasal passages are the second most common source of halitosis, after the mouth. It's a common occurrence for people experiencing nasal congestion to have halitosis, or bad breath. Nasal drip is as a result of the pooling of mucus in the back of the throat.
The problem of post nasal drip is that it provides a constant food supply to bacteria that produce the bad odor we associate with bad breath (halitosis). The drip is a continual flow of mucus from the nasal passages and sinuses that contains proteins and other food supplies for the bacteria. The bacteria that live on the back of the tongue benefit the most, and produce foul smelling sulfur compounds when they break down proteins.
In order to get rid of bad breath caused by post nasal drip, one needs to treat the sinus problem and hope that the flow of discharge can be decreased enough to cut down the populations of bacteria that are producing the odor.
Over-the -counter sprays like TheraBreath Plus Nasal/Sinus Spray or any other sinus drops are recommended, and should be used in conjunction with an effective mouthwash.
If however you are not willing to spend any more money, or you just cannot afford any products at the moment, you could drink lots of water. The water makes the mucus less likely to collect on the back of the tongue.
