Got Sinus Issues? You Just May Have your Cause of Halitosis

Articles on Halitosis | Topic: halitosis

by Taryn Fisher

Got Sinus Issues? You Just May Have your Cause of Halitosis

More than 25 million Americans suffer from sinus problems and the chances that you are reading this would suggest you also fall into that category. When you are suffering with sinus problems, you have an increased mucous production. With that comes a high probability that bad breath will follow suit. Mucous provides a hiding place and breeding ground for the bacteria, which cause halitosis.

A sinus infection increases the creation of mucus and the anaerobic bacteria in our mouth flourish on this new source of food, which contains copious amounts of bacteria and proteins. When sinusitis occurs, it is more difficult to tell how your breath smells because your sense of smell goes right out the window, as do the taste buds on your tongue, which is where the anaerobic bacteria are lurking way in the back. The use a tongue scraper would help significantly to reduce the accumulation of bacteria.

There are four pairs of sinuses in the head that govern the temperature and humidity of the air reaching the lungs no matter how hot, cold, or dry the weather. Sinuses begin as pea-sized pockets in the newborn, extending outward from the inside of the nose into the bones of the face and skull. They spread out and grow through childhood into young adulthood. They are air pockets: enclosed spaces that are lined with the same kind of membranes lining the nose, and are joined to the inside of the nose through small openings.

The human nose is a natural filter picking up dust particles, bacteria and other air pollutants daily. With the normal production of mucus, the debris collected is swept to the back of the throat by millions of tiny hair like structures (cilia), which line the nasal cavity, and are swallowed. Once in the stomach, acids destroy these dangerous bacteria. This is a routine bodily function that most people do not notice. This mucus may be difficult to swallow or cough up due to thickness. When it just "sits" there, it can smell really bad, and cause halitosis.

Mucus typically contains large amounts of bacteria and proteins from the sinus. These proteins are then broken down to amino acids that the anaerobic bacteria feast upon. The mucus also protects the halitosis-causing bacteria from being exposed to oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria cannot survive in the presence of oxygen and being harbored by mucus, allows the bacteria to thrive and produce bad breath odors. Individuals suffering from a cold or flu commonly generate large amounts of this mucus. Sinus infection can be divided into two types, acute and chronic:

Acute Sinusitis: If a cold became worse, sinusitis may suddenly develop.

Chronic Sinusitis: Those who experience chronic sinus infections in all likelihood have had one or many prior episodes of acute sinus infection, which have failed to be cured. They may also complain of having a continuous cold.

Historical Quote

Every violation of truth is not only a sort of suicide in the liar, but is a stab at the health of human society.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

Another possible cause of sinus infections would be air pollution, smoke, and chemical irritants that may cause swelling and blockage of the narrow ducts from the nose to the sinuses.In some people, the cartilage and bone in the center of the nose can be repositioned to one side. If this shift is severe, sinus drainage on that side of the nose can be affected. This can lead to complete closure of one or several of the sinus ducts. Mucus then builds up behind these blockages and causes sinus infection. If the swelling becomes severe, the lining of the sinuses can grow excessively. These growths are called polyps, which can cause further blockage of the sinus ducts.

Allergies can cause inflammation inside the nose. Common indications of an allergic reaction include: nasal stuffiness, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes. Also, nasal mucous is loaded with amino acids and sulfur compounds are rich with amino acids.

Your sinuses may well be the source of your terrible bad breath. If you have tried other remedies with little or no success you may want to consult with your health care provider who may then recommend an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist to ease your suffering. You may benefit from a nasal wash, which helps remove mucus and germs from the nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip and help your sinuses to drain better but does not completely remove the blockage.

If your symptoms continue, your doctor may recommend a prescription nasal steroid spray. This can diminish mucus production and improve sinus drainage by decreasing the inflammation in the nose and openings that drain the sinuses. A nasal steroid spray generally provides to a greater extent a lasting decrease in sinus pressure and improves sinus drainage. This may lead to a clearing of your terrible bad breath. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray, use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms and may take several weeks of routine use to become effective.

The backflow of stomach juices, including acids and on occasion ingested foods, constitutes gastro esophageal reflux disease or GERD. Common symptoms include repeated bouts of heartburn, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, lump-in-the-throat sensation, chronic cough and throat clearing, and mucus build-up in the throat. Sometimes, the indications of GERD can mimic some of the symptoms of sinusitis. Acid reflux can sometimes actually contribute to sinusitis by traveling all the way up to your nose and sinuses, and this acid can inflame the nose and sinus linings.

Bottom line: sinus drainage into the throat can be a cause of bad breath.

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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Got Sinus Issues? You Just May Have your Cause of Halitosis" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by HealthExerciseSports.com.

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