The Link Between Allergies and Bad Breath

With spring right around the corner, many people will start experiencing the annoying symptoms of allergies, such as sinus congestion, sneezing, and runny noses. As the weather becomes warm and windy, symptoms from allergies will only worsen. As if allergies themselves aren’t enough, they also tend to cause bad breath in people that experience sinus symptoms.

Sinus Congestion
Sinus congestion and post nasal drip are especially troublesome because they can be the source of halitosis. When you are congested, it’s difficult to breathe through your nose, causing you to breathe through your mouth more often than normal. Having a dry mouth causes bacteria to accumulate because it isn’t getting constantly washed away from saliva, which results in bad breath. This can get particularly problematic at night, and dry mouth coupled with morning breath is a recipe for bad breath. Unfortunately, there is even a possibility that your allergy medication is causing you to have dry mouth, so you should check the side effects of any medication you’re using, whether its prescription or over the counter. Make sure you are using a product that won’t cause bad breath, such as Clear-Ease, which contains natural enzymes that break down mucus and helps reduce congestion.

Post Nasal Drip
Post nasal drip is another allergy related culprit of bad breath. This is due to excessive mucus getting collected in the nose and throat, which results in a film of mucus that is left on the back of your tongue from a constant nasal drip. Post nasal drip also causes people to cough, forcing this “biofilm” to travel into the mouth and create a breeding ground for bacteria. And again, if you’re experiencing dry mouth because of congestion also, this only serves to compound the problem.

What Are Your Options?
Luckily there are solutions to problem. Of course, seeing your doctor will give you the benefit of a professional opinion on your nasal issues and they will outline a course of action for dealing with the problem. Another great solution that may be recommended by your doctor for bad breath caused by post nasal drip or sinus congestion is regular sinus irrigation. Irrigation will clear away any mucus that has built up in your sinuses and throat, and allow you to breathe better to avoid dry mouth.


About the author: Dr. Anthony Dailley is a practicing dentist that specializes in halitosis treatment. He has been practicing since 1981 and graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Cell & Molecular Biology, and obtained his dental degree from the Pacific School of Dentistry. Dr. Dailley founded the Center for Breath Treatment in the San Francisco Bay Area and conducts research on curing halitosis. Dr. Dailley has also been a founder in a biotech company called NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and on their board of directors from 1997 -2014. I'm reading: The Link Between Allergies and Bad BreathTweet this!