Halitosis With Nasal Discharge

Bad breath usually does not mean halitosis with nasal discharge. It is usually a relatively simple matter of the production of bad-smelling volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) by bacteria living on the tongue at the back of the mouth. It is just simple halitosis. In normal chronic bad breath, gum disease or bad teeth are occasionally involved, sinus complications are uncommon.

If you have halitosis with nasal discharge, the two symptoms may be completely unrelated and may need to be dealt with separately. It might be a good idea to consult your doctor for a professional opinion as to whether one is causing the other. If that’s the case, the most likely scenario is that whatever is causing the nasal discharge is also causing the bad odor on the breath.

Certain sinus conditions, such as infection, blockage, foreign material in the sinuses, or chronic inflammation of some other kind, can produce an odor that is not typical of the halitosis we all encounter from time to time. These types of halitosis with discharge cannot be treated with over the counter bad breath products and require professional medical diagnosis and treatment.

Halitosis with nasal discharge may also involve a less visible symptom – post nasal drip. Many people have post nasal drip, where discharge from the sinuses drains down the back of the throat. While this is not a serious condition, it can give rise to bad breath because this discharge tends to drip onto the back of the tongue, where it provides food for the bacteria that produce VSC.

Bacteria that produce VSC need nutrients in order to survive – specifically, they require protein, which they break down into amino acids to support cell metabolism. VSC are a byproduct of this protein degradation. Since sinus drainage contains a variety of protein sources, including antibodies, dead cells, and blood cells, halitosis with nasal discharge can be an indirect result of post nasal drip.

The good news is that even if you can’t clear up the post nasal drip, this type of halitosis with nasal discharge can be treated with bad breath products designed to reduce the population of VSC producing bacteria living on the back of the tongue. Choose a remedy that targets the bacteria rather than the odor, and you should see some improvement.