Why Do You Suffer From Bad Breath When You Use Nasal Drip
The human nose is a natural filter picking up dust particles, bacteria and other air pollutants on a daily basis. With the normal production of mucus, the debris collected is then swept to the back of the throat by millions of tiny hair like structures called cilia. These cilia line the nasal cavity and then are swallowed. Once in the stomach the acids destroy any dangerous bacteria. Although this sounds pretty disgusting, it is a routine bodily function that most people do not notice because the mucus is very thin.
This is where postnasal drip enters in. If the mucus just sits in the back of the throat, the anaerobic bacteria will start to break down the proteins found in the mucous and phlegm. The mucus is seen as a food source and the bacteria will then start to extract sulfur compounds from the amino acids. As you can see from this process postnasal drip will transform a case of normal breath into atrocious breath.
The anaerobic bacteria that thrive in an environment free of oxygen love the amino acids that are found in mucus, phlegm, dairy, and other high protein foods. The reason being that the mucus protects the bacteria from being exposed to oxygen, it acts like a shield around the bacteria. In fact, many people notice that when they drink too much milk or eat too much cheese, they end up with more mucus or phlegm in their throat.
Mucus typically contains abundant amounts of bacteria and proteins from the sinuses. 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 because anaerobic bacteria cannot survive in the presence ofoxygen. Being harbored by mucous, allows the bacteria to thrive and produce bad breath odors. Individuals suffering from a cold or flu commonly generate large amounts of this mucus.
Many medicines to treat the problem of cold and flue dry the sinus and nose drips and prevent build up of mucus. Antihistamines are among these medicines. Your nose clears up and it is great to be able to breathe properly again. However, anti-allergy medicines usually also cause a dry mouth which is a major cause of bad breath because it becomes like an oxygen free environment which the bacteria love. When you hare taking antihistamines, you should also be drinking plenty of water to keep your mouth moist. And you should also chew sugarless gum and suck sugarless lozenges to maintain the flow of saliva so that you can avoid a dry mouth and its unpleasant consequences.
It is vital to keep the mucus thin. You do not want to have the feeling that something solid is stuck at the back of your throat that you find impossible to get rid of. If you take steam via a steamer, take a hot shower or go for a sauna, you will find that the mucus become thin and easier to expel. You can add few herbs to the water in the humidifier to help you breathe better. You should also take in lots of hot liquids like soups and teas. If you drink thin soups and peppermint or other herbal teas, you will find they soothe the throat and also help with the post nasal drip.
There are many other products that can be used to reduce mucus buildup at the back of your throat. Nasal sinus drops are commonly prescribed by doctors, as well as certain oral medication. AktivOxigen tablets are such kinds of medication. These tablets are melted in water or a mouthwash solution to wash the back of the throat with oxygen that will kill the odor-causing bacteria. They are also effective in reducing the smell of volatile sulfur compounds.
Now you know that if you have colds, you will definitely have mucus buildup in your throat passages. If you do not take measures to eliminate this buildup, they will eventually attract bacteria that will break down the amino acids in the mucus. In this process, volatile sulfur compounds may be produced, which have a smell equivalent to that of rotten eggs. If you don’t want to experience this nasty condition, you must use mouthwash and other oral medications to prevent the accumulation of mucus. If over the counter medications do not work, you can always go to your doctor and ask for a recommendation.
