Clogged Sinuses & Bad Breath Information

According to www.ent-consult.com, more than 35,000,000 Americans suffer from sinus infections each year. Sinus infections have many adverse effects on the body from headaches, a fever and even bad breath. If you're experiencing sinus issues and you have bad breath, the two are most likely connected.

Facts

• The sinus cavity is a large empty space located directly in the middle of the face, behind the nose and eyes. When the sinuses are functioning as normal, they produce small amounts of mucus to keep the sinus cavity clean. When the sinuses become irritated or infected, they overproduce mucus and might cause bad breath.

Cause

• When the sinuses are infected, the extra mucus can cause post-nasal drip. This occurs when the sinuses slowly drain into the back of the throat. Some of the mucus builds up in the throat and attract bacteria, which cause bad breath.

Treatment

• The best way to treat bad breath from sinus issues is to take an over-the-counter decongestant. A decongestant will dry up the excess mucus and help the sinus cavity return to its normal state.

Prevention

• To prevent the sinuses from becoming irritated, a person should stay hydrated by drinking at least six eight-ounce glasses of water daily, getting at least eight hours of sleep a night and maintaining a balanced diet. These strengthen the immune system to ward off any infection.

Complications

• Clogged sinuses that lead to bad breath have the potential to cause greater complications such as sore throat, chest congestion and infection. If these complications are not properly addressed, they can lead to severe infection that can spread throughout the body, causing an individual to be hospitalized.