The Link Between Allergies and Bad Breath
by Anthony Dailley DDS
With spring right around the corner, many people will start experiencing the annoying symptoms of allergies, such as sinus congestion, sneezing, and runny noses. At the Center for Breath Treatment we often see an increase in halitosis conditions being caused by allergy conditions during the Spring and Fall allergy seasons. As the weather becomes warm and windy, symptoms from allergies will only worsen. As if allergies themselves aren’t enough, they also tend to be a contributor to bad breath in people that experience sinus symptoms.

Sinus Congestion
Sinus congestion and post-nasal drip are especially troublesome because they can be a 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 contributes to changes in the oral bacteria, and the bacteria tends to accumulate because it isn’t getting constantly washed away by saliva. This by itself can result in a halitosis condition. This can get particularly problematic at night, and a dry mouth coupled with morning breath is a recipe for bad breath. Unfortunately, it is also possible 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, referred to as a “biofilm”, that accumulates on the back of your tongue from the constant nasal drip. 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. Regular sinus irrigation will break up 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. For more information :

The Center for Breath Treatment
Phone: 1-888-373-7403
E-mail: drd@breathcure.com
Web site: www.breathcure.com