Remedies for Sinus Breath

You're talking to a co-worker and you notice her nose curls up a little bit and she backs away, and you get home and the dog doesn't even want to talk with you. Perhaps you have just gotten over a cold or a sinus infection and there appears to be an invisible fog seeping from your mouth killing everything in its path.

Remedies for Sinus Breath

What causes this malady? Most likely, it is caused by post-nasal drip from your sinus cavities. The sinuses are the perfect, fertile breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. They are a labyrinth of caverns in the front of your head that allow the air you breathe to be clean and particle free. When you get a cold or have allergies, the walls of the sinus swell and become covered with a thick layer of mucus. This allows bacteria to get caught inside and breed happily ever after. What doesn't come out of your nostrils happily seeps down the back of your throat.

Why Does It Have an Odor?

The bacteria that cause this condition are anaerobic, meaning they can live without air, and they thrive on your mucus. After they break down the amino acids, a sulfur-like product is produced, hence the sour taste and smell emitting from your mouth. Milk and other dairy products cause this as well.

What Should I Do First?

It makes sense to rule out any dental issues or stomach diseases before self-medicating. Treat any infections with prescribed antibiotics if necessary. If stuffiness persists, the doctor may order steroidal nasal sprays that keep the passages open. Once you've established that there is nothing seriously wrong, there are a few things you can do to prevent and control sinus breath. Amazingly, the best answer to your offensive problem is as close as your kitchen and costs less than a nickel; table salt, warm water and a neti pot.

The neti pot has been used for thousands of years by ayurvedic yoga practitioners in India, and used in the western world in the past few decades as a regular routine. If you don't want to spring for a pot (about $9), you can use a small, flexible disposable cup and bend it to fit in the nostril. Mix a couple of pinches of non-iodized salt into warm water, and mix until dissolved. Over a sink, bend forward with your face either to the left or right and start slowly pouring in the saline solution forward into the first nostril. Be patient--the water will find itself running over to the other side of the sinus and come out the other nostril. Repeat on the other side. Blow gently out into the sink or a tissue; you will be astounded as to what comes out. Be sure not to blow too hard, or you will push the infection further into your sinus cavity.

Also, gargle with a fresh mixture of warm saline solution and swish around the mouth. This is a harmless and natural remedy that gets rid of that stinky post-nasal drip. After doing this procedure for a few days, you should see some difference in your breath.

Alternative Methods for Treatment of Sinus Breath

Dentists recommend products with xylitol in them, such as sugarless gum; it kills bacteria in the mouth and throat. Also, the chewing action helps remove earwax and flushes the inner ear, and it tastes good.

If none of these techniques work, you may wish to visit an otolaryngologist, also called an ENT (ear, nose & throat) specialist for further instruction.