It is not a well known fact, but post nasal drip and bad breath do go together. If you’ve suffered from the common cold, you would be familiar with this situation but probably did not piece the information together. Post nasal drip is classified is the thickening of mucus in the nasal cavity, usually caused by bacteria, fungus, allergens, or even food. When the mucus thickens, it becomes harder to expel and sometimes, it just stays there and blocks the passage of air. Your mouth becomes drier and drier, and you find yourself losing your sense of smell and taste. Does this sound familiar? This is when post nasal drip causes bad breath.

Post nasal drip and bad breath occur when anaerobic bacteria in the mouth multiplies. Anaerobic means “to live without oxygen”, which means that it thrives in dry environments. The main purpose of the bacteria is to assist in breaking down the proteins in the food we ingest. Under certain circumstances, anaerobic bacteria also break down the proteins found in mucus and phlegm, which is caused by post nasal drip. Bad breath occurs due to the extraction of sulfur compounds found in the amino acids that make up the protein found in mucus and phlegm. The sulfur compounds are referred to as Volatile Sulfur Compounds or VSC. Normally, we produce the Volatile Sulfur Compounds in small and negligible amounts, but when it is derived from post nasal drip, the bacteria compounds and produces the rotted egg smell we have come to associate with halitosis. This is what links post nasal drip to bad breath.

Recommended treatments for post nasal drip and bad breath are numerous, but you do not need to try every single one to get rid of your symptoms as it might exacerbate the problems further. The easiest (and probably cheapest) way to get rid of these symptoms is to target the source of the problem itself – the cold. When you have a cold, it is highly unlikely that you will notice that you have bad breath anyway, as your sense of smell is blocked. Curing the cold will provide relief from post nasal drip and bad breath and can slowly but cut down the bacteria that cause halitosis. So what are the recommended treatments for the cold?

First, always make sure to keep yourself hydrated. This promotes the flow of mucus and keeps your oral cavity moist, which cuts down the anaerobic bacteria. It also relieves that scratchy feeling at the back of the throat caused by post nasal drip. Bad breath will be reduced as well. Second, find out the cause of the cold and treat it. Colds have different causes which can range from bacteria, fungus, allergens, among others. Finding out what type of cold you have can be beneficial in finding the proper cure. Bacterial infections respond well to antibiotics. Allergens like pollen or hay can be avoided to make sure you do not contract this disease. Herbal solutions can be utilized instead of the chemical counterparts. Third, avoid anything that can exacerbate the problem. Ensure that you keep away from food and drink that can further cause post nasal drip and bad breath. These include milk (rich in protein that the bacteria can extract VSC from), spicy food, onions, garlic, among others.