Post Nasal Drip and Bad Breath

Do you remember the last time that you had a cold? Remember the slimy feeling of something slowly dripping down your throat? That, my friend, is referred to as post nasal drip. Bad breath can be caused by the flu and the common cold, and post nasal drip is usually the culprit. This 'drip' is made up of mucus that has become diseased or unhealthy. Normally, mucus is clear. When you are sick, mucus can turn white and sticky or green and unhealthy. This is called post nasal drip and bad breath usually follows this.

When you have post nasal drip , bad breath occurs because the unhealthy mucus blocks your airways, making it difficult to breath. If you are not able to expel the mucus from your nostrils, you start breathing through your mouth, which causes dryness and cracked lips. Dry mouths are a perfect breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria, which, when multiplied, produce that unpleasant odor we call foul breath. These two conditions go hand in hand because the unhealthy mucus will most definitely affect the way you breathe unless you cure it.

Another reason associated with post nasal drip and bad breath is the use of over the counter medication. When you have the flu, it is usually treated by taking antihistamines (if the cold is caused by allergies) or decongestants (when you find it hard to breathe and would like to thin out the mucus). These over the counter medications actually dry the mouth and can further cause foul breath.

There are many marketed cures today to get rid of post nasal drip and bad breath. Of course, targeting the symptoms may not help as you only mask the problem. To make sure that this dual condition will go away completely, you need to cure the cold or allergy that is causing these conditions in the first place. Some of the effective cures for the common cold include inhaling steam, nasal irrigation, eating foods rich with bacteria fighting properties, drinking vitamins, and the like. The most common cure is of course to stay hydrated and drink a lot of fluids and let your body's immune system fight the bacteria for you. Whichever regimen you choose to follow, just make sure to target the problem itself rather than tackling the symptoms like post nasal drip and bad breath. These will be resolved on its own time if you focus on curing your cold.