Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is an unpleasant and common condition affecting up to one-third of the population. While you might assume that all causes of bad breath are due to poor oral hygiene, there are many other medical conditions that can cause it as well.
Let’s examine a few disorders of the ears, nose and throat that can cause bad breath, as well as what to do to treat them.
Five ENT Disorders That Cause Bad Breath
- Sinusitis. Also known as a sinus infection, it is an inflammation of the sinuses that can cause them to be blocked and filled with fluid. Because they are blocked, bacteria can grow and cause bad breath in addition to other symptoms like sinus pain, facial, nasal congestion, and thick nasal discharge.
- Postnasal drip. This occurs when mucus builds up in the back of your throat and nose. It’s typically a symptom of other conditions like allergies or a virus.
- Tonsillitis. This is an infection of your tonsils caused by a virus or bacteria. It can happen at any age, though children are slightly more susceptible. Tonsillitis is typically accompanied by a sore throat, trouble swallowing, fever, headache, loss of voice and swollen or tender glands in your neck.
- GERD. Also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease is a digestive illness that occurs when stomach acid repeatedly flows back into your esophagus. The most common symptom is heartburn, but GERD can also cause hoarseness, chest pain, feeling like there’s a lump in your throat and chronic cough. The regurgitation of stomach acid and other contents can lead to bad breath.
- Deviated septum. A deviated septum is when the bone and cartilage that divides your nasal cavity is crooked. It can cause difficulty breathing as well as chronic sinus conditions that can lead to halitosis.
What Are Your Treatment Options?
If you’ve noticed chronic bad breath, your first step is to get checked out by a local Columbia dentist to make sure there are no obvious causes there. If oral causes have been ruled out, make an appointment with your primary care provider. If they suspect an ENT condition is causing your symptoms, they may refer you to a specialist to find the right treatment.
Obviously, your treatment will depend on what is causing your symptoms. For example, if you have GERD, an ENT specialist is likely to recommend lifestyle changes potentially in combination with medications to reduce the amount of stomach acid you produce. These medications can be found over the counter or prescribed by your doctor and filled at Medicine Mart Pharmacy.
If you have chronic tonsillitis or a deviated septum, surgery may be recommended to fix the problem.
Whatever the particular cause, your ENT specialist can help you find the right treatment to help your symptoms and improve your confidence when talking with others.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the experts at Palmetto ENT & Allergy today.