The nose is used for breathing but it has another important function as well and that is filtering the air that goes into your lungs. It filters out the dust particles, bacteria and other pollutants on a daily basis. This is collected by the fine hair in your nose called cilia and then along with nasal mucus, goes into the back of the throat. In the stomach the bacteria is destroyed by acid. This is a normal bodily function and most people do not even pay attention to it because the mucus is virtually unnoticeable.
This is where postnasal drip enters in. If the mucus just sits in the back of the throat, the anaerobic bacteria will start to break down the proteins found in the mucous and phlegm. The mucus is seen as a food source and the bacteria will then start to extract sulfur compounds from the amino acids. As you can see from this process postnasal drip will transform a case of normal breath into atrocious breath.
The anaerobic bacteria that thrive in an environment free of oxygen love the amino acids that are found in mucus, phlegm, dairy, and other high protein foods. The reason being that the mucus protects the bacteria from being exposed to oxygen, it acts like a shield around the bacteria. In fact, many people notice that when they drink too much milk or eat too much cheese, they end up with more mucus or phlegm in their throat.
Mucus typically contains abundant amounts of bacteria and proteins from the sinuses. These proteins are then broken down to amino acids that the anaerobic bacteria feast upon. The mucus also protects the halitosis-causing bacteria from being exposed to oxygen because anaerobic bacteria cannot survive in the presence ofoxygen. Being harbored by mucous, allows the bacteria to thrive and produce bad breath odors. Individuals suffering from a cold or flu commonly generate large amounts of this mucus.
Many medicines to treat the problem of cold and flue dry the sinus and nose drips and prevent build up of mucus. Antihistamines are among these medicines. Your nose clears up and it is great to be able to breathe properly again. However, anti-allergy medicines usually also cause a dry mouth which is a major cause of bad breath because it becomes like an oxygen free environment which the bacteria love. When you hare taking antihistamines, you should also be drinking plenty of water to keep your mouth moist. And you should also chew sugarless gum and suck sugarless lozenges to maintain the flow of saliva so that you can avoid a dry mouth and its unpleasant consequences.
If you have a particularly bad case of the colds and oral medications are not enough to get rid of mucus or postnasal drip, you can look at other options. For instances, you can take a warm shower while using a humidifier to keep the air around you damp. Adding a few herbs to your warm bath water can also be helpful. After your warm bath, you can try sipping hot soups with peppermint or other herbs that can help thin out your bothersome mucus. This is very useful especially in cold weather when it is extra difficult to cough out phlegm and mucus.
There are many other products that can be used to reduce mucus buildup at the back of your throat. Nasal sinus drops are commonly prescribed by doctors, as well as certain oral medication. AktivOxigen tablets are such kinds of medication. These tablets are melted in water or a mouthwash solution to wash the back of the throat with oxygen that will kill the odor-causing bacteria. They are also effective in reducing the smell of volatile sulfur compounds.
In conclusion, people who suffer with postnasal drip are more prone to bad breath and lousy tastes because the bacteria will start to extract sulfur compounds from the amino acids that make up these proteins. They love the amino acids, which are common to mucous and phlegm, and also in dairy foods. Remember every case of bad breath, is different and there is no such thing as one formula to treat every case of halitosis. Methods that work for one person may not work for another. If you find you are unable to control your postnasal drip, consult your doctor.
