Halitosis Horror Stories and Other Bad Breath Articles

Hi, I have had Post Nasal Drip and Halitosis for 10 years. How can I treat my problem ? Please guide me.

Dear Doctor, Following are the symptoms of my case, my nose breathing is blocked. The nostril blocked alternates between right and left. They are rarely both clogged simultaneously, or both clear simultaneously. This is all day and night. I am constantly hawking and spitting out mucus from the back of my throat. The mucus is transparent or clear in color. This happens all day and all night. I have chronic halitosis all day and night, everyday. There is a whitish coating on the back of my tongue. It is resilient to tongue cleaners and toothbrushes. This is all day, especially when I wake up in the morning. My mouth is always dry. Please help.

I have had laryngitis for about 3 1/2 weeks. I have nasal drip down the back of my throat that is just sitting on my vocal cords. When I drink cold water I chock and gag for air. I am a 44 year old female, and I am thinking this could be hormonal. I started using the nedi pot a few days ago and it has helped somewhat, When I get up in the morning my voice is almost normal and then as the day goes on it goes into strain and it is a battle to talk. Any advise Please. Thank you for your time.

Dear Cher, It is highly unlikely that your hormones are the cause of your laryngitis, although anything may be possible. Laryngitis is an inflammation of your voice box or larynx. Causes are usually simple, such as a cold, or overuse of talking or singing, or a bacterial or viral infection. Normally, laryngitis lasts less than two weeks and will resolve on its own. Since your problem has persisted for over three weeks, it is important that you visit your doctor as soon as possible so that he or she can check for more serious problems and obtain a diagnosis. Chronic laryngitis is laryngitis which lasts for longer than three weeks. There are several different causes including allergies, allergic fumes, chemical irritants, smoking, chronic sinus infections, acid reflux or GERD, overuse of alcohol, or overuse of your voice. If any of these causes seem likely, please discontinue their use as soon as possible. If you use your voice excessively then sucking on lozenges with slippery elm or other herbs may help to ease the irritation, and also, it is important to rest your voice. Drink plenty of water and fluids, avoiding caffeine drinks and alcohol. You can also try inhaling warm steam from a bowl of hot water mixed with essential oils of lavender or eucalyptus with a towel over your head to moisten your mucosal membranes and sinuses. If you live in a dry climate, then you might consider obtaining a humidifier to keep the air in your home moist, especially at night while sleeping. Do not do anything which will dry out your throat and sinuses especially the overuse of decongestants. Most importantly, visit your EENT doctor to obtain a diagnosis. Good luck.

Today I started spitting up blood. I have only been smoking for about four months but have bad sinuses. As someone stated above, I also have alternating clogged nostrils. One day it may be the right and then switch to the left without me even knowing. I never have nose bleeds, so I know it can't be drainage from that. I have heard about my mucus membranes maybe being the cause but I don't know. Can any of this be the reason for my throat randomly starting to bleed?

Dear Derrick, Bleeding from any orifice,(please pardon the pun), is nothing to sneeze at. It disturbs me that you are smoking and that you say you have only been smoking for four months. Four months can be a long time, especially if you have "bad sinuses". Smoking can be extremely irritating to the mucus membranes, and could be one of the causes of your problem because the smoke dries out the delicate tissue of the sinuses. I would make an appointment as soon as possible with an EENT or Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat MD specialist in your area. Please share this information with him or her and have a complete check up of your sinuses. The bleeding could be a symptom of a more serious problem, such as cancer. Please get checked immediately. And seriously consider to stop smoking. Good luck.

Dear Sajan, It sounds as if you are on the right track with getting a complete diagnosis of your problem and an MRI of your sinuses to rule out a more serious condition. Please ask your doctor to test you for fungus, thrush, or mold problems. Also, please read my long answer to Hemn above. I am sure that you can use the simple suggestions which I mentioned. You might also want to go here to learn about a self-help technique to control any unwanted emotions or embarrassment around your halitosis when around people> No More Emotional Embarrassment. Good luck on your healing journey. I do believe that all unwanted conditions can be controlled. Sometimes it takes persistence, discipline, and the ability to ask for help from a professional specialist.

Dear Hemn, Post nasal drip is the accumulation of mucous at the back of the nose and throat with a sensation of liquid dripping down the throat. This condition is a symptom, meaning that it is not a cause, but merely the body's way of telling you that something else is wrong. Causes of post nasal drip can be allergies such as inhalant or food allergies, chronic viral, bacterial or fungal sinus infections, hormonal imbalances due to pregnancy, menopause, thyroid problems, the presence of foreign bodies in the nose, sinuses, or throat, structural problems with adenoid, turbinate or the septum. Also side effects from drugs or other medications, aging and its consequent narrowing and shrinking of the nasal mucosa and passages, can also cause post nasal drip. Halitosis is another term for bad breath, and may be caused by the stagnation of excess mucous due to one of the above-named factors, especially from the overgrowth of bacteria. Because the sinuses are deep and difficult to reach even with the use of antibiotics, this makes for a perfect hang out for anaerobic bacteria that doesn't need air to grow and breed. Ten years is a long time to put up with this problem. Hopefully, you have been to see your doctor and have had an evaluation as to the cause of your problem. Once the cause is found then it will be easier to find the correct remedy or treatment. If you have food allergies, then simple elimination of those foods from your diet will help with the problem. Sinus infections can be more difficult to treat, but trying a saline nasal irrigation occasionally might help with this problem. Health food stores have neti pots which can be filled with a strong saline solution and are used to clean and wash out the sinuses. I recommend Xlear Nasal Wash to my patients, because it is a safe and effective way to cleanse the sinuses and nasal passages and can also be very helpful in flushing out the viruses, bacteria, and fungus, if they are present. Go here to read about this product > Nasal Wash/Product Information. There are also some very effective Chinese herbal patent medicines which have been used for many years by Chinese acupuncture and herbal practitioners to clear out the sinuses. Usually the herbal formulas are individualized by the practitioner, according to one's individual constitution, and formulated specifically for one's particular problem, making it a unique and effective method of dealing with a problem. Combined with acupuncture sessions, to clear the lung meridian and to clear the toxins, Chinese herbal remedies can be extremely effective. Bi Yan Pian is the name of a favorite Chinese patent formula which treats sinus and nasal problems especially when due to allergies. Good luck in your search for relief from this long-standing problem.

I take several herbal remedies and supplements and have been told by some that my breath smells of alcohol. I do not drink. What could be causing this, are there particular foods which could be the cause, or is it the supplements or remedies, thanks Sandy.

Hi, I been suffering with bad breath for about twelve years or however long I can remember. I just graduated from high school and am now in college. I had to chew gum every single day in school and out of school for as long as I could remember. I suffer from mucus all the time, and I always have plaque on my tongue even after I scrape it. I scrape my tongue about seven times a day. I do also have dry mouth which I think is causing most of my bad breath. I went to many doctors and they say it was nothing, but nobody knows what I go through. I can't talk to someone face to face and it sucks. I'm a very good looking kid and I would like to know what else to do. Please lead me in the right direction, thank you.

I suffer from bad breath. I also experience bleeding gums when brushing. I use denture care but have stopped it believing it might be one of the causes of these problems. There is still no improvement. Can you help?