Millions of people suffer from recurrent sinus infections or post nasal drip caused by allergies, such as hay fever or chronic rhinitis. However, most are not aware that there is a very strong relationship between post nasal drip and bad breath [http://www.cure-halitosis.com/post-nasal-drip-bad-breath-sinus-irrigation-system-sinupulse-hydro-pulse].

Does my breath stink because of my post nasal drip then?

Unfortunately, post nasal drip can cause halitosis. Bad breath can be caused by many things so all possible halitosis causes need to be examined first. If halitosis is already present - for whatever other reason (e.g. gingivitis or dental decay) - suffering from sinus infections and post nasal drip will certainly make the problem even worse.

So why do post nasal drip and bad breath go hand in hand?

Well, mucous or phlegm tends to build up at the back of the tongue, nasal passages, sinus or throat, if you suffer from post nasal drip / sinus infections / sinus congestion. The anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath really thrive in environments where there are certain types of proteins, such as the ones contained in mucous, phlegm, or dairy foods. Mucous does not smell great to start with; add all those nasty bacteria that like to feed on it and you end up with a pretty smelly mix.

Do antihistamines help with post nasal drip and bad breath?

Many allergy sufferers are not aware that their regular use of over-the-counter decongestants or antihistamines can contribute to making any halitosis problem even worse. The reason being, antihistamines can create a very dry mouth, and a dry mouth is actually one of the most common reasons why people suffer from bad breath.

What is important is to be able to find a post nasal drip treatment that is also effective in treating halitosis. Fortunately, there are a handful of post nasal drip treatments that can also help minimise any chances of halitosis flaring up.

So what is the most effective halitosis and post nasal drip treatment then?

As an alternative to using drugs, there are other gadgets and products around which will not only be more effective, but will also provide a very effective halitosis cure. For instance, pulsating sinus irrigation systems have long been shown to be extremely effective to treat both halitosis and post nasal drip.

And how do this gadgets help with post nasal drip and bad breath?

Pulsating sinus irrigation systems have been shown to stimulate the nasal cilia (who are in charge of defending against foreign bodies entering the nose and sinus) and will help restore their natural protective function. There are numerous scientific reports showing evidence that regular use of pulsating sinus irrigation systems can remove bacteria by a factor of at least 100 over non-pulsating systems.

So are sinus irrigation systems effective if used regularly?

Post nasal drip and bad breath go hand in hand, and it is important that both conditions are treated together with the appropriate tools. Regular use of a sinus irrigation system will remove mucous, which will alleviate allergy symptoms, congestion and post nasal drip.

But the real bonus is that by using a sinus irrigation system, bacteria will be flushed away together with the mucous, and this will take any halitosis sufferer one step closer to finding a durable bad breath cure.

Note: it is extremely important to identify and tackle any other factors that may be contributing to the halitosis problem, in addition to making sure to pay regular visits to the doctor, dentist and dental hygienist, so that a permanent halitosis cure can finally be found.