So you have visited your dentist and you have: o Healthy teeth - no cavities, fillings, crowns etc capable of trapping plaque, food or Volatile Sulphour Compound-producing bacteria.
o Healthy gums - again, no areas where plaque etc.
can become trapped.
o Excellent oral hygiene.
But you still have bad breath.
Remember- 90% of bad breath originates from the mouth (tongue/gums/teeth).
This leaves- the nose.
The nose is the second most common cause of bad breath after the mouth.
So assuming you have no foreign body stuck in your nose, which occasionally happens to young children, that leaves: Post-Nasal Drip.
(PND) PND is characterised by excessive amounts of mucous draining from the sinuses and accumulating in the throat or back of the nose.
All this mucous is a wonderful source of protein for our little friends, (the bacteria that produce Volatile Sulphour Compounds - VSCs) which smell like rotten eggs, or like decaying flesh, and are the cause of bad breath.
PND can be caused by: * Rhinitis (allergic or non-allergic) * Sinusitis (acute or chronic) * Gastric Acid Reflux (with or without heartburn) * Birth control pills or pregnancy Treatment There are products available on the market to treat Post Nasal Drip (such as Therabreath) and some are very effective, but it is always best to seek professional help.
If your symptoms are mild, consult your family doctor first.
For more severe symptoms, have your family doctor refer you to an allergist, or an ENT specialist.
Treatment may include antibiotics, nasal irrigation, acid control medication and allergy medication.