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Having bad breath can affect your social life and also your self confidence. While the most common causes of bad breath are cavities, dry mouth syndrome, poor oral hygiene and respiratory tract infections, studies have found that in 10% of patients, bad breath is caused by diseases related to the ears, nose and throat [1]. These are the five ENT disorders that cause bad breath.
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Acute tonsillitis can affect both, children and adults and occurs when the tonsils get infected either by virus or bacteria. Studies have found that persistent bad breath is caused by acute tonsillitis [1]. A tonsillitis patient might need to undergo a tonsillectomy if the bad breath doesn't go away with better oral hygiene.
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Post-nasal drip occurs when mucus builds up in the back of the patient's nose and throat. Mucus is produced by glands in the nose and throat and cleans the nasal membranes and prevents foreign matter from entering, among other functions. Post-nasal drip is more of a symptom than a condition in itself and can happen when you have the flu, allergies or common cold. This can lead to foul breath [1]. It can be treated with antibiotics as it will get rid of bacteria in the mouth.
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Sinusitis is known to cause bad breath in nearly 50-70% of patients [1]. This is somewhat similar to post-nasal drip. A patient with sinus infection has inflamed sinuses which causes the mucus to build up instead of circulating. This in turn results in the growth of bacteria that causes very bad breath.
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Atrophic rhinitis is a chronic nasal condition that is characterised by the formation of thick, dry crusts in the nasal cavity. Studies have found that atrophic rhinitis can be caused by radiotherapy, overuse of decongestives or even using cocaine. Atrophic rhinitus is also know to cause bad breath and can be treated with antibiotics [1].
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Cleft lip and palate is a common congenital condition where the baby's lip or mouth don't form normally during pregnancy. A cleft lip can cause bad breath as it creates an area where bacteria can thrive without any disturbances [1].
