Nasal polyps are growths that line the passages of the nasal or sinuses. They are noncancerous, painless and soft. They end up growing because of inflammation caused from chronic rhinitis that occurs from things such as allergies or asthma. The majority of the time, there are no symptoms associated with polyps but the larger they grow, the more symptoms that will occur.

Some nasal polyps symptoms that can occur are a loss of taste, snoring, chronic nasal congestion, postnasal drip and even a decrease in the sense of smell. Nasal polyps also can cause bad breath for a variety of different reasons, such as:

1. Allergies

Having allergies may lead to inflammation in the sinuses and the nasal passages. This inflammation can lead to polyps. Allergies can lead to an increase in bad breath. This is due to destructive bacteria that are in the mouth. Typically, the bacteria is kept under control by saliva, which will wash the bacteria away. Since allergies can lead to a dry mouth, the bacteria ends up sticking around. This allows the bacteria time to sit and create a smelly gas byproduct. Ways to help reduce this are to make sure to drink plenty of water. Another solution is gargling with salt water, which will help to eliminate the bacteria.

2. Post-nasal drip

Post-nasal drip, which can occur because of allergies or other reasons such as infections and can lead to polyps, is another cause of bad breath. The mucus from the sinuses creates a perfect area for bacteria to grow. It also can end up becoming infected. Post nasal drip bad breath can be alleviated by reducing the issues that are causing the post-nasal drip. This can be done by taking an allergy medication, an antibiotic for the infection or any other solution to help heal the cause of the post-nasal drip. Some things that can be done during the time of healing are drinking tea. This is thought to help alleviate this symptom. Using a neti pot to rinse the nasal passages and sinuses is also another great solution.

3. Deviated septum

A deviated septum is when the nasal septum, which should be two equal sized chambers, has shifted away from the nose’s center significantly. When this occurs, breathing passages are blocked which can lead to a buildup of mucus. This is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. One of the most extreme ways to fix this is to have surgery to repair the deviation. Before choosing this solution, there are other things to try. There are medications that can be taken to help relieve the symptoms. Doing nasal rinses, such as with the neti pot, are another good solution to help relieve symptoms.

While polyps come with many negative side effects, such as bad breath, there are ways to help relieve these. Some as extreme as surgery and others are more simple, such as just doing a nasal rinse. Another way to help keep away bad breath, no matter what the cause may be, is to use oral care probiotic mints. These mints are great for providing the mouth with good bacteria. This bacteria then adheres to surfaces in the mouth, such as the teeth, leaving less space for bad bacteria to adhere to and grow. This will reduce the amount of bad breath that is experienced from nasal polyps.