This excess mucus condition provides a food source for anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic means without air. Air, in this case, is oxygen, a gas we need to survive. But the anaerobic bacteria that live in your mouth need no oxygen and they thrive when it is missing from your saliva.

Research shows that proteins are composed of amino acid chains. The amino acid chains contain sulfur which produces the rotten egg smell when they are consumed by the anaerobic bacteria.

People with post-nasal drip produce excess mucus. The excess mucus coats the back of the throat and tongue. Mucus is composed of interlinked strands of protein, the bacteria go into a feeding frenzy and the proteins are transformed into smelly, noxious volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs).

Antihistamines can help, but the side-effect is to reduce the bacteria controlling saliva. Nasal sprays may be a better solution.

Why Bad Breath Can Come From Your Sinuses

Your sinuses will not sustain any anaerobic bacteria, but the VSCs they produce can leak into your sinuses. From there the VSCs can cause the sinuses to be infected and one of the common symptoms is a sinus headache which in many cases can be intense. The headache is caused by the infection which produces inflammation with a resulting pressure. That pressure is what makes sinus headaches so devastating.

But look, if you don't have a headache, your sinuses are probably not infected.

However, once these anaerobic "bugs" find a protein source like mucus or phlegm, bad breath will be the result. Sinus drops and sprays will bring some welcome relief.

Just 1-2 drops or 1-2 squirts into each
nostril effectively neutralizes any existing VSCs found in the nose, sinus, and posterior sinus area. However it's important to realize that unless you stop the production of VSC's at the source
(the back of the tongue and throat), new VSCs will continue to move into the sinus area.

Why Garlic and Onions Cause Bad Breath.

Garlic and onions contain mercaptans which are sulfur compounds. They enter your body through the digestive system and end up in your lungs. When you exhale, the stinky mercaptans are release just by the simple mechanism of breathing.

The Role Of Milk and Cheese in Bad Breath

Most dairy products including cheese and milk can pose problems especially if you are lactose intolerant. One study showed that almost 67% of Americans suffer from lactose intolerance. When you suffer from this condition, your system cannot digest them and they become available to the anaerobic bacteria as food.

Remember, they contain protein which the VSCs love.

How About Fish

Fish is high in protein. Many people consume a lot of fish and the protein in fish becomes available for the vSCs.

The only solution to avoid bad breath, is to make sure that your mouth is free of the VSCs. If after cleaning the little rascals out, you still have a bad breath problem, it may indicate that there is a more serious problem. In that case, you need to consult your health care professionals, the dentists and physicians. They can make sure it's not a serious condition or if it is, they will treat it.