Treating your post nasal drip is a good way to begin fighting bad breath. Post nasal drip is a condition in which excess mucous is produced in your nasal passages, and then drips into the back of your throat. The mucous tends to collect around the tonsils, causing bad breath.

This mucous is a protein-rich food for bad breath-producing anaerobic bacteria in your mouth. Dairy products may also contribute to thickening of the nasal mucous, escalating the bad breath problem. And seasonal allergies also induce over production of mucous, causing bad breath.

So, how do we treat post nasal drip and aid the prevention of bad breath? First, we try to eliminate the underlying causes.

Reducing your intake of dairy products may lessen the amount and severity of mucous production, and therefore bad breath. If you find it difficult to cut back on this food group, then a good gargle is recommended after eating in order to help flush any remaining traces out of your mouth and throat, especially the tonsil areas, to reduce bad breath.

Seasonal allergies are a more difficult problem to treat in the battle against bad breath. Many medicines advertised to counteract allergies tend to be overly drying to mucous passages, preventing normal draining. Pockets of mucous collect and the growth of bad breath bacteria increases. Best to see your physician for treatment.

In the meantime, there is something safe you can do for those nasal passages that will help you feel better and fight bad breath too. Pure saline nasal spray is the closest thing to the natural fluid found in our own bodies. Spraying saline into the nasal passages helps wash down the excess mucous, and also the irritants that cause it. Repeating this process several times a day may go a long way to reduce the anaerobic bacterial build up that fuels your bad breath.

Remember, chronic bad breath can be a sign of other health problems. Consult your physician about the cause of any persistent bad breath, and hose your nose to keep bad breath in check.