Nola Reporter

• Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population.
• Chronic sinusitis can cause bad breath and mouth breathing, among other symptoms.
• Balloon sinuplasty is a safe and minimally invasive procedure utilized by surgeons to address chronic sinusitis.

One of the more unpleasant symptoms of sinusitis is bad breath, which can occur due to congestion and mouth breathing. According to Dr. Gregory Pippin of ENT & Allergy of New Orleans, sinusitis can affect a patient’s dental health as well as cause bad breath. 

"If you're not breathing through your nose, that can exacerbate any decay to your dental structures. It can also cause malocclusion issues,” Dr. Pippin told the Nola Reporter. “So all of these things can contribute to that problem with oral health. Oftentimes people will think their bad breath is because of their teeth and not because of their sinuses.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, physical symptoms of chronic sinusitis can include nasal inflammation, a runny nose, postnasal drainage, congestion, pain or swelling in the face, headaches, loss of smell and taste, a sore throat, bad breath, or fatigue.

People who suffer from allergies or chronic sinus problems are more likely to breathe through their mouths, which can lead to oral health issues, according to McCarl Dental Group. Mouth breathing dries up saliva, allowing bacteria and plaque to build up on the teeth, which can cause cavities, gum disease, and chronic bad breath. Regularly breathing through the mouth can also, over time, lead to strained jaw joints, snoring, sleep apnea, enlarged tonsils, and a higher risk for airway disorders, including asthma.

According to Cleveland Clinic, breathing through the mouth disrupts the regular flow of saliva, which typically plays a role in keeping your mouth clean. Dry mouth, pillow drooling and malocclusion also can occur from mouth breathing.

People experiencing symptoms of sinusitis lasting for more than a week are advised to seek a physician. An ENT specialist might recommend a saline solution or over-the-counter medication, and if those don't help symptoms improve, they might prescribe antibiotics, a corticosteroid spray or even recommend sinus surgery, according to NHS inform.

According to ENT and Allergy of New Orleans' website, Dr. Gregory Pippin is certified as both an otolaryngologist and a facial plastic surgeon. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, and completed his medical education at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He then completed a comprehensive residency in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery, facial plastic surgery, and reconstructive surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia in Richmond.