If you have halitosis, be on the lookout for postnasal drip symptoms

It's not always as easy as you might think to determine what is causing your bad breath, especially if you're unfamiliar with the signs of oral bacterial growth or with postnasal drip symptoms. The latter can clue you in to the origins of your halitosis.

At its most basic, postnasal drip is a constant flow of excess mucus from your nasal passages down the back of your throat. It's normal for a certain amount of fluid to pass from your nose to your digestive tract. The American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery estimates that a person swallows between one and two quarts of their own nasal discharge every day.

While it may be gross, it's perfectly natural. After all, your nose has to keep itself clean and protect its tissue lining from irritants. The problem is that if you get sick or your sinuses get inflamed, you can experience some unpleasant postnasal drip symptoms.

These include a tickle at the back of your throat, coughing, a sore throat from constant swallowing and, of course, bad breath. This trickle of excess mucus gives oral bacteria something to live on, resulting on pungent bad breath.

Postnasal drip is commonly associated with allergies, colds, the flu and sinusitis, so one of the primary ways to eliminate it is to treat yourself for any nasal condition you may be experiencing. By drinking plenty of water and using a saline nasal spray, you can cleanse your throat and sinuses, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Also, to get rid of halitosis, one of the more pervasive postnasal drip symptoms, try gargling with a specialty mouthwash. Also, you may be interested in a breath freshening nasal spray, which uses all-natural ingredients to both unblock your sinuses and to neutralize odor molecules.