Allergies can lead to bad breath, halitosis

Bad breath, halitosis, oral odor - whatever you choose to call it, by any other name it would smell as sour. Having a stinky mouth is no joke, which is why specialty breath fresheners are a vital part of any effective oral care regimen. That goes double for people with allergies, since sensitivity to food, man-made irritants and environmental allergens can lead to bad breath in several ways.

Believe it or not, allergies can contribute to halitosis. This sad fact accounts for millions of cases of bad breath, since allergies are exceedingly common in the U.S.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), allergies affect between 40 and 50 million Americans. Consider the ways that sensitivity to the environment can lead to bad breath, halitosis or whatever you want to call it:

- Allergic rhinitis. About 8 percent of U.S. adults have been diagnosed with this condition, better known as hayfever. Nasal allergies can cause excess mucus production in the nose and sinus cavities, leading to post-nasal drip. As nasal discharge slides down the back of the throat, it can give oral bacteria a place to multiply, leading to rank bad breath.

- Sinusitis. Roughly 12 percent of adults have chronic sinusitis, a condition in which the sinuses suffer from infection after infection. The AAAAI states that sinusitis is one of the prime types of chronic disease in the U.S. It also happens to fuel headaches, sinus pressure and bad-smelling exhalations.

- Food allergies. These can be quite serious. Among other things, an indication of a food allergy is a marked change in the smell of your breath. About 3 percent of American adults have at least one food allergy.

To eliminate the smell of halitosis related to allergies of any kind, alcohol-free breath fresheners and specialty probiotics kits can be used to sweeten the breath and kill odor-causing bacteria.