Throat Mucus and Bad Breath

Normally, our throat secretes a small amount of mucus, which has a protective effect. However, some people often have mucus in their throat and also experience bad breath. When these two conditions occur together, it is easy to associate them with each other. To address bad breath, it is important to identify the underlying cause. If there is an underlying disease, it should be actively treated to eliminate the bad breath. So, can throat mucus cause bad breath? Let's take a look below.

Can Throat Mucus Cause Bad Breath?

If you have chronic pharyngitis, there is a possibility of anaerobic bacteria parasitizing and infecting, which can cause bad breath. Chronic pharyngitis is mainly caused by incomplete treatment of acute pharyngitis, repeated episodes, or conversion to chronic conditions. It can also be caused by various nasal diseases, nasal obstruction, long-term open-mouth breathing, as well as frequent irritation of the throat due to physical, chemical factors, and neck radiotherapy. Various chronic systemic diseases, such as anemia, constipation, chronic lower respiratory inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, can also lead to this condition. Symptoms include discomfort, dryness, itchiness, swelling, excessive secretions with burning pain, easy dryness and nausea, sensation of foreign body, difficulty in coughing up or swallowing, which may worsen after talking a lot, eating stimulating foods, being fatigued, or with changes in weather. Breathing and swallowing may also be obstructed by a feeling of something blocking the way.

Treatment Guidelines for Chronic Pharyngitis

1. Eliminate various pathogenic factors, such as treating systemic diseases and sinusitis. Pay attention to nutrition and strengthen physical exercise. Avoid stimulating foods, alcohol, and smoking. Wear a mask when working in an environment with dust or irritating gases.

2. Adopt different treatment methods based on the type of pharyngitis. Local treatment may include gargling with compound borax solution, furacilin solution, or dilute salt water, and taking various lozenges. Oral administration of Jin Sang Li Yan Wan, Le Pin Qing, and drinking plenty of water are also recommended.

3. Do not randomly use Paida Hai to make a decoction.

4. For hypertrophic pharyngitis, laser ablation or microwave coagulation may be applied.

5. Nebulizer inhalation treatment can be performed, which is beneficial for symptoms such as dryness and dry cough.

Western medicine generally focuses on topical treatment, such as using mouthwash with 2% boric acid solution, 3% saline solution, or 1:5000 furacilin solution to gargle repeatedly. Alternatively, 2% iodine glycerin, 5% strong protein silver solution can be applied to the pharyngeal wall, or iodine lozenges, domiphen bromide, and menthol can be taken orally, all of which can help alleviate symptoms. Topical symptomatic treatment can also include the use of traditional Chinese medicine preparations, such as Caoshanhu Lozenge and Xiguashuang.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the treatment of this condition focuses on addressing the underlying causes according to syndrome differentiation, which often leads to better outcomes. Commonly used herbs include those for yin deficiency and fire excess (such as Maidong, Shengdi,玄参, Baishao, Gancao, Shengshigao, Bohe, Chuanbeifen, Danpi, Sangye, etc.), those for phlegm obstruction and blood stasis (such as玄参, Muzhi, Chuanbei, Shengdi, Maidong, Sanleng, Kunbu, Haizao, etc.), and those for yin deficiency and fluid depletion (such as Baishashen, Maidong, Wuweizi, Shihu, Yuzhu, Baimaogen, Zhuru, etc.). These herbs are typically prescribed as a daily decoction to soothe and moisturize the throat.