The fields around my house have turned bright yellow with rapeseed and hay fever season is now well under way for me. I’m sure there are many of you that are also suffering, but I bet you never knew that hay fever could cause bad breath as well as your other symptoms.  Any nasal condition that increases mucus production has the potential to cause bad breath and allergies are a surefire way to boost this production, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.

Hay fever itself strikes when you are having an allergic reaction to something in the air. In most cases it is some sort of pollen or fungus spores that sets off the attack. As you breathe these micro particles into your nose, throat and lungs they become irritated. Then your body goes to work to get rid of the foreign substance. The eyes start to water and feel itchy which makes them look and feel puffy. As the eyes water they drain into the nostrils, which are already becoming inflamed themselves. This puts mucus production into overdrive and your nose starts running.  A runny nose feeds anaerobic bacteria at the back of the throat, which in turn emit foul aromas as a byproduct of their digestion.

So what can be done about bad breath caused by a runny nose? Besides gargling with a specialty breath freshening rinse, individuals with this form of oral odour may consider trying probiotics, which can replace smell-causing microbes with less harmful varieties.

Likewise, taking an over-the-counter allergy medication can reduce or even put a halt to your hay fever induced runny nose. The best treatment is to wash your face and hands as soon as you start to feel the hay fever coming on and drink plenty of cool fresh water. If you’re taking anti-histamines, be aware that they could dry out your mouth, so if you keep your mouth moist and clean you can greatly reduce the chances of your breath becoming offensive.

sources: EzineArticles.com/4291250 and therabreath website