PHX Reporter

• Untreated sinusitis can result in complications that affect many parts of the body, aside from just the nose.

• Bad breath is a common problem that sinusitis suffers have to deal with due to nasal drainage and mouth breathing.

• There are minimally invasive treatment options available that can treat sinusitis.

Bad breath is one of the many complications that evolve from sinusitis. Dr. John Stewart of Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers says that leaving your sinusitis untreated can lead to drainage from the nose that can affect a person's breath.

"Untreated bacterial sinus infections can produce foul-smelling drainage posteriorly from the nose due to rhinorrhea," Stewart told PHX Reporter. "As this discharge runs down your throat, some can linger, leading to chronic bad breath."

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 threat, bad breath or fatigue, according to Mayo Clinic.

People who suffer from chronic sinus problems are more likely to breathe through their mouths, but mouth breathing can lead to oral health issues, including bad breath, according to Cleveland Clinic. Breathing through the mouth disrupts the regular flow of saliva, which typically plays a role in keeping your mouth clean.

The National Health Service of Scotland recommends that people experiencing symptoms that aren't improving for more than a week should see a physician.

An ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist might recommend a saline solution or over-the-counter medication. If those don't help symptoms improve, the doctor might prescribe antibiotics or a corticosteroid spray. If those treatments do not resolve the sinusitis symptoms, the ENT specialist might recommend a sinus procedure.

There are sinusitis treatment options available that are safe, nonsurgical and minimally invasive. One of these options is known as a balloon sinuplasty, in which doctors insert a guide wire equipped with a small balloon into the nostrils and navigate it to the area of blockage, according to Nuffield Health. The balloon is then gently inflated enough to open the sinuses. These passageways being open leads to patients being able to breathe better and achieving a greater quality of life.