Gateway 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 can evolve from sinusitis, but there are minimally invasive treatment options that can improve or solve the problem. Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers says that balloon sinuplasty, being one of these options, provides for a quick recovery compared to traditional sinus surgery.

"Balloon sinuplasty has a different recovery altogether," Khanna told Gateway Reporter. "Patients are allowed to get back to full normal activities in two days. They say it might feel a bit stuffy, there still may be some mild discomfort, but going back to your normal exercise routine is allowed and doesn't interfere with the healing process. There is less bleeding because there's no real tissue removal here. Pain is considerably less, so there is an overall faster recovery."

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.

Scotland's National Health Service recommends that people experiencing sinusitis symptoms, which 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 breathing better and achieving a greater quality of life.