u/AdAmazing7575

Hi everyone,

I have a very specific issue with chronic halitosis that follows a weird pattern.

My breath is consistently unpleasant, but it completely clears up when I have a cold and a very runny nose. Once I'm healthy again, the smell returns.

Relevant Info:

Age: 25
Height: 5’2
Gender: Female

I have a background in dental hygiene, so my routine is very thorough (brushing, flossing, tongue scraping). My teeth and gums are healthy, but the "fresh" feeling after brushing only lasts about 10 minutes. I sometimes use gum to manage it. I already try to clear my nose with salt sometimes, but it doesn't seem to solve the root of the problem when I'm healthy.):

**History**: I’ve had a tonsillectomy, so it’s not tonsil stones. I have a deviated septum.

Since my oral hygiene is solid, I suspect the smell comes from the nasopharynx or sinuses. It feels like the heavy mucus flow during a cold "flushes out" stagnant buildup that I can't reach normally. When I'm not sick, that area might just stay dry or the mucus stays too thick and traps bacteria.

1. Could the deviated septum be causing a "blind spot" where bacteria collect, which only gets cleared out during a heavy cold?
2. Are there specific ENT issues (like silent sinus infections or adenoid issues) that present this way?
3. What should I ask an ENT to look for specifically, since standard oral hygiene isn't the issue?

Thanks for any insights!❤️

Hi everyone,

I have a very specific issue with chronic halitosis that follows a weird pattern.

My breath is consistently unpleasant, but it completely clears up when I have a cold and a very runny nose. Once I'm healthy again, the smell returns.

Relevant Info:

Age: 25
Height: 5’2
Gender: Female

I have a background in dental hygiene, so my routine is very thorough (brushing, flossing, tongue scraping). My teeth and gums are healthy, but the "fresh" feeling after brushing only lasts about 10 minutes. I sometimes use gum to manage it. I already try to clear my nose with salt sometimes, but it doesn't seem to solve the root of the problem when I'm healthy.):

History: I’ve had a tonsillectomy, so it’s not tonsil stones. I have a deviated septum.

Since my oral hygiene is solid, I suspect the smell comes from the nasopharynx or sinuses. It feels like the heavy mucus flow during a cold "flushes out" stagnant buildup that I can't reach normally. When I'm not sick, that area might just stay dry or the mucus stays too thick and traps bacteria.

1. Could the deviated septum be causing a "blind spot" where bacteria collect, which only gets cleared out during a heavy cold?
2. Are there specific ENT issues (like silent sinus infections or adenoid issues) that present this way?
3. What should I ask an ENT to look for specifically, since standard oral hygiene isn't the issue?

Thanks for any insights!❤️