NE Valley Times

• 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 sufferers 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 simple treatment options that can fix the problem. Dr. Franklyn Gergits of the Sinus and Allergy Wellness Center said the benefits from balloon sinuplasty are long-term.

"Studies have shown that years after that procedure, 90 to 95% of the patients had the same nice, wide openings that they did the day of the procedure," Dr. Gergits told NE Valley Times. "So, it looks like it's a good, durable, long-term procedure. Long-term outcomes for the balloon sinuplasty look excellent."

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 throat, bad breath, or fatigue, according to the 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 the Cleveland Clinic. Breathing through the mouth disrupts the regular flow of saliva, which typically plays a role in keeping your mouth clean.

People suffering from sinusitis might experience congestion, facial pain, headaches, toothaches, nasal drainage, a reduced ability to smell, fever, and bad breath, according to NHS Inform.

People experiencing symptoms that aren't improving for more than a week should see a physician.

An ENT specialist might recommend a saline solution or over-the-counter medication, and if those don't help symptoms improve, they 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, non-surgical, and minimally invasive. One option, balloon sinuplasty, is where 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 opening lead to patients achieving a greater quality of life.