South Jersey Sun

• Dr. Andrew Ordon of "The Doctors" says sinusitis is a common cause of bad breath.
• Sinusitis can cause other side effects, such as headaches, facial pain and pressure.
• Treating sinusitis can be both simple and low-risk.

Dr. Andrew Ordon, Emmy-nominated co-host of The Doctors talk show, recently answered a viewer's question about the potential for sinusitis to cause bad breath.

"Yes, for sure,” Ordon said in a recent filming of the show. “The minute that those sinuses get clogged up, you have a buildup of mucus...bacteria grow in there. They cause an odor that spreads not only into the nasal cavities, but down into your mouth. In fact, bad breath is one of the major symptoms of sinusitis."

Symptoms of sinusitis consist of yellow or green drainage from the nose, pressure and pain in the face, a clogged nose, bad breath, coughing up mucus, particularly during the evening, as well as fever and chills, according to Merck Manual.

Ordon has worked as a surgeon for more than 30 years, according to his website. He has been nominated twice for an Emmy for his role as a co-host of the talk show The Doctors.

"First and foremost, a lot of patients with sinusitis also have nasal congestion" Dr. Nicola DeLorio of Accent Head and Neck Group said. "So, they're not breathing well, or they're snoring through the night, which disrupts their quality of sleep. In addition, if the snoring is bad enough, they may develop what's called sleep apnea, where they actually stop breathing during sleep, putting stress on the heart and lungs. So, it not only disrupts their sleep, it also puts them at increased risk for heart attacks, stroke and pulmonary hypertension."

Balloon sinuplasty is most often advised for individuals with chronic sinusitis, after other treatments for their condition have been ineffective, according to Heathline. Reported complications with balloon sinuplasties are minimal. With this procedure, there’s no cutting or removal of bones or tissue.

A related medical survey can be found here.