Sore Throat With Halitosis: When Do I Need To Seek Treatment?

If you’ve got a sore throat and halitosis (bad breath), then this could be a sign of a range of different conditions. Some of these will require treatment, and some not. If you’re currently thinking about sore throat treatment and struggling with halitosis at the same time, these are some of the signs that getting some professional help might be required.

What causes a sore throat with halitosis?

There could be any number of reasons for this. For example, you might have an infection - such as tonsillitis - which will both cause an inflamed throat and concurrent halitosis. It could be the result of acid reflux or sinusitis as well as a range of other health conditions, some of which might need a sore throat treatment. Here are the main culprits where a sore throat with halitosis is concerned:

Tonsillitis

This can be the result of a bacterial or viral infection and causes the tonsils to become inflamed. If you’ve got tonsillitis, then you’ll have a sore throat, halitosis, as well as a range of other symptoms such as a fever, difficulty swallowing and swelling in the lymph nodes around your neck. Seeking treatment in this instance is always recommended.

Strep throat

Due to Strep Throat being highly contagious, many people have suffered it at some point. It is a bacterial infection that starts quickly and will make the inside of your throat appear red. There may also be red spots on the roof of your mouth and white dots on your tonsils. Other symptoms of Strep Throat include a fever and swollen lymph nodes - but this infection doesn’t cause a cough or a runny nose.

Bronchitis

When the ‘bronchi’ - the main airway in your lungs - becomes infected, this causes bronchitis. The result can be bad breath and a sore throat, as well as coughing, wheezing and excessive mucus. For most people, bronchitis will get better without treatment. However, it’s important to ensure that you are improving continuously, as around one in 20 cases can become pneumonia.

Scarlet fever

Another bacterial infection, Scarlet Fever, is characterised by a high fever (38 degrees or more) and may also come with a rash - alongside the halitosis and sore throat. If you’ve got these symptoms, it’s always recommended to get some help.

Common Cold

One of the less severe causes of a sore throat with halitosis is the everyday cold. This is a virus that is spread from person to person but doesn’t usually need any sore throat treatment - or any other kind of professional intervention. Alongside a sore throat and bad breath, the most obvious sign of a common cold is a runny nose.

Acid reflux

If you don’t have any symptoms of a cold or an infection, then your sore throat and halitosis could be the result of acid reflux. This is where a weaker low oesophageal sphincter means that stomach acid can go back up into the oesophagus. There are lots of over-the-counter remedies for acid reflux that will work for most people.

Sore throat treatment and other professional support is often required for a sore throat with halitosis, depending on the cause. Are you in need in treatment or suspect one of the conditions listed in the article? Reach out to us and we’ll be happy to develop a treatment plan tailored to you. Fill in our contact form with your information at https://www.harleystreetent.com/contact-us