What Causes Bad Breath, Thick Yellow Mucus And Lump In Throat?

Posted on Sun, 18 Oct 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 18 Oct 2015 Answered on

Mon, 9 Nov 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi. Every morning when i wake up my breath is foul and my mucus is yellow and sometimes really thick and i can see it on my toungue. I scrap my tongue and right back in my mouth to remove all the yellow mucus. Brush, floss and gargle. But my breath is still bad not as bad after ive done the clean and scrap. But it also feels like i have a lump in my throat and need to swallow all the time during the day. Please help.

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (59 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Upper respiratory infections and laryngopharyngeal reflux can give this.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for asking HCM.

I have gone through your query. Recurrent upper respiratory infections like sinusitis or tonsillitis and laryngopharyngeal reflux can cause this.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux can be controlled by taking proton pump inhibitors like esomeprazole and motility enhancers like domperidone for 4 weeks.

Examination with ENT specialist should be done to rule out chronic tonsillitis or sinusitis.

You should also clean your teeth and tongue morning and evening. Keeping water in mouth for 15 minutes and spitting out after brushing in the morning and before bedtime is helpful also.

Hope this may help you. Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar