Your phone's alarm goes off, waking you from a restful night's slumber. You rub the sleep from your eyes and prepare to tackle the day. Then you recognize it. That all too familiar taste accompanied by what feels like a wool sweater on your tongue. And you can practically smell the odour coming from your mouth. Yep, it's morning breath. Morning breath can be embarrassing, but it's nothing to be ashamed of; everyone's been there before. Here are some prevention and treatment tips so you can wake up a little happier and feeling fresh.
What is Morning Breath?
Morning breath is a form of bad breath, known medically as halitosis. Bad breath is most often caused by the action of certain mouth bacteria on food particles in the mouth, notes the Merck Manuals. As you sleep, food particles collect between your teeth, on the tongue and along the gum line. Your mouth bacteria break down those particles leaving foul-smelling chemicals in your mouth.
What Causes Morning Breath?
- Food. In addition to leftover food in the mouth, certain types of food can cause smelly breath. Garlic, onions and spices enter the bloodstream once digested. Those chemicals are then carried to your lungs, so you are literally exhaling those stinky odours, especially if you eat foods late at night before going to sleep.
- Dry mouth. Persistent bad breath can be attributed to dry mouth according to the Ontario Dental Association. During the day, saliva helps rid the mouth of bacteria. But when you're asleep, the production of saliva decreases, so your mouth becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Also known as xerostomia, dry mouth decreases saliva production. Breathing through your mouth or snoring also increases dry mouth, contributing to the foul smell.
- Neglecting oral care.In addition to removing those pesky food particles with proper brushing and flossing, disregarding good oral care can lead to periodontal disease.
- Tobacco. There's a reason smokers have lousy breath. Smokers are also more prone to gum disease because of it.
- Medications. Certain medications result in dry mouth which increases bacteria, worsening morning breath conditions.
How to Prevent Morning Breath
The good news is that you can take preventive measures before you go to bed. Try these tips to avoid morning breath:
- Stay hydrated: Drink water before going to sleep at night, and keep a bottle on your nightstand in case you wake up thirsty.
- You are what you eat: Avoid strong-smelling foods and drinks like garlic, onions, black tea or coffee before bed.
- Butt out: Quitting tobacco use can improve your overall health in many ways, in addition to keeping your mouth from smelling foul in the morning.
