BAD BREATH

These Are The Reasons Why You Have Bad Breath in the Morning and How to Cure It

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Imagine waking up from a restful slumber, only to be welcomed by an unpleasant taste in your mouth and a slick coating on your tongue? That’s called morning bad breath. There’s nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about because we all are familiar with this discomfort. Morning breath is a common occurrence, and fortunately, manageable too. But what exactly is it and why does it happen? Let’s find out.

What is morning breath?

Medically referred to as halitosis, it is a form of bad breath that usually occurs in the morning. There are various causes of bad breath, but the primary reason for bad breath is your lifestyle, and not flossing enough. This can lead to the accumulation of food particles between your teeth and tongue, and along the gum line. The bacteria in your mouth then breaks down those leftover food particles as you sleep, a process that leaves behind a bad odour and taste.

What causes morning breath?

Let’s look at some of the common causes of bad breath or halitosis:

  • Food : Apart from the leftover food particles, eating certain types of foods such as spices, garlic, and onions can also leave distinctive bad breath, especially if you eat them late at night, before bedtime. These foods can enter the bloodstream once they are digested, and make you exhale those stinky odours.

  • Lack of moisture : During the day, your mouth produces enough saliva for self-cleansing. However, when you’re asleep, the saliva production is reduced, which causes a dry mouth and slower self-cleansing mechanism, thus leading to bad breath. Studies have shown that most instances of bad breath occur because of dry mouth. Having certain medications can also lead to dry mouth and cause bad breath in the morning.

  • Neglecting oral hygiene : Your oral hygiene routine (or a lack of it) can largely contribute to whether or not you will develop morning breath. Failing to take care of your teeth and poor dental hygiene can lead to halitosis in no time.

  • Smoking : If you consume tobacco or smoke, then you are at a greater risk of having morning breath, along with a range of gum diseases.

What are the ways to cure morning breath?

If you think your breath smells when you wake up, the next step is to learn how to prevent bad breath in the morning. The good news is, it is curable, and here are some tips on how to get rid of morning breath

  • Brush your teeth : This is a no-brainer. Brushing your teeth is the first line of defense against morning breath. Additionally, having a solid dental routine, which includes brushing twice a day, flossing before bed, and rinsing your mouth after every meal; can go a long way to cure bad breath and prevent it as well. Using proper dental products such as Oral-B toothbrushes will also help you.

  • Clean your tongue : Since morning breath accompanies a sticky white coating on your tongue, a good idea would be to give it a quick cleanse with a tongue scraper. You can do this in the morning post brushing, and perhaps also in the evening if you’ve had a long day.

  • Use mouthwash: After brushing your teeth, especially in the morning, make sure you rinse your mouth thoroughly with an expert-recommended, antiseptic, antibacterial mouthwash. Not only will it cure morning breath, but it will also prevent other contributing diseases such as gingivitis.

  • Chewing gum: If you feel lazy to brush your teeth first thing in the morning, simply chew gum. You can call it an easy hack on how to get rid of bad morning breath. Tossing a piece of dental-approved, sugar-free mint in your mouth is a smart way to go about it. It gives a head start to the saliva production in your mouth until you make up your mind about brushing your teeth.

  • Take care of your health: Not just the lack of dental hygiene, your overall health and lifestyle also contribute to morning breath. Stay hydrated. A simple hack is to drink some water just before you tuck yourself into bed. You can also keep a bottle of water by your bedside, in case you wake up thirsty and need it. Avoid foods like coffee, black tea, onions, and garlic, before going to bed. Try to quit tobacco if you consume it regularly.

Having morning breath is normal, there’s no need to panic. Instead, ensure to upgrade your dental hygiene routine and use superior-quality products such as the Oral-B electric toothbrush to combat and even prevent halitosis. You can now use this dentist-recommended #1 brand for your oral care. Happy brushing!

Here’s a complete guide on bad breath by Oral-B India.