The Truth About Morning Breath: Causes and Solutions
It doesn’t matter how well you brush or who often you floss – you are likely to have morning breath some of the time. This stinky problem occurs when a person wakes up and their breath is particularly bad. Depending on the cause and severity of your morning breath, there may be simple or complex steps to be taken. Read on to learn more. If you need help from an experienced dental professional, contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 today.
Morning breath could be minor or severe
The first thing to cover is what morning breath actually is and what it isn’t. Halitosis is the word that is most commonly used to describe chronic bad breath. Halitosis is serious enough that just swishing a little mouthwash or chewing a piece of gum is not going to make a long-term difference. When halitosis is around all or most of the time, it could be a sign of a serious issue. Having morning breath is not an indication of halitosis.
The causes of morning breath
For most people, morning breath is nothing more than the result of their natural oral bacteria building up while they sleep. Each person’s mouth has good and bad bacteria in it. That bacteria goes through an entire lifecycle in a person’s mouth, including creating, producing waste, dying, etc. Depending on where the bacteria is within that cycle, it could have no scent, or it could be foul smelling.
When you are sleeping, bacteria can work without being interrupted by eating, brushing, flossing, spitting, etc. As a result, breath can become much worse after a period of rapid bacteria growth.
Factors that can make morning breath worse
Since every person has bacteria in their mouth, every person is susceptible to morning breath. However, there are some factors that can make it worse. First, any food that is left in the mouth overnight can make morning breath worse. Certain foods are worse than others, including garlic and onions. With these foods, they actually enter the bloodstream, which is why brushing alone can’t get rid of the smell.
Saliva is your mouth’s best friend as it acts as a cleanser for your mouth. It works to break down bad bacteria and it can wash away any food that remains after you eat. If you are experiencing dry mouth, then your saliva is not being produced at the same levels. This can cause seriously bad smells. When you combine this with the fact that saliva production, even when at its best, slows down during sleep, and then add in leftover particles if good oral health procedures are not followed, and it is a recipe for bad breath.
There are other things that can affect a person’s breath, such as medications and their age. If you are concerned about your breath and have noticed that it’s been getting worse and worse, then it is wise to talk to a dentist. It could be a simple issue or it could be the result of advanced gum disease. Only your dentist can give you the answers.
