Waking up with morning breath and a bad taste in your mouth is certainly not a fun way to start your day. Unfortunately, it is pretty common, and many people experience it at any point in life. According to the American Academy of General Dentistry, more than 80 million people in the US alone suffer from bad breath. The good news is that bad morning bad breath can be prevented. This article explains everything you need to know about morning breath and how to overcome it.
What is Morning or Bad Breath?
Morning breath, also called bad breath or halitosis, is a condition that is characterized by an unpleasant odor of the mouth. When this happens mainly after waking up, it is known as morning breath.
What Causes Bad Breath?
The American Dental Association highlights the following causes for having bad breath:
Gum Disease
Gum disease is one of the most common causes of morning bad breath because of the bad-smelling and harmful toxins released by the bacteria hiding inside the inflamed gums.
Dry Mouth
One of the most important functions of saliva is to bathe and clean our teeth. In cases where salivary flow or production is reduced – either due to infection or medication – the teeth are not cleaned properly, leading to plaque and tartar deposits that cause bad breath.
Ear, Nose, and Throat Infections
Sometimes, bad breath can be caused by an underlying infection in other body organs such as the lungs, nose, and throat.
Strong-smelled Foods
Morning breath can also be caused due to various foods such as garlic, onions, cheese, pastrami, and certain spices. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, once these foods are digested, their oils are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried into the lungs. The odor of these oils is given off in your breath until all of these foods have been removed from the body.
Tobacco and Smoking
Smoking not only stains your teeth and irritates the gums, but it is also linked with morning breath as it tends to cause dryness of the mouth – leading to gum inflammation – and bad breath.
Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease
People suffering from gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) – also called acid reflux – may also experience bad breath as the stomach acid washes back up to their esophagus and oral cavity – causing halitosis.
How Can I prevent Morning Breath?
Regardless of the cause, bad breath is treatable. The American Academy of General Dentistry highlights the following tips for overcoming bad breath:
Oral Hygiene Maintenance
Brush twice daily and flossing at least once a day can go a long way in preventing halitosis. You may also add a mouthwash to your oral hygiene routine as well, as it will offer added protection against bad breath, teeth cavities, and gum inflammation.
Tooth-Friendly Diet
Try eating healthy foods that require a lot of chewing, like apples, carrots, or green vegetables. These foods are rich in fiber – they will clean your teeth stimulate the salivary glands due to increased chewing, thereby preventing gum inflammation and morning bad breath.
Clean Your Dentures
If you are wearing dentures, you must clean them regularly to prevent food impaction inside them, leading to morning breath. You can clean your dentures by rinsing them in lukewarm water or using any commercial denture cleaning solution.
Sugar-free Gums
Sugar-free gums help stimulate the salivary glands and prevent bad breath.
Increased fluid Intake
Frinking lots of water helps clean the teeth and prevent plaque and tartar, which causes bad breath.
Medical Treatment
If your dentist feels that your bad breath is due to an underlying medical condition, they will refer you to a physician for treatment.
Regular Dentist Visits
Regular visits to your dentist are helpful in the early diagnosis of dental problems that can cause bad breath – in addition to preventing other problems such as teeth cavities and periodontal issues.
Bad breath not only causes embarrassment for many, but it also indicates an underlying medical or dental problem – which must be treated without delay. Fortunately, getting rid of bad breath is easy. If you or one of your loved ones has halitosis, you should visit your dentist immediately to get rid of this problem.