No matter how clean a person you are or how attentive you are to your hygiene, chances are you have experienced the rancid smell of morning breath emanating from your mouth — or your partner’s — when you wake up at least once in your life.
You may be wondering what causes morning breath and what you can do to treat it. At Park Avenue Dental, we’ve helped patients have their healthiest smiles and best breath for over a decade. Read on for our simple tips.
What Causes Morning Breath?
Bad breath, known as halitosis, is common, affecting approximately 1 in 4 people. Those who suffer from bad morning breath often inadequate care of their mouths by not brushing, flossing, or seeing their dentist for preventative care.
The problem with morning breath is that it isn’t just annoying, but if persistent, it can be a sign of other dental problems such as gingivitis or periodontitis.
Dry Mouth
Our mouths produce the saliva needed to break down food during our waking hours, but as we sleep, this production slows. Mouth breathers, certain medications, or dry mouth conditions can cause disgusting morning breath.
Poor Hygiene
Another often seen cause of nasty morning breath is not taking care of your teeth and gums as you should. If we don’t keep up with our brushing and flossing, food particles become trapped in between the teeth, along the gum line, or on our tongues, leading to bacteria releasing what are known as volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) that create unpleasant odors.
Certain Foods
What you eat may also be to blame for your morning breath. Garlic and onions are among the worst offenders, and if you eat these before bedtime, these can be responsible for how rancid your breath is in the morning. Similarly, people who suffer from gastrointestinal reflux (GERD) sometimes get bad breath if their stomach acid moves back up their esophagus as they sleep, particularly if they have eaten something that exacerbates it.
How to Prevent Morning Breath
You may be wondering how to prevent morning breath from happening in the first place. One easy way is to be as diligent as possible with your oral hygiene, especially before going to bed. Brush and floss your teeth to get rid of food pockets and particles that harbor bacteria, and don’t forget to brush your tongue too with a scraper or toothbrush. You can also cut back on your sugar and carbohydrate intake to help your teeth and gums stay healthy, increase your daily water consumption, and quit smoking if you do.
Park Avenue Dental Helps You Say Goodnight to Morning Breath
Of course, the best thing you can do to prevent and treat bad morning breath is to visit your Park Avenue Dental provider routinely for preventative maintenance and care. We offer general, cosmetic, and restorative dental services, including deep cleanings for the whole family to keep your mouths healthy and happy — and your breath fresh at the same time. Contact us today to set up your appointment for your Gainesville, Florida dental exam.
