Table of contents:
- Causes of bad breath in the morning
- 1. Decreased saliva production during sleep
- 2. There are problems with the teeth and mouth
- 3. Allergies
- 4. Sleep with your mouth open and snoring
- 5. Smoking
- 6. Taking drugs
- 7. Not maintaining oral hygiene
- 8. Certain health conditions
- How to reduce bad breath in the morning
- Brush teeth and tongue properly
- Use dental floss
Have you ever felt insecure about saying good morning to your partner because of bad breath? Yes, many people must have experienced it. Bad breath in the morning can be annoying. In medical terms this condition is also called halitosis. Sally J. Cram, DDS, a periodontist in the United States (US) and consumer adviser for the American Dental Association says everyone has different levels of bad breath.
Causes of bad breath in the morning
Halitosis is often caused by a build-up of bacteria in your mouth that causes inflammation and gives off an odor or gas that smells like sulfur or even worse. Perhaps you are wondering why bad breath occurs even though you brushed your teeth the night before. Here are some reasons that will answer why your breath smells bad in the morning:
1. Decreased saliva production during sleep
Bad breath in the morning is mostly caused by a lack of saliva. “During the day, your mouth produces large amounts of saliva. But when you sleep, saliva production goes down, "said Drg. Hugh Flax, a dentist and former president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry in Atlanta quoted from Medical Daily.
This decrease in saliva production allows bacteria to grow and produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), which cause bad breath.
2. There are problems with the teeth and mouth
Research shows about 80 percent of bad breath comes from oral sources. For example, cavities in teeth, gum disease, cracked fillings, to unclean dentures. So, for those of you who have problems with your mouth and teeth, that's what triggers your bad breath in the morning.
3. Allergies
Allergies can also cause bad breath. The mucus that drips down the back of your throat provides a food source for bacteria that make bad breath worse.
4. Sleep with your mouth open and snoring
Dr. Cram, a periodontist in the United States, says that if you snore or sleep with your mouth open and breathe through your mouth, you're more likely to have bad breath in the morning than you don't. Both of these situations make the mouth more prone to dryness, so bacteria can grow more. Basically, when you "reduce" the production of saliva in the mouth, it is reducing the ability of the mouth to fight the bacteria that cause bad breath.
5. Smoking
Smoking not only causes your saliva to dry out, it can also raise the temperature of your mouth. This makes your mouth a hotbed for bacteria to multiply more than people who don't smoke. The habit of smoking at night before bed also triggers bad breath to get worse in the morning.
6. Taking drugs
Some medications can cause your mouth to dry out overnight. These conditions worsen your halitosis. That's why older people or people who have to take a lot of medication, often find that their breath is worse in the morning.
7. Not maintaining oral hygiene
The bacteria eat compounds such as protein, amino acids, and leftover food stuck in your teeth and mouth to produce sulfur compounds. This is what causes the bad smell to occur. Those of you who regularly clean your teeth and mouth after eating and before bed have lower levels of bad breath than those who don't.
8. Certain health conditions
Several health conditions can also affect bad breath due to dental complications. Usually, according to Dr. Matthew Nejad and Dr. Kyle Stanley, a dentist in the United States, said the first cause of bad breath was periodontal problems such as gingivitis and periodontitis, which have been shown to be linked to heart disease and stroke.
This shows that your oral health is closely related to other health conditions. Diabetes, liver disease, respiratory infections, and chronic bronchitis are also believed to contribute to bad breath. For that, consult your doctor to get further explanation whether your health condition affects halitosis.
How to reduce bad breath in the morning
Brush teeth and tongue properly
Bad breath-causing bacteria build up on your teeth and tongue. For that, keep it clean by brushing your teeth for at least two minutes. Brush into the cavities and between the teeth so that no food residue sticks to it, which can cause bad breath-causing bacteria to multiply.
In addition, gently clean the tongue both the top and bottom. You can use a gentle toothbrush or use a tongue cleaner. Irwin Smigel, a dentist and president and founder of the American Society for Dental Estestics, said 85 percent of bad breath comes from the tongue.
Use dental floss
Brushing alone will not remove the particles stuck between your teeth and gums. use dental floss to clean dirt in difficult parts. "Flossing It's just as important as brushing your teeth, ”says Kimberly Harms DDS., a dentist and spokesperson for the American Dental Association.
You can use this method to reduce bad breath in the morning. However, you still need to see a dentist to carry out routine control over your oral health. You can also consult it if your bad breath gets worse and even occurs throughout the day.
