Why do we wake up with bad breath: What Causes Morning Breath and How Do You Get Rid of It?

09.04.202316.07.2023 by alexxlab

Prevention, Causes, Treatment, and More

Morning Breath: Prevention, Causes, Treatment, and More

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Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — By Ana Gotter — Updated on March 27, 2018

Waking up with morning breath isn’t a fun way to start your day. But it’s extremely common, and most people experience it at some point. Fortunately, it can be treated like all other causes of halitosis (bad breath).

There are a number of different causes of morning breath, but the two biggest causes are dry mouth and bad oral hygiene.

Dry mouth

If you have good oral hygiene, dry mouth is most likely to blame. Saliva is responsible for removing the bacteria that can cause bad breath. When we sleep, saliva production decreases significantly. Certain medications can cause dry mouth, making morning breath even worse.

Poor oral hygiene

Poor oral hygiene is another common cause. Our mouths are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. If you’re not brushing or flossing effectively, food particles can get stuck in crevices on the surface on the tongue, between the teeth, or along our gum tissue.

The bacteria in your mouth will break down those food particles, which releases the lovely bad breath come morning time.

Morning breath can be a symptom of periodontal disease, especially if poor oral hygiene goes unchecked. Periodontal disease affects the gums, causing infections in pockets beneath the teeth that can cause strong, persistent halitosis. Periodontal disease —which starts as gingivitis — will need to be treated by your dentist.

Eating certain foods

What you put into your body can result in morning breath. Eating strong-smelling foods in the evening like garlic or raw onions can cause morning breath the next day, even if you brush your teeth well.

Tobacco

Tobacco use — particularly smoking — is also directly linked to both morning breath and general halitosis. It can dry out your mouth and make you more prone to gum disease. Add the smoke smell on top, and it can be a recipe for potent breath.

GERD

People with gastrointestinal reflux (GERD) — also known as acid reflux — may experience bad breath due to stomach acid washing back up in their esophagus when they sleep at night.

In many cases, morning breath can be treated at home with a combination of better oral care and lifestyle changes.

Maintaining impeccable oral hygiene is both the best quick fix and long-term solution for bad breath of any kind. Brush your teeth immediately before you go to bed at night, and don’t eat or drink anything afterward. Doing so can introduce food particles that will be broken down over night. Floss your teeth and use an antiseptic mouthwash after using a tongue scraper.

If you wear a retainer or other orthodontic gear, clean it daily. Brush your teeth as soon as you’re awake to eliminate any remaining morning breath.

If you’re smoking or using tobacco, stop immediately.

Sugar-free gum may also be helpful, especially if you’re on the go and experiencing recurrent bad breath along with morning breath. Sugar-free gum doesn’t give the bacteria in your mouth sugar to thrive on. It can also help to stimulate the flow of saliva and freshen your breath simultaneously.

Your dentist will need to treat periodontal disease with deep cleanings. This will likely include a scaling and root planing procedure, where your dentist removes plaque and calculus from the teeth and gums. Depending on how advanced the infection is, surgery may be required.

For those experiencing bad breath as a result of GERD, your doctor can prescribe acid-reducing medication that you can take at night before you sleep. They also may recommend sleeping in a more upright position to reduce acid in the esophagus.

Morning breath can be treated, but most people would prefer to avoid it altogether.

What you put in your body matters a great deal:

Drink lots of water, especially before you go to bed at night. This keeps you hydrated, preventing dry mouth and the resulting bad breath.
Avoid strong-smelling foods at night, like garlic or onion, and skip out on coffee (even decaf) once the afternoon is over. Ultimately, a healthy, well-balanced diet will help your overall health and can reduce morning breath.
Giving up tobacco can improve your breath instantly, day and night.

It’s imperative to practice good oral hygiene on a regular basis to both treat and prevent morning breath. Brush your teeth for two minutes before you go to bed before flossing and using an antiseptic mouth rinse to kill off any extra bacteria. You should also use a tongue scraper to keep your tongue clean.

If you’ve followed all the prevention methods and home treatments and nothing seems to work, make an appointment with your dentist. They can help you determine the cause of your morning breath and identify the best treatment options moving forward.

Last medically reviewed on March 26, 2018

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Auger S. (n.d.). Morning breath: prevention, treatment, and tips.
colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/conditions/bad-breath/morning-breath-prevention-treatment-tips-0516
Bad breath. (2012).
ada.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/for_the_dental_patient_sept_2012.ashx?_ga=2.177955109.1869501281.1520178547-1452668450.1496595625
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Bad breath.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bad-breath/symptoms-causes/syc-20350922

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Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — By Ana Gotter — Updated on March 27, 2018

What Causes Morning Breath and How to Treat It | Mountain Top Periodontics & Implants

Eww, that smell! If you awake with morning breath, chances are someone notices it and has remarked how awful it is. Or maybe you’ve noticed it and you’re covering your mouth so other people don’t get a whiff of it. But why do you have morning breath to begin with? And how do you get rid of it for good?

Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath, called halitosis, is pretty common. The Academy of General Dentistry states that somewhere around 80 million people suffer from chronic bad breath. Those who do not brush, floss, and visit the dentist regularly are more likely to have halitosis than people with good oral hygiene habits. People who take medications, suffer from dry mouth, and those who breathe through their mouths instead of their noses may suffer from bad breath. Even if none of these things apply to you, you can still suffer from bad breath due to eating certain foods or first thing in the morning.

Morning breath is often caused by the lack of saliva in your mouth. When you’re awake your mouth usually produces enough saliva to break down food particles that allow odor-causing bacteria to grow. But when you’re asleep, the saliva production slows down and the bacteria starts growing and produces what is called ‘volatile sulfur compounds’ or VSC which cause your mouth to stink.

What Is Morning Breath and Why Do You Have It?

If you mouth breathe, chances are you mouth breathe while sleeping and that causes your mouth to dry out. Dry mouth equals little saliva, which causes morning breath.

Related Article:
Mouth Breathing Causes Tooth Decay

Link Between Bad Breath and Health Problems

Bad breath isn’t just an inconvenience. It can be a sign of gingivitis and periodontitis, which can lead to other more serious concerns such as stroke and heart disease. In fact, the toxins in the mouth bacteria can be so bad, they’ve been implicated in Alzheimer’s and oral cancer. If you’re dealing with bad breath, you should speak to your periodontist, Dr. Jeanne Salcetti, about it. She can determine if you need further treatment gum disease.

Bye, Bye Morning Breath

You can reduce the effects of morning breath by practicing good oral hygiene, especially before bed. Brushing and flossing helps get rid of pockets of food that can harbor bacteria. You can also clean your tongue to remove large amounts of bacteria that have gathered to give you morning breath during the night.

To clean your tongue, you’ll need a tongue scraper, a toothbrush with soft bristles, or even a spoon. If your tongue is pink and shiny, it isn’t harboring much bacteria, but if it has a white film covering it, it’s a sign you have bad breath. If you need confirmation, lick your clean wrist and let your wrist dry. Then, smell it. If your breath is stinky, your wrist will be stinky too.
Get rid of the film by either gently scraping your tongue with the tongue scraper or the spoon. Or, alternatively, you can brush your tongue to get it clean. That way, you’ll have less of a chance of having morning breath when you wake up.

See Your Dentist Regularly

Since bad breath isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s important to take care of it, especially if you have chronic bad breath. Seeing your dentist regularly, practicing good oral hygiene, and cutting down on sugar and carbohydrate-laden food is a good way to keep your teeth and gums healthy. If you have concerns about gum disease and halitosis, be sure to see a periodontist who can address those problems.

If you are suffering from morning breath, visit the office of Mountain Top Periodontics & Implants.

We can help.

Causes of bad breath and how to get rid of it

Bad breath after sleeping or eating is a fairly common phenomenon. If the unpleasant smell disappears after brushing your teeth and does not appear for a long time, then there is nothing to worry about. But in some cases, even toothpaste can not cope with it. And this is a serious symptom that needs to be paid attention to. We recommend that you make an appointment with the specialists of the Diamond Star Aesthetic Dentistry Center as soon as possible.

Why there is bad breath

In the morning, almost all adults and even children have an unpleasant smell, which is associated with physiological processes in the body. At night, less saliva is produced and mild dehydration occurs. Anaerobic bacteria accumulated in the mouth produce a foul-smelling gas. It is usually enough to drink a glass of water in the morning, brush your teeth, and fresh breath is immediately restored. But sometimes this does not happen, and the person experiences unpleasant symptoms throughout the day. And this already speaks of a disease – halitosis.

Causes of halitosis

The first is oral, which includes 80% of cases. We are talking about diseases of the oral cavity and nasopharynx. The second is called systemic, as it is associated with pathologies of internal organs. Only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis. Therefore, when halitosis appears, we advise you to make an appointment with a dentist who will conduct a thorough examination and begin treatment. If necessary, you will be referred for a consultation with a specialist.

Oral halitosis

Accompanied by strong odor from the mouth, which appears as a result of:

dental diseases – stomatitis, caries, pulpitis, gingivitis, as well as wisdom teeth eruption
ENT diseases – inflammation of the tonsils, adenoids and nasal mucosa
dry mouth

Removable and non-removable dentures can also be a source of bad breath if hygiene is poor. Therefore, it is very important to brush them thoroughly with a brush at least twice a day, and preferably after each meal. Do not forget to rinse your mouth with special refreshing solutions, use floss and irrigator.

Systemic form of halitosis

As a rule, bad breath accompanies diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, liver, kidneys, endocrine system, etc. It also occurs due to taking certain medications, as well as as a result of bad habits – Smoking and alcohol abuse. But there are other reasons:

the smell of acetone or rotting apples appears in children and adults with type I and II diabetes
the smell of ammonia can indicate problems with the kidneys
sweet smell – a symptom of liver disease
sour smell usually due to bronchial asthma
A putrid odor accompanies inflammation of the intestines

Basic treatments

Usually, to get rid of bad breath, it is enough to carry out professional hygiene in the chair at the Diamond Star Center for Aesthetic Dentistry. It will remove soft and hard plaque – the source of diseases of the teeth and gums. In addition, after the procedure, even caries at the stain stage is clearly visible on cleaned teeth. The doctor will promptly carry out treatment and install a seal.
As a rule, a strongly pronounced smell appears with inflammation of the gums. Using ultrasound, the doctor will clean periodontal pockets from plaque and prescribe therapy.

Our recommendations

Many problems can be avoided if halitosis is prevented in time. Here are some tips to help you keep your breath fresh.

Quality Hygiene
This is not only obligatory brushing of teeth in the morning and evening, but also the use of floss, floss, irrigator. Do not forget to clean the plaque from the tongue and, if possible, rinse your mouth with a special solution after eating.
Regular preventive examination
Once every six months, you need to visit the dentist and undergo professional hygiene. The doctor will perform a cleaning that will protect your teeth from caries and bad breath.
Normalize your water intake
It has been proven that a person needs to drink 1.5 to 2 liters of clean water daily. It is necessary for the normal functioning of all body systems.
Proper diet
Your menu must include not only fresh berries, fruits and vegetables, but also green tea. Try to eat as little fried foods as possible.

Specialists of the Diamond Star Aesthetic Dentistry Center will take care of you – they will identify and eliminate the cause of the unpleasant odor and restore fresh breath.

Make an appointment

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Five Ways to Beat Bad Breath

When it comes to confidence – especially on a first date – it’s important not to let bad breath get in the way. Bad breath is a nightmare that can make you feel embarrassed when meeting new people, or even make you stay at home. What are the best life hacks to fight bad breath?

We have all experienced bad breath, especially after coffee or spicy food. However, often we are not aware of the problem – embarrassed friends are embarrassed to talk about such things. You can ask a friend a direct question or check yourself by breathing into your palm. Waking up with bad breath or noticed that your friends try not to get too close? Follow our five tips and gain fresh breath confidence!

Start with oral hygiene. Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day, morning and evening, use a fresh breath paste like Closeup and make sure you don’t miss anything. Daily flossing helps fight plaque and remove food debris (especially if your teeth are close together). Ignoring this point often leads to the appearance of an unpleasant odor. You should also use a tongue scraper once a day. You should also use mouthwash every day, especially if you have a date – it gets where a toothbrush can’t. And finally, you need to visit the dentist regularly to help get rid of caries.

2. Alas, no garlic

Foods that cause bad breath include garlic, onions, coffee, and alcohol (avoid these if you plan on kissing). Freshly cooked onions and garlic smell stronger, but they may be less noticeable in ready-made sauces. Pizza and other dishes can often have hidden ingredients, so read the menu carefully. Freshness of breath can also be negatively affected by a protein-rich meat diet.

3. Defeat bad breath in the morning

Are you afraid of your breath in the morning? This is not uncommon, as reduced salivation at night can lead to an increase in the number of bacteria. Drink water immediately after waking up, brush your teeth, rinse your mouth with mouthwash after breakfast and coffee.

4. Drink water

Water does wonders for bad breath, so don’t forget to put a glass of water on your bedside table and take a bottle of water with you to the gym. Bacterial growth is promoted by dry mouth, which upsets the natural balance, so remember to drink water. Record how much water you drink and when, and gradually increase the amount. If you breathe through your mouth while you sleep, your tongue, gums, and oral mucosa dry out. To calculate the optimal daily water intake for you, consult with a specialist.

5. Quit smoking

Once upon a time, smoking was considered tempting, but now it smells bad – in the truest sense of the word. Tobacco threatens the gums and worsens the smell of the mouth in the morning. Kissing a smoker is like kissing an ashtray, so to increase your attractiveness, you have to give up cigarettes. This way you are less likely to get cancer, and you will look better – smoking contributes to skin aging.

Closeup Toothpaste is a great friend in the fight against bad breath thanks to its formula fortified with antibacterial mouthwash and new gel technology. It helps to achieve better cleansing, a snow-white smile and fresh breath.