Why does breath smell in the morning. What causes morning breath. How can you prevent bad breath in the morning. Is morning breath a sign of health problems. What are effective treatments for halitosis.

The Science Behind Morning Breath

Morning breath, often described as an unpleasant odor emanating from the mouth upon waking, is a common phenomenon experienced by many. But what causes this less-than-pleasant start to the day? The primary culprit is the decrease in saliva production during sleep.

Saliva plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health by washing away food particles and neutralizing acids produced by bacteria in the mouth. During sleep, saliva production naturally slows down, creating an environment where bacteria can thrive and produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), which are responsible for the characteristic bad odor.

Factors Contributing to Morning Breath

• Mouth breathing
• Snoring
• Certain medications
• Dehydration
• Poor oral hygiene

These factors can exacerbate the dryness in the mouth, leading to more pronounced morning breath. For instance, mouth breathing and snoring can cause the mouth to become even drier, creating an ideal environment for odor-causing bacteria to multiply.

Is Morning Breath a Cause for Concern?

While morning breath is generally harmless and easily remedied, persistent or unusually bad breath could be indicative of underlying health issues. Can morning breath be a sign of more serious problems? In some cases, yes.

Chronic bad breath, also known as halitosis, may be a symptom of:

• Gum disease
• Oral infections
• Gastrointestinal problems like GERD
• Sinus infections
• Liver or kidney disease
• Diabetes

If you notice that your breath remains unpleasant throughout the day despite good oral hygiene practices, it’s advisable to consult with a dentist or healthcare provider to rule out any underlying conditions.

Effective Strategies to Combat Morning Breath

Fortunately, there are several practical steps you can take to minimize morning breath and start your day with fresher breath. Implementing a comprehensive oral care routine is key to addressing this common issue.

Evening Oral Care Routine

1. Brush thoroughly for 2-3 minutes before bed
2. Floss to remove food particles between teeth
3. Use a tongue scraper to remove bacteria from the tongue surface
4. Rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash

Why is an alcohol-free mouthwash recommended? Alcohol-based mouthwashes can contribute to dry mouth, potentially exacerbating the problem. Opting for an alcohol-free alternative, such as Listerine Zero, can help maintain moisture in the mouth while still providing antibacterial benefits.

Additional Tips for Fresher Morning Breath

• Stay hydrated throughout the day
• Chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production
• Avoid tobacco products and excessive alcohol consumption
• Limit caffeine intake, especially before bedtime
• Consider using a humidifier in your bedroom to prevent dry mouth

Understanding Halitosis: Beyond Morning Breath

While morning breath is a temporary condition, halitosis refers to chronic bad breath that persists throughout the day. How does halitosis differ from typical morning breath? Halitosis is often a sign of an underlying issue that requires professional attention.

Common Causes of Halitosis

• Dental problems (cavities, gum disease)
• Dry mouth (xerostomia)
• Mouth, nose, and throat infections
• Tobacco use
• Certain foods and beverages
• Systemic diseases

Identifying the root cause of halitosis is crucial for effective treatment. A comprehensive dental examination can help pinpoint the source of persistent bad breath and guide appropriate interventions.

The Role of Saliva in Oral Health

Saliva is often underappreciated in its importance to oral health and fresh breath. How does saliva contribute to maintaining a healthy mouth? Saliva serves multiple functions that are essential for oral hygiene:

• Rinsing away food particles and debris
• Neutralizing acids produced by bacteria
• Providing minerals that help remineralize tooth enamel
• Containing enzymes that begin the digestive process
• Offering antimicrobial properties to fight oral infections

When saliva production is compromised, whether due to medication side effects, medical conditions, or lifestyle factors, it can lead to a host of oral health issues, including bad breath.

The Impact of Diet on Breath Odor

Your dietary choices can significantly influence the freshness of your breath. Certain foods are notorious for causing temporary bad breath, while others can contribute to overall oral health and fresher breath.

Foods That May Cause Bad Breath

• Garlic and onions
• Strong-smelling spices
• Dairy products
• Fish
• Coffee and alcohol

These foods can leave residual odors in the mouth or, in some cases, enter the bloodstream and be expelled through the lungs, affecting breath odor.

Breath-Freshening Foods

• Fresh fruits and vegetables (especially crunchy ones like apples and carrots)
• Herbs like parsley and mint
• Green tea
• Water-rich foods to promote hydration

Incorporating these foods into your diet can help naturally freshen your breath and promote overall oral health.

Professional Interventions for Persistent Bad Breath

When home remedies and improved oral hygiene practices fail to address chronic bad breath, professional intervention may be necessary. What steps should you take if you’re struggling with persistent halitosis?

1. Schedule a comprehensive dental examination
2. Discuss your medical history and current medications with your dentist
3. Undergo a professional dental cleaning
4. Consider specialized treatments for underlying conditions (e.g., periodontal therapy for gum disease)
5. Explore prescription options for dry mouth if applicable

Your dentist may also recommend specific oral care products tailored to your needs, such as specialized toothpastes, mouthwashes, or oral probiotics designed to promote a healthy balance of oral bacteria.

Innovative Technologies in Breath Freshening

As our understanding of oral health continues to evolve, so do the technologies and products available for maintaining fresh breath. What are some cutting-edge solutions for combating bad breath?

Advanced Oral Care Devices

• Smart toothbrushes with app-guided brushing
• Water flossers for more effective interdental cleaning
• UV sanitizers for oral appliances and toothbrushes
• Tongue scrapers with antimicrobial coatings

Innovative Oral Care Products

• Probiotic lozenges to promote a healthy oral microbiome
• Oxygenating mouthwashes to neutralize VSCs
• Enzyme-based toothpastes to break down odor-causing compounds
• Saliva substitutes for individuals with chronic dry mouth

While these advanced solutions can be helpful, they should complement, not replace, a solid foundation of good oral hygiene practices and regular dental check-ups.

Understanding the causes of morning breath and implementing effective strategies to combat it can lead to fresher breath and improved overall oral health. By maintaining good oral hygiene, staying hydrated, and being mindful of dietary choices, you can significantly reduce the occurrence of morning breath. Remember, persistent bad breath may signal underlying health issues, so don’t hesitate to seek professional advice if the problem persists despite your best efforts. With the right approach, you can wake up feeling confident and ready to face the day with fresh, pleasant breath.

Why Does Your Breath Smell Like Garbage in the Morning?

We’ve all been there. You wake up from a night of beauty rest, wipe the sleep out of your eyes, take a big stretch and say good morning to your significant other and HOLY SMOKES WHAT ON EARTH DIED IN MY MOUTH. You swear when you went to bed your breath didn’t smell like a Taco Bell dumpster, but now your plants are dying and nobody wants to hold a conversation with you. So, what’s going on with that dragon breath, anyways? Let’s dive in.

Where does dumpster mouth come from?

Turns out, it’s probably not because you ate garbage in your sleep. Bad breath in the morning has more to do with the lack of saliva your mouth is producing when you’re sleeping. The drier your mouth is, the higher your chances are of getting nasty morning breath. 

Things like breathing through your mouth, snoring, and using certain medications can also contribute to dryness, which can make morning breath even worse.  

Is morning breath a danger sign?

Most of the time, morning breath isn’t anything to worry about (minus the embarrassment of an unsuspecting victim catching a whiff). But in some situations, unusually bad breath could indicate an underlying health problem. It’s often the first sign of gum disease, which is linked to heart disease and strokes. It could also be an indicator of an infection in your mouth, like an abscess or a gastrointestinal problem like GERD. Suffice to say, if you think your breath smells extra rank lately, talk to Dr. Tanya or your hygienist during your next visit to Cherry Hill Dentistry. 

What can you do to improve morning breath?

If you’re craving that morning kiss and want to eliminate the chances of breathing hot dumpster breath on your partner, make sure to brush and floss carefully right before bed. Leftover food particles gives more food for bacteria to multiply in your mouth overnight. Dr. Tanya also recommends two or three minutes of brushing, a tongue scraper (FUN FACT: Over half of the bad breath bacteria grows on the tongue), and an alcohol-free mouthwash like Listerine Zero.

To schedule your next visit, call our office at 402-488-2383 or fill out our contact form.

What Is Halitosis? – American Dental Association

Halitosis – or chronic bad breath – is something that mints, mouthwash or a good brushing can’t solve. Unlike “morning breath” or a strong smell that lingers after a tuna sandwich, halitosis remains for an extended amount of time and may be a sign of something more serious. 

What Causes Halitosis?

If quick bad breath fixes are only covering up the problem for a short time, something else may be happening in your body, including: 

Dental Issues: Cavities and deeper pockets from gum disease give bad breath bacteria extra places to hide in your mouth that are difficult to clear out when you’re brushing or cleaning between your teeth. Either can contribute to halitosis.

Mouth, Nose and Throat Infections: According to the Mayo Clinic, nose, sinus and throat issues that can lead to postnasal drip may also contribute to bad breath. Bacteria feeds on mucus your body produces when it’s battling something like a sinus infection, leaving you sniffly and stinky.

Dry mouth: Saliva goes a long way for your dental health – and your breath. It rinses and removes unwanted leftovers from your mouth, helps break down food when you eat and provides disease-fighting substances to help prevent cavities and infections. If you don’t make enough saliva, one sign may be halitosis. Dry mouth can be caused by medications, certain medical conditions, alcohol use, tobacco use or excessive caffeine. 

Smoking and tobacco: Tobacco products wreak havoc on your body and your breath. Not only do many tobacco products leave their own odor on your breath; they can also dry out your mouth. Smokers are also more likely to develop gum disease, which can also add to halitosis. 

Other chronic conditions: While halitosis is most often linked to something happening in your mouth, it may also be a sign of gastric reflux, diabetes, liver or kidney disease.  

Handling Halitosis

If you notice your breath has been less than fresh lately, start by following a healthy daily dental routine – brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth once a day. Other things, like drinking plenty of water, chewing sugarless gum with the ADA Seal of Acceptance and cutting back on caffeine may also help get your saliva flowing and boost the freshness of your breath.

If you notice your bad breath persists, check in with your dentist. Together, you can track down what the cause may be. With a proper cleaning and exam, your dentist can help rule out any oral health problems and advise you on next steps, including what types of dental products to use, treatment plans to take care of cavities or gum disease or refer you to a medical provider to follow up.

More on MouthHealthy

​Morning Breath: Why Your Breath Stinks In the Morning

It’s something that happens only in movies—the wakeup kiss. Looks awesome on the big screen, but in real life, there’s something else to contend with: morning breath.

That sour, stale dragon breath is why most of us make an effort not to breathe too close to anyone before brushing our teeth in the morning. But why is morning breath so stinky? Sure, you’ve just gone eight hours without brushing your teeth, but you do that plenty of times during your waking hours, too.

A lot of it comes down to lack of saliva production while you’re sleeping, says Mazen Natour, D.M.D., a Manhattan-based prosthodontist. Saliva normally clears out odor-causing bacteria. So overnight, when we’re not producing enough of it, the smelly bugs can multiply.

So, the drier your mouth, the higher your chances of getting nasty morning breath. Breathing through your mouth, snoring, and using certain medications can also contribute to dryness, which can make morning breath even worse (Here are 5 products that will cure your bad breath).

In most cases, morning breath is nothing to worry about. But in some situations, unusually bad breath could indicate an underlying health problem. It’s often the first sign of gum disease, which is linked to heart disease and strokes. Other times, it indicates an infection like an abscess or a gastrointestinal problem like GERD, says Dr. Natour. Talk to your doctor if your breath is suddenly stinking more than usual.

If you want to make your breath more tolerable in the morning, make sure to brush and floss carefully right before bed, since leftover food particles provide more food for bacteria to multiply in your mouth overnight.

6 Grooming Hacks You Need to Know:

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Dr. Natour recommends two to three minutes of brushing, a tongue scraper (over half of bad-breath-causing bacteria grows on the tongue, he says), and an alcohol-free mouthwash approved by the American Dental Association, like Listerine Zero. And to make sure you’re free of gum problems, abscess, cavities, and other contributors to bad breath, there’s no substitute for biannual dental visits.

Suzannah Weiss
Suzannah Weiss is a freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in New York Magazine, The Washington Post, Playboy and more.

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Smelling Sickness | NIH News in Health

September 2018

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Body Odor May Be Sign of Disease

Did anyone ever tell you that you smell bad? Funky breath or stinky underarms can happen to anyone, at any age. Whether or not you’ve noticed them, some body odors can signal a health problem. But most breath and body odors are normal.

“Bad breath is most often caused by bacteria on the teeth and tongue,” explains Dr. Madeleine S. Deming, an internal medicine expert at the NIH Clinical Center.

It’s normal if your breath smells a little in the morning, especially if you slept with your mouth open. A dry mouth allows bacteria to thrive. Bacteria that live in the mouth can make compounds that have sulfur. These compounds are especially stinky. They can smell like rotten eggs or onion, for example.

If bad breath isn’t cleared up by brushing your teeth or using mouthwash, it may be a sign of another issue. Over time, bacteria can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Decay and gum disease do not smell good. Both require a trip to the dentist for treatment.

Other causes of foul breath odor may be sinus, throat, or lung infections. These need to be treated by a health care professional, too.

Your breath can also carry clues of disease from other parts of your body. That’s because you exhale more than just air. Your breath also contains gassy compounds that move from your organs through the bloodstream into your lungs.

Breath that smells fruity or like rotten apples, for example, can be a sign of diabetes that’s not under control.

Rarely, people can have bad breath because of organ failure. A person with kidney failure may have breath that smells like ammonia or urine. Serious liver disease can make breath smell musty or like garlic and rotten eggs.

Compounds that are transported through the blood can also be released through your sweat glands. That can make your armpits and skin smell bad. It’s normal for stress to cause smelly compounds to be released through your sweat.

But your armpits can smell for other reasons too. Both moisture and hair enable bacteria to thrive. These bacteria can make smelly compounds. Bathing, shaving, and deodorant can help keep these odors in check.

Because certain diseases cause breath or body odors, NIH-supported researchers are developing an electronic “nose” to help doctors detect them. This research is at an early stage. In the lab, scientists can already analyze odor compounds from the body. They’ve even trained dogs to detect signs of certain cancers in breath samples.

If you’re concerned about a new or worsening body odor, “a trip to the doctor for evaluation is always the first step,” Deming advises. “Bad breath is best assessed by a dentist.”

Your dentist can examine your mouth for signs of trouble. If body odor is your concern, your doctor can conduct a physical exam. If needed, your doctor can suggest further tests.

“A trial of avoiding foods that are known to cause body odor may be considered. In rare cases of body odor due to an underlying medical condition, the treatment of that condition may help to manage the odor as well,” Deming says.

See the Wise Choices box for some ways to prevent strong breath and body odors.

Causes of bad breath | Britannica

[MUSIC PLAYING] SPEAKER: Good news, you can blame the sounds and odors that come from your body on bacteria. We tend to be a little uptight about all these bodily sounds and smells, but understanding the science behind what may appear to be so gross may make it, well, a little less gross. It’s a daily problem.

After a night’s sleep, many people wake up with a bad case of morning breath. Bacteria are behind this nasty odor. Your mouth is actually teeming with about 10 billion bacteria that take in food and excrete waste.

Some bacteria waste is in the form of gases, which can stink pretty badly. Bad breath is caused by the combined waste products of these bacteria. While you sleep, your body stops producing saliva, which contains anti-bacterial compounds. In the absence of this cleansing liquid, bacteria multiply overnight. And your breath can smell pretty bad in the morning.

During the day, your body produces up to a liter and a half of saliva, which keeps bacteria in check and washes away food particles that may be lodged in your teeth and on your tongue. If you don’t brush your teeth before going to bed, the bacteria have a lot more food particles to munch on at night, leading to a lot of bacterial waste.

Any time your mouth is dried out, your breath starts smelling. So drink a lot of water to keep bad breath at bay. Chewing sugarless gum can help, mostly because it increases saliva flow. If you have a lot of plaque, a layer of bacteria that sticks to your teeth, then you may have bad breath all day long.

Also, clinical studies seem to show that 80% to 90% of chronic bad breath is caused by the tongue not the teeth. The rough surface of the tongue especially on the back is a perfect place for bacteria and food particles to lodge together. Tongue scrapers are used in addition to tooth brushing by many people to clean their tongue as a standard part of oral hygiene.

One of the best ways you can prevent breath odor and strengthen your teeth is by using mouthwash with an anti-microbial ingredient that kills plaque forming bacteria. One key ingredient of many mouthwashes is fluoride, which is known to strengthen tooth enamel. The primary compound found in tooth enamel is a strong mineral called hydroxyapatite.

The bacteria present on our teeth produce acids that cause hydroxyapatite to break apart in a process called demineralization. A certain amount of demineralization is normal. It’s also common for the reverse process remineralization to occur. If too much bacterial acid is produced, demineralization can outstrip remineralization leading to a cavity.

Fluoride ions present in mouth washes help the enamel to remineralize. They accumulate on the surface of the enamel thus creating a barrier that prevents bacterial acids from reaching the enamel. Also, the fluoride ions attract calcium ions, ultimately changing hydroxyapatite into fluoroapatite, which is an even stronger mineral.

Bad breath can be caused by many different gases, but two of the most common ones are the sulfur containing compounds, hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan. Other products that lead to bad breath our indole and skatole, the two compounds primarily responsible for the smell of feces.

Why Does Your Mouth Smell The Worst In The Morning? What Dentists Say

You’ve probably felt this more than once – your breath smells the worst in the morning. It’s no surprise that you wake up in the morning and rush to the bathroom to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with a freshener to get rid of the smell. 

Morning breath or halitosis is a common problem a lot of people face, and no matter how common it is, it is unpleasant and it is probably not the best way to greet your family or friends in the morning.

According to dentists at Icon Dental Center in Everett and Seattle, morning breath is something that every person has to some degree. The reason behind it? It’s simple, when you sleep for several hours, especially during the night, your moth is at its driest. And when the mouth dries up, odor-producing bacteria become more active – and this is why when you wake up your mouth smells the worst.

And to make matters worse, if you snore or breathe through your mouth during the night, you are more likely to have bad breath than others. 

Common Causes of Bad Breath

• Not everyone who snores or breathes through the mouth suffers from bad breath, there are other common causes that can cause your mouth to smell its worst in the morning. Here are some of the causes that are most common.

Medication

• If you take prescribed medicine, your mouth is at a greater risk of becoming dry overnight, which you guessed it right, makes your breath smell bad in the morning. This is why most older people who are often taking many medications at the same time may find having bad breath in the morning rather unpleasant and more frequent.

Smoking

• People who smoke may find that they have bad breath in the morning. Smoking dries saliva in the mouth, making it dry and raises the temperature which makes your mouth a breeding ground for odor-producing bacteria. 

Allergies

• Some allergies can also cause your breath to smell bad. The mucus that results from an allergy is a food source for bacteria in the mouth. So if your mouth becomes infected due to an allergy, your breath will begin to smell bad.

Common Treatments For Bad Breath

• Having a problem with bad breath? You’re not alone. Millions of people around the world have this problem – the good news, however, is that you can easily treat bad breath at home.

Brush Your Teeth Regularly

• This is probably the easiest and simplest way to treat bad breath. The bacteria and food particles that get stuck in your teeth causes your mouth to smell. Practicing dental hygiene on a daily basis can prevent the breath from going bad. 

Icon Dental Center recommends brushing your teeth for at least 2 minutes to get the best results. Use circular motions and gentle force to get the job done. Also, change your toothbrush every 2-3 months.

Flossing Is Also Important

• Flossing your teeth is just as important as brushing them. The spaces between the teeth can accumulate a lot of food particles that a brush cannot clean effectively. Thus you must also practice flossing on a daily basis after you brush your teeth. 

Mouthwash Can Help

• There are several different kinds of mouthwashes available today and most of them deal with bad breath. A mouthwash can help kill the germs and bacteria in your mouth which effectively gets rid of bad breath. 

If you’re unable to treat bad breath with brushing and flossing, try rinsing your mouth with a mouthwash made for bad breath. You must rinse your mouth for at least 30 seconds to get the best results. 

Visit The Dentist

When nothing works, there is probably an underlying issue that needs a dentist’s attention. If you haven’t been to a dentist recently, it is highly recommended to schedule an appointment and go for a routine dental exam and cleaning.

If there is an underlying issue, a dentist will be able to figure it out immediately and give you the right treatment with long-term effects. 

How to Prevent Morning Bad Breath

Author: Dr. Melissa Huang
/ On: Dec 03

If you’re waking up in the morning with bad breath, the good news is that it’s very common. And the even better news? It’s completely preventable. 

We’ve all been there. The alarm goes off, and you’re awoken first by the noise, and second by the waft of your bad breath. Or, perhaps, it’s worse in the morning for your complaining partner!

While bad breath may be common, it’s certainly not normal. Most often, it’s an early sign of dental health problems. Bad breath happens for a number of reasons. Here, we’ll explain the top 3 causes of not-so-fresh breath that we see at our dental clinic in Blackburn.

Bad breath from Gum Infection

Bad breath is a common sign of gum disease. Gum disease sounds scary, but there are many ways to treat it and it’s never too late to visit the dentist. 

Gum disease occurs when plaque hasn’t been cleaned off teeth. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar. Tartar, if left unchecked, can spread between and underneath the gums and cause the bone supporting teeth to dissolve away. 

In addition to bad morning breath, other common symptoms of gum disease are bleeding gums when you brush or floss your teeth.

Great brushing habits with your toothbrush and interdental brushes are vital to clearing off as much plaque as possible. But the only way to safely clean the hard buildup of tartar (that yellow stuff you can’t seem to scrub off) is with a dental clean. That’s why we recommend a dental check-up & clean every 6 months. Regular professional teeth cleans will remove the bad bacteria that cause gum disease and bad breath.

Gum disease can escalate much further than bad breath to severely damage your teeth. So if your breath isn’t smelling so good in the morning, consider it a reminder to go get a professional teeth clean at the dentist.

Book a Check Up & Clean at Whitehorse Dental today >

Not Brushing Your Tongue

If you’ve been to the dentist recently and still experiencing morning bad breath, the culprit could be your tongue. The entire surface of your tongue is covered in small grooves and bumps. This makes it a prime place for bacteria to get stuck in.  

Your tongue can harbour a lot of bacteria, which in turn can smell bad. With smelly foods, particles of it can get trapped on your tongue. This can take a while for it to come off your tongue naturally. 

To reduce these smells, you can give your tongue a quick brush as part of your daily teeth cleaning routine. The best thing for cleaning the tongue is a tongue scraper.

Learn to brush your teeth like a professional: here’s 5 quick teeth brushing tips > 

Bad breath from Reflux at Night

If you have reflux or heartburn, you might find you wake up with bad breath. Because your body is lying down while sleeping, this may cause acid reflux to occur. This isn’t a condition we can diagnose or treat at the dentist, but ongoing reflux issues can also damage your teeth.

Reflux affects your teeth because it is highly acidic. Acid causes enamel — the protective layer on teeth —  to dissolve away. Once tooth enamel is gone, there’s no way to get it back. Worse, with no enamel, your teeth are extremely vulnerable to dental problems such as tooth decay and sensitive teeth.

If you’re experiencing acid reflux regularly, it’s worth seeing your GP. Doing so might save your breath, and many expensive trips to the dentist in the future.

Learn to love your enamel: here’s 3 simple ways to prevent enamel erosion >

90,000 Why does your breath smell bad in the morning? | Healthy life | Health

Bad breath can indicate a variety of health problems. Pathological processes that cause a putrid, rotten or other atypical odor can be localized not only in the oral cavity. However, bad breath, which many feel immediately after waking up, in most cases should not cause excitement – it is associated with natural physiological processes that occur in the human body while he sleeps.

What is the cause of bad breath after sleep?

As explained by Aif.ru dentist Veronika Ryzhova , the cause of an unpleasant odor in the morning is common to all people, and it is quite simple. “There are always microorganisms in the oral cavity. And at night, our salivation decreases, respectively, the acidity rises. Saliva becomes more acidic as there is less saliva. These are favorable conditions for the growth of bacteria that give rise to this bad breath, ”says the doctor.

When should bad breath alert you?

If the smell appears not only in the morning, but also haunts a person constantly, around the clock, this most often indicates the presence of health problems. These can be dental diseases.

“An unpleasant odor all day long can occur with gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), with a large amount of plaque and tartar, if hygiene is inadequate. When there are decayed teeth in the mouth, the roots of the teeth.There is caries in the mouth, defective crowns and fillings, ”says Veronika Ryzhova.

Bad breath can occur in people who wear various prostheses or orthopedic structures: crowns, braces, bridges, mouth guards, etc. Such patients should more closely monitor oral hygiene, as food debris and bacteria can accumulate between dental structures.

According to the dentist, non-dental problems can also be common causes of bad breath: diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as tonsillitis, when caseous plugs form on the palatine tonsils – bacteria also multiply in them.

In addition, an unpleasant odor can cause diseases of the liver, biliary tract, metabolic disorders in the body, pathology of the salivary glands. In some cases, this problem occurs with inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract.

90,000 🧬 Why does the child have a bad breath?

GMS Clinic pediatrician Anastasia Vartomyants-Chupryakova gave an interview to the information portal “Healthy Children”.

Halitosis is the medical name for bad breath.This is a very delicate issue that can be a source of ridicule and social isolation for a child.

Why can a child smell unpleasant at all in the morning?

Halitosis is caused by waste products of bacteria that multiply in the mouth at night. And the morning breath, which is just for this reason, is always, not always unpleasant, you must agree.

But children, unlike adults, face this problem not only in the morning and not so much in the morning.Children’s halitosis is associated with the habit of breathing through the mouth. This dries out the oral cavity, the “odorous” bacteria are not washed out by saliva and spoil the exhaled air.

As a rule, this is due to blockage of the nasal passages and nasopharynx with a cold, respiratory allergies, sinusitis, adenoids. If, along with halitosis, there is yellowish nasal discharge and fever, you need to see a doctor, as these are signs of infection.

How do you tell the difference between a normal morning odor that is not associated with illness and a problematic odor that is worth worrying about?

First, you will immediately understand this – a healthy baby is not born with unpleasant breathing.If you feel that the smell has changed in an unpleasant direction, is this a reason to observe the child in order to understand what it is from?

What causes bad breath?

Here are the main reasons:

• Poor oral hygiene (poor cleaning of teeth, food debris between teeth, gum disease, stomatitis)
• Caries
• Periodontal disease (that is, diseases of the tissues surrounding the tooth)
• Infections of the pharynx and paranasal sinuses (sinusitis)
• Food or respiratory allergy causing runny nose
• Poor digestion due to food allergies or food intolerances
• Imbalance of the oral microflora (deficiency of beneficial bacteria as a result of taking antibiotics or other drugs)
• Systemic diseases (diabetes, streptococcal infection)
• Diseases caused by parasitic worms (worms)

Eliminate diseases

If your child has throat, mouth, or stomach infections, they must be treated. At a minimum, check with your pediatrician and see your dentist.

Hygiene

Have your child brush their teeth and tongue thoroughly. Teach you to use dental floss after meals or an irrigator (a device that rinses the interdental spaces and periodontal canals from food debris using a thin stream of water under pressure).

Nutrition

Bad, bad-smelling bacteria love sweet environments.So:

• Minimize or eliminate consumption of sugar and industrial sweets
• As a dessert, teach your child to love natural candy or nut and dried fruit bars, fresh fruit or dried fruit. Make your own ice cream, sweets, cottage cheese desserts
• Eliminate sugary carbonated drinks. Instead, pure water and chamomile or peppermint tea
• Introduce “live” fermented milk products into the diet – homemade yogurt, kefir, homemade cottage cheese – to create a healthy microflora in the oral cavity and intestines

Nutritional supplements

Do not self-medicate and prescribe drugs – ask your doctor. You can help your child by adjusting the diet after taking medications.

What if my child is embarrassed about bad breath?

It often happens that in a kindergarten or school, children and, especially, adolescents, begin to boycott, persecute and offend because of the smell.

First, do not leave your child alone with this problem. Explain why he or she has this smell, when it passes – the child should know that it is temporary.

Talk to the caregiver or teacher so that mentors are aware of the situation and can quickly respond to problems in the relationships of children.

Give your child a toothpaste and brush, floss and gargle with you. A breath freshener spray is a good idea as long as the child promises not to use it as a gas can for bullying. Or leave the spray with the teacher or caregiver – so that the child is given two to three times a day after eating and brushing teeth, for example.

Source: healthy-kids.ru

Why does the mouth smell bad in the morning? | Dentistry ROOTT

🔎 In Brief

The cause of bad breath is the bacteria that live in the oral cavity. At night, their activity increases, so by the morning the teeth and tongue are covered with a layer of plaque that exudes an unpleasant odor.

📜 More

We have a huge number of bacteria in our mouths – both good and bad.They consume a variety of nutrients to grow, and as a result, they release compounds, many of which do not smell very good.

During the day we eat and drink and we produce a lot of saliva. Due to this, a significant part of the fetid food is washed off, so the smell from the mouth is practically not felt.

Saliva production decreases sharply at night. And the bacteria start to feel more comfortable. They are warm, dry, and there is a lot of food around, so nothing prevents them from feasting for their own pleasure.For 8-10 hours, a huge amount of waste products accumulates in the mouth – as a result, the teeth and tongue are covered with plaque, and the breath loses its freshness. It’s okay, even if you brushed your teeth very well before bed.

But if you think that the smell in the morning has become more fetid, perhaps there are special reasons for this:

• Poor hygiene. The more plaque on the teeth, the more food the bacteria have and, accordingly, the stronger the odor. Worse smell from the mouth in the morning for those who “forget” to brush their teeth at night and do not clean their tongue.
• Snoring. Snoring people sleep with their mouths open, so their saliva evaporates quickly, and the mucous membrane dries up. This creates the most favorable conditions for microbes to work.
• Caries, gum disease. The destroyed tissue is also processed by microbes and becomes the source of an unpleasant “rotting” smell. In addition, the amount of pathogenic flora in the mouth increases against the background of diseases.
• Smoking. Smokers produce less saliva and build up plaque more intensively on the teeth.They are also more likely to suffer from tooth decay and gum disease.
• Unbalanced diets. In a state of hunger, the body burns stored fat. At the exit, odorous substances are formed – ketones, which are released with exhaled air (their smell can be compared to the smell of soaked apples or acetone).
• Diabetes mellitus. Due to the violation of carbohydrate metabolism in the body, the breakdown of fats also increases and ketones are formed.
• Taking certain medications. Certain medicines contribute to halitosis, causing dry mouth. Others break down in the body to form foul-smelling compounds.
• Insufficient care of dentures or braces.
• Diseases of the ENT organs, liver or kidneys.

💬 “What can be done to reduce bad odor?”

• Brush your teeth 2 times a day: in the morning and before bed.
• Be sure to clean your tongue at the end of brushing.It is not necessary to purchase a special scraper for this – a toothbrush with soft bristles will also work.
• Eat a healthy diet. Make sure you have enough fruits and vegetables in your diet.
• Stop smoking.
• Visit your dentist for dental and gum problems.
• If, in addition to bad breath, you have other symptoms (eg, frequent urination, increased thirst, heartburn, nasal congestion), seek the help of a physician.He will prescribe tests and tell you which specialist you should go to next.

Finally:

Approximately a quarter of people who go to doctors with complaints of halitosis, in fact, have no problems. Such patients are called halitophobes. Therefore, before starting a fanatical struggle with microbes, ask someone close to you to evaluate how your mouth smells in reality. It is possible that the problem exists only in your imagination and does not deserve attention.

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Causes of bad breath in a child

All mothers are sensitive to the health of their children, so any changes in their condition cause concern.Today we will talk about such a symptom as bad breath in a child. Is it always a sign of illness? Let’s figure it out.

Causes of bad breath:

• Caries or stomatitis. The most obvious reason. Pathogenic or opportunistic microflora begins to multiply in the oral cavity, leading to these diseases. Stopping the focus of infection allows you to eliminate an unpleasant symptom.
• Diseases of ENT organs.Purulent sore throat, sinusitis, adenoiditis can cause odor. A banal violation of nasal breathing (the child breathes through the mouth) leads to overdrying of mucous membranes, a violation of the properties of saliva, and, as a result, bad breath.
• Teething in babies. It may be accompanied by an unpleasant smell from the mouth, this should not be intimidated. The symptom is temporary.
• Some diseases of the digestive tract. It is worth noting that gases from the stomach and the underlying parts, as a rule, do not enter the oral cavity, since there are sphincters that prevent the return of food and gases through the digestive tract.But with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), the function of the esophageal sphincter is impaired. The contents (food, gases) are thrown from the stomach into the esophagus and oral cavity. Hence the bad breath.
• Diabetes. The smell of acetone from the mouth of a diabetic patient is a menacing sign. You urgently need to measure your blood glucose level.
• Dehydration. For example, profuse vomiting and diarrhea, and fever can lead to the smell of acetone in the baby’s mouth.In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor! It is necessary to pass a urine test for ketone bodies. In this case, it is imperative to replenish the loss of fluid!
• Kidney disease with impaired function can lead to ammoniacal odor from the mouth. But it is worth noting that this symptom is necessarily accompanied by a number of others: edema, rare urination or lack of urine, poor general condition of the child.
• Severe liver disease can cause a sweet breath called “liver odor”.It is rare in children!

However, bad breath can appear in the morning in healthy children and the reason for this is very commonplace – dry indoor air. This leads to overdrying of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and oropharynx, saliva becomes more viscous, and its antimicrobial function decreases. If a healthy child spends the night in such an unfavorable microclimate, then in the morning, bad breath is possible.

What to do in this case:

• Give the child a drink of water.
• Improve the microclimate in the child’s room!
• The teeth, of course, also need to be brushed, but the root cause of the smell this time is not in them!

Recall that the optimum air temperature in the children’s room should be 18-19 ° C. Maximum 22 ° C.
The optimum relative humidity in the children’s room is 50-70%.

Be healthy! 90,000 Bad breath (halitosis) – causes, diseases, treatment

Bad breath is associated with a variety of diseases, not only of the oral cavity, but also of other body systems.Bad breath should not only be masked with chewing gum or a refreshing spray, but treated by understanding its causes.

How to understand if the breath smells?

Determining the freshness of your own breath is not easy at all. We adapt to the fragrances we constantly smell and stop noticing them. In addition, the oral cavity and nasopharynx are a single system, and this makes it difficult to check. But there are some simple and intuitive ways to tell if there is a bad smell.

1. Lick your wrist with the tip of your tongue and wait 15-20 seconds for the saliva to dry. The scent left on the skin will help give some idea of ​​the freshness of the breath. True, the least amount of bacteria accumulates on the tip of the tongue, so the results will not be completely truthful.
2. The main breeding ground for microflora that causes the unpleasant odor is at the root of the tongue. Run your finger or cotton swab over this area and sniff: if the “sample” smells harsh, chances are high that your breath may also be spoiled.
3. Take a plastic cup, place it on your lips and release the air through your mouth. The smell inside the container will tell you if you are suffering from halitosis.
4. Ask a loved one if he does not notice a specific “odor” when communicating with you. Sometimes this is the surest way to find out the answer to a delicate question.

Causes of bad breath

Slight bad breath in the morning is a completely normal occurrence that almost everyone experiences.This is due to reduced salivary flow, mild dehydration, and accumulation of squamous epithelium in the mouth. After a glass of water in the morning and brushing your teeth, everything is back to normal. But if the symptoms do not disappear during the day, we are already talking about a disease – halitosis.

There are two main categories of causes of halitosis: oral (associated with diseases of the teeth, gums, tonsils, nasopharynx) and systemic – due to disturbances in the work of internal organs. In the overwhelming majority of cases, we are dealing with the first reason.

Oral

The specific putrid odor from the mouth is a waste product of anaerobic bacteria. They accumulate where there is no air: under dental deposits, under the gums, in carious cavities, on the tongue. By splitting amino acids, bacteria release substances with a specific aroma (for example, hydrogen sulfide).

• Caries (including under the prosthesis), gingivitis, pulpitis, periodontitis, stomatitis, dental cysts, pericoronitis. A rotten smell may indicate the onset of necrotic processes.
• Diseases of the ENT organs: inflammation of the tonsils, adenoids, sinuses, nasal mucosa, especially if there is purulent discharge. Abundant production of mucus and leads to foul odor.
• Excessive dry mouth (xerostomia). Due to a decrease in salivation, the mouth is less cleaned, respectively, the likelihood of tooth odor increases.

Bad smell as a symptom

Bad breath can be attributed to other causes as well.The state of our breathing is influenced by the functioning of the liver, kidneys, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system, taking certain medications, smoking and alcohol addiction. Only a doctor can determine the cause of halitosis, but the appearance of the smell itself will help to get some idea of ​​the violations.

• The smell of acetone or rotting apples indicates the growth of ketone bodies in the blood plasma. In children, it can be type I diabetes, an infectious disease, or an irregular diet. In adults, talk about the development of type II diabetes or poor nutrition against the background of alcohol dependence.When acetone appears in the breath, first of all, you need to take a blood test for sugar content.
• Urine (ammonia) odor suggests kidney failure.
• Fish odor is a syndrome of trimethylaminuria, a genetic disease in which the substance trimethylamine accumulates in the body.
• The smell of rotten eggs is indicative of another genetic disorder – cystinosis.
• A sweet odor may indicate decreased liver function and even cirrhosis.
• Sour smell – about bronchial asthma.
• Iron odor is a likely symptom of blood, pancreas or stomach problems. But it can also be caused by wearing metal prostheses or drinking water with a high iron content, so it’s not worth worrying about ahead of time.
• Smell of vomiting or excrement sometimes accompanies bowel obstruction.

How to say goodbye to bad breath?

The problem can be eliminated only after determining its cause.If the matter is in diseases of the teeth and gums, it is necessary to cure all inflammatory and necrotic processes, place fillings, and replace prostheses if necessary. Sometimes patients are faced with an unpleasant odor after tooth extraction: such a symptom may indicate the onset of complications, so it is better to get to the dentist as soon as possible. Particularly strong putrid odor is given by periodontitis and periodontitis. The doctor will remove the deposits with ultrasound and prescribe therapy.

Since tonsillitis, bronchitis, sinusitis and other ENT diseases are a common cause of unpleasant odor in babies, the treatment strategy should be chosen with an otolaryngologist.Komarovsky also recommends correcting oral breathing – the cause of dryness and halitosis.

How to prevent bad breath?

To avoid an unpleasant problem, prevention is necessary.

• First of all, high-quality oral hygiene. It includes not only brushing your teeth with a brush and toothpaste twice a day, but also using antibacterial rinses, dental floss, and sometimes an irrigator. To clean the tongue from plaque, it is better to use a plastic scraper rather than a brush.
• Every 5-7 months it is imperative to visit the dentist to remove dental plaque and conduct an examination. Almost any disease of the teeth and gums can be detected at an early stage, without waiting for inflammation, pain and unpleasant odors.
• Experts recommend drinking 1.5-2 liters of clean water a day. This will help prevent dehydration and dry mouth.
• A healthy diet will keep your breath fresh. In the morning, it is better to give preference to oatmeal, which promotes salivation.Do not overdo it with protein and fatty foods, dairy products, coffee and spices, but be sure to include apples, oranges and celery in the menu.
• Get regular check-ups and tests with doctors.

The solution to the problem of bad breath (halitosis)

Halitosis is an unpleasant, persistent odor from the oral cavity that cannot be eliminated with traditional hygiene or prophylaxis.

Halitosis is not a disease per se. It is a kind of indicator of the presence of pathological changes in the human body that require medical intervention to maintain health. Bad breath is triggered by volatile compounds that are contained in the air we exhale. It is they who saturate it with an unpleasant odor.

Modern medicine distinguishes between two conditional groups of reasons for the formation of bad breath:

– local reasons – they are associated with the state of the oral cavity;

– general reasons – reflect the general condition of the body.

Halitosis can manifest itself in the following cases: during fasting, while taking any medications, smoking; wearing dentures; when drinking alcoholic beverages.

It should be noted that all of the above factors are purely temporary.

True halitosis manifests itself in such cases as: poor oral hygiene; candidiasis; gingivitis; xerostomia; periodontitis; caries.

Halitosis can occur when: pathology of the digestive system; may be associated with oncological diseases, with dysfunction of the biliary tract and liver, with diseases of the respiratory tract.

Poor oral hygiene caused by poor care of the tongue, teeth, orthodontic and / or orthopedic structures is one of the causes of halitosis. The accumulation of food debris leads to decay processes by creating a favorable environment for the life of various microorganisms. As a result, sulfur compounds are created, which give the breath an extremely unpleasant odor.

Xerostomia is from a decrease in the amount of saliva produced by the salivary glands.As a result, the natural process of self-cleaning of the oral cavity is disrupted, creating favorable conditions for the reproduction of a wide variety of microorganisms. The reason for the development of this condition can be medication taken by a person or oral breathing, as a result of a violation of nasal air circulation.

The development of halitosis can also be caused by a social factor that affects the standard of living of a person, especially his nutrition. This also includes the presence of systemic diseases in the body.It is nutrition that forms or abolishes in the oral cavity unfavorable or diametrically opposite conditions for halitosis. Diet also plays a role in fresher breath: it should be rich in protein, meat or dairy products. This enriches the oral cavity and creates an acceptable oral environment that produces volatile sulfur compounds. If the diet is rich in carbohydrates, then the production of such compounds will be inhibited accordingly.

One of the first morning provocateurs of bad breath is coffee.With its frequent and ritual use, the so-called “coffee breath” appears.

Beverages containing gas, sweet, sweetened with sugar substitutes can also provoke oral halititis.

Alcohol, its presence in beer, wine or stronger drinks, at an extreme rate increases dryness in the oral cavity, thereby reducing its protective capabilities and contributes to the active development of anaerobic microorganisms. It is the dryness of the mucous membrane that leads to the appearance on its surface of plasma proteins, which are an additional source that produces volatile sulfur compounds.

Fasting. During the deficit in the intake of nutrients into the human body, the endogenous reserves are utilized by it. Such a process can also be a provocateur of an unpleasant odor from the oral cavity as a result of the formation of metabolic products. In this case, oral hygiene will not relieve the problem. Typically, the so-called “hungry breath” will be present before the first meal. This should also include a poor or rare diet, which may be due to the inaccessibility of food or diets aimed at weight loss.

Tobacco smoking. By itself, an unpleasant odor is caused by combustion products, nicotine, as well as a significant decrease in the amount of oxygen in the oral cavity. Smoking also leads to the development of tooth decay, inflammation and tartar deposition.

Hormonal fluctuations in women during the monthly cycle. Such breathing is called “menstrual” due to changes in the ratio and concentration of sex hormones, which are also reflected in the properties of saliva itself.On such days, it becomes more viscous and less abundant, and its oxygen level also decreases.

Nervous tension, stress. At the moment of transferring any stressful situation, an unpleasant odor is possible from the mouth, which disappears immediately after the emotional stress subsides. This effect is achieved by a significant decrease in salivation, which provokes transient oral halitosis.

The use of drugs also p provokes a change in the balance of the microflora of the oral cavity.

The cause of halitosis can be somatic changes in the nose, paranasal sinuses, larynx, broncho-pulmonary system, gases rising from the gastrointestinal tract, metabolic disorders.

Treatment of halitosis

Since halitosis is not a disease, but only informs about disorders in the body, the primary task will be to find the source of its producing. Naturally, it all starts with the dental chair and oral hygiene.If the dentist does not find any obvious reasons for his part, then a long way of research and analysis begins, aimed at finding the root cause. Treatment will depend directly on the source of the halitosis.

If diseases of the internal organs are the cause of bad breath, then in no case should you self-medicate. Be sure to see a doctor.

Be healthy!

Dentist-therapist

GUZ “Lipetsk City Dental Clinic No. 1”

Irina A. Fedorenko

Problem: bad breath

In the morning we traditionally and habitually perform hygienic procedures, including freshening our breath (brushing our teeth, using a rinse aid).But what if bad breath persists throughout the day, despite hygiene? Persistent bad breath, or halitosis, is a serious problem associated with the development of various diseases. Further – about the reasons for its appearance and methods of struggle.

Causes of halitosis

Despite various factors, one way or another affecting the freshness of breath, the root cause of bad breath is irregular or poor-quality oral hygiene. In the absence of proper attention to these issues, the harmless daily formed soft plaque mineralizes, forming hard deposits that provoke gum inflammation, the development of caries and, as a result, halitosis.

Other reasons for the appearance of an unpleasant odor:

• adherence to a strict diet: the process of burning fat, triggered by a lack of food, is accompanied by the release of special substances ketones, which emit a very unpleasant odor;
• Smoking: persistent odor from the mouth of a smoker is almost impossible to neutralize, the only solution to the problem is to quit the bad habit;
• insufficient salivation: drying out of the oral mucosa creates a favorable environment for the development of microbes, accompanied by an unpleasant odor (the solution to the problem is the daily consumption of at least 2 liters of water).

Experts insist: you only need regular (at least twice a day) hygiene at home, but also professional oral hygiene, which ensures the removal of calculus in hard-to-reach places.

Often, bad breath appears in children, and in this case it is important not to miss the development of inflammation of the mucous membrane, leading to stuck food in carious cavities. If you discover bad breath from a child, be sure to visit a pediatric dentist – this will avoid possible consequences.

What will bad breath tell about

Halitosis can be a signal of malfunctions in the body. If careful hygiene does not allow you to get rid of the amber, an urgent consultation with a specialist is necessary. Possible problems:

Dentistry

caries,

obstructed eruption of wisdom teeth,

gum inflammation,

pulpitis

GIT

disruption of the digestive system causes the appearance of a putrid odor

Nasal inflammation

Lor

Also, an unpleasant odor may indicate problems with dentures (removable or non-removable): if its appearance is associated with recent prosthetics, then daily hygiene will have to be expanded by using special brushes when brushing teeth (special cleaning agents are recommended for removable dentures) and rinsing the mouth after every meal.

If bad breath persists, despite careful observance of hygiene rules, be sure to contact your dentist: a specialist will examine your teeth and gums, find out the cause of halitosis and suggest ways to overcome the problem.

How to get rid of halitosis

A few simple tips will help not to bring the problem of bad breath or eliminate already existing halitosis:

• Daily tongue cleaning will deprive bacteria of your favorite “place of residence”
• Using dental floss ( floss) will help get rid of food particles between the teeth and will at the same time minimize the risk of caries
• Using a mouthwash after brushing your teeth will reduce the number of harmful microorganisms that cause unpleasant odor (30 seconds of rinsing – 5-6 hours of freshness)
• Correct diet with an increased amount of oranges, apples, berries, celery + green tea
• Normalization of the water regime will improve salivation and water balance in the body.