You brush your teeth thoroughly for the recommended two minutes. You then floss meticulously between all your teeth, just like your dentist recommends. Finally, you rinse with antimicrobial mouthwash before going to bed. It would seem impossible to wake up with bad morning breath. Yet, nobody has to tell you every morning that your breath has lost the freshness you fell asleep with every morning. Is this normal?
We can help you have fresh breath and a bright smile. For more information, schedule an appointment at Trident Dental for a comprehensive oral examination and professional teeth cleaning.
What is Morning Breath?
Morning breath is a distinctive kind of halitosis or bad breath. While several factors can contribute to how bad your breath is in the morning, most people experience it often.
Common Causes of Morning Breath
Your mouth is full of microorganisms that do not sleep when you do. Some of these bacteria cause cavities and periodontal disease if you do not regularly remove dental plaque from your teeth and gums. While you sleep, they continue growing, reproducing, eliminating waste products, and dying. The result of these microorganisms’ nightlife is a distinctive taste in your mouth and a predictable bad breath when you awaken in the morning.
These bacteria do not need any help in creating morning breath. However, several factors can contribute to less than fresh breath each morning. Some of these include:
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Leftovers. There is a good reason to brush and floss before going to bed. Bacteria love the food particles stuck between your teeth, in the pits and grooves in your teeth, and the fissures or furrows on your tongue’s surface. You cannot completely prevent bacteria from their nighttime activity, but you can slow it down by eliminating food particles.
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Dry mouth. Your mouth naturally becomes drier while you sleep due to diminished saliva flow. You wake up with bad breath without adequate saliva to help wash away bacteria and their odor-causing byproducts from your teeth and gums. Certain factors can contribute to or worsen your naturally dry mouth, such as mouth breathing, certain medications, radiation treatment, medical conditions such as diabetes, and salivary gland diseases.
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Poor oral hygiene. Leaving dental plaque in your mouth for more than a few hours can lead to tooth decay, periodontal disease, and bad breath. Morning breath is worsened by neglecting your oral hygiene before sleeping.
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Smoking. In addition to severe medical conditions, tobacco use is directly linked to oral health issues, including halitosis. Morning breath is made more intense because of the chemicals left behind after tobacco use.
How To Prevent Morning Breath
You will likely not have the same fresh breath in the morning that you did when you went to bed. However, you can take steps to have fresher breath, such as:
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Remaining hydrated. Drinking plenty of fresh water throughout the day, before going to bed, and during the night, if necessary, helps lessen one of the significant causes of morning breath, dry mouth.
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Cleaning your tongue. Removing bacteria from the surface of your tongue can remove odor-causing bacteria from an often-overlooked area.
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Seeing your dentist. Most people miss certain areas of their mouth when brushing and flossing. Regular dental checkups and professional teeth cleanings can ensure plaque doesn’t accumulate. This helps prevent cavities, gum disease, and bad morning breath.
Schedule Appointment
Contact Trident Dental to learn how we can help you prevent tooth decay, keep your gums healthy, and avoid bad breath.