How to Stop Morning Breath

Morning breath is an unfortunate fact of life. It affects everyone to some degree. Even individuals who have never struggled with halitosis will most likely have offensive breathe first thing in the morning. And while there are things that can exasperate bad morning breath such as medical conditions, medications, diet and lifestyle, morning breath is typically the result of overnight bacterial build up, a condition that can be exasperated by leftover food debris (often caught between teeth) and dry mouth.

In a healthy mouth, saliva breaks down food particles and clears away bacteria, typically reducing unpleasant odors. Unfortunately, saliva production significantly decreases over night and air is constantly passing over the tongue. The result is a temporary dry mouth state... and when saliva dries up, bacteria thrive. These bacteria feed off the proteins, amino acids and leftover food particles in your mouth, producing offensive-smelling sulfur compounds. This result is a bad case of morning breath.

So simply put… morning breath is a symptom of a temporary dry mouth state that results in a bacteria-friendly environment. While we cannot eliminate morning breath completely, there are a few effective tactics you can employ to improve the situation substantially.

Don’t make your mouth any drier. Keep hydrated and avoid drying agents like alcohol. I recommend drinking one or two glasses of water right before bed. If you get up in the night, grab another glass of water.

Don’t feed the animals. Leaving bacteria food for the night does not help the situation. Be sure to floss teeth and brush thoroughly right before going to bed. If you use mouthwash, make sure it is alcohol free.

Get high-tech. Invest in a Hydro Floss Dental Irrigation System which utilizes cutting-edge magneto-hydrodynamics and oral irrigation to make it near impossible for bacteria, tarter and various particles to adhere to the gum line, teeth and soft oral tissues. These devices not only reduce bacteria by 50%, but they also reduce tarter buildup by 65%, making them a very worthwhile investment for your whole family.

Don’t forget your tongue. Bacteria really like living on the surface of your tongue and deep within taste buds, so be sure to flush those areas each night as well.

Don’t smoke. Not only does it smell bad, but it also dries out the mouth, making your mouth more hospitable to bacteria.

Avoid stinky foods before bed. Garlic, onions and jalapenos right before bed will add a whole new layer of smell to bad morning breath. Some individuals have a strong reaction to dairy and sugars as well, so if you suspect a correlation for your breath, limit those foods before bed as well.

Visit a bad breath dentist or doctor. If you have tried these tactics but still wake with unreasonably offensive breath, you may have a bigger problem than just a case of morning breath. You may be part of the 35% of the population that suffers from a more severe form of chronic halitosis. If you are serious about getting rid of chronic bad breath, it is critical you visit a specialist so that they can determine the underlying medical or physiological reasons for your condition.

About the Author: Dr. Anthony Dailley has been practicing dentistry since 1981 and specializes in curing chronic bad breath. He has a degree in Cell & Molecular Biology from San Francisco State University and a dental degree from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry. Dr. Dailley founded the Center for Breath Treatment, a specialty halitosis clinic located in the bay area. He also currently conducts research pertaining to halitosis products at the California Pacific Lab facility in Novato California. Dr. Dailley is also one of the founders and also on the board of directors of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals which is a publicly held biopharmaceutical company.

I'm reading: How to Stop Morning BreathTweet this!