Thursday, December 8, 2011

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!

16 comments:

  1. These are great and very useful facts indeed. Morning breath is very common among many individuals. The wrong use of certain dental products like mouthwash also contribute in the development of morning breath.

    dentist fredericksburg va

    ReplyDelete
  2. Morning breath is a symptom of a temporary dry mouth state that results in a bacteria-friendly environment. Always gargle using a mouthwash every morning.
    All-on-Four by NewAlbanyImplants

    ReplyDelete
  3. A good oral hygiene is the key. Regular brushing and flossing would definitely help. Mouthwash is advisable as well to remove bacteria that may cause bad breath or any dental problems.

    denture repair

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Many people have problems about bad breath in the morning. The information here is true. In addition, people should practice good hygiene daily.

    myrtle beach dentist

    ReplyDelete
  6. I agree with Marco. Basic oral hygiene, combined with regular visits to your dentist will help you eliminate bad breath and other dental problems.
    ---
    dentist Lake Forest IL

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. These are awesome tips! I have to agree with you that always keep hydrated and avoid drying agents like alcohol. Drinking a glass of water before going to bed will definitely help you.

    tucson dentist

    ReplyDelete
  9. These are very effective tips. I have to agree with you that you need to clean 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 to prevent morning breath.

    bloomington il dentist

    ReplyDelete
  10. Those with chronic or recurring bad breath literally become less attractive due to losses in self-confidence. If you have bad breath, you’re likely to attract fewer mates, to do less dating, to have less sex and to “settle” for relationships that really don’t measure up to what you want or deserve.

    dentists in houston

    ReplyDelete
  11. Having morning breath is quite normal and understandable. While your tips do make sense, I think it's pretty natural and probably just gargle immediately in the morning if don't want it.

    dental implant atlanta

    ReplyDelete
  12. My dentist said that in order to have a healthy breath you have to eat the right kind of food and drink a lot of water especially before going to bed. Your tips are spot on, there are a lot of things that can be done to prevent morning breath.

    cplano sedation dentistry

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've been wanting to know how to get rid of morning breath, thank you very much for sharing this wonderful tip.
    rockville dentist

    ReplyDelete
  14. Bad breath in almost all cases is caused by the reaction between bacteria in your mouth and certain proteins which are found in the food we eat, and also in mucus, phlegm, bloog and regenerating gum tissues. For some people, the reaction between the bacteria and the proteins results in a sulfur compound remaining in the mouth which produces bad breath. Click here to know more about treatment for periodontal disease

    ReplyDelete
  15. Morning breath and bad breathing is something all people can relate to. This is a very helpful post for all as they can use this information and tips to get rid of this common problem. Taking care of the mouth and teeth can help a lot! Thanks.
    Teeth whitening Novato CA

    ReplyDelete
  16. We need to take care of our oral hygiene. So that it is not embarrassing to others. golden doodles

    ReplyDelete