Kiss Morning Breath Goodbye

Halitosis may just be a fancy name for bad breath, but such a serious name may actually match the serious irritation it causes. Dentists have found that the main cause of morning breath is the lack of oxygen during the night, which leads to dry mouth. When the flow of saliva decreases in the mouth, odorous bacteria are produced.

It is also thought that those who snore with their mouths open are more likely to experience the stinkiest of morning breath. Smoking also causes the mouth to dry out through lower saliva production.

Remedies for Morning Breath

Whatever the cause of your morning breath, some simple home treatments or adjustments to your dental routine can have you kissing morning breath goodbye.

• Brush, Floss, Rinse, Repeat—Be sure to brush your teeth thoroughly and brush your tongue, as well. The tongue produces the majority of bad breath and the back of the tongue is the worst offender. While most people try to avoid flossing it can actually get any stubborn food particles out of your mouth that simply brushing can miss. Using mouth wash is also a great way to avoid bad morning breath, instead of buying mouthwash that just gives the immediate illusion of fresh breath, look for mouthwashes that will kill odor-producing bacteria.
• Stay Hydrated—Since the cause of bad breath is lack of saliva, keeping your body and mouth hydrated can cure bad breath during the day and even into the night. Be sure to avoid beverages that dehydrate and lessen saliva production.
• Get Hip with Herbs—Herbs like mint, parsley, and basil are known for their refreshing scents, they may also help with long term bad breath due to their high levels of chlorophyll – a pigment in plants that can neutralize body odors.

Avoiding stinky foods and maintaining a strict dental routine is the best way to prevent bad morning breath and keep your breath fresh throughout the day as well.

Sources

“What you should know about bad breath.” (2003). Journal of the American Dental Association, 134, 135-135. https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(14)61964-4/pdf

Tonzetich, J. (1977, January 1). Production and origin of oral malodor: A review of mechanisms and methods of analysis. Retrieved August 21, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/264535