Common Dental Questions: Why Is Bad Breath So Much Worse in the Morning?

Common Dental Questions: Why Is Bad Breath So Much Worse in the Morning?

Having bad breath can be an unpleasant experience at any time, and breath tends to be worse when we first wake up in the morning. While the reason isn’t necessarily the same for everyone, but there are several clear factors that can contribute to bad morning breath. Let’s answer the common question of why bad breath is so much worse in the morning.
Poor Dental Hygiene
We’ve all had bad breath at some point in our lives, and as we have mentioned it tends to be a more prevalent occurrence during the morning. Sometimes this is due to poor dental hygiene. If you don’t brush your teeth before you go to sleep, you’ll let bacteria, food debris, and other contaminants build up on your teeth and tongue. The chemical reactions that happen between these leftovers inside your mouth can create a foul stench that will come right out when you wake up.
Dry Mouth
Saliva is used to break down food in the mouth, and it’s also used to flush away food particles after you’re done eating. If you don’t produce enough saliva, you’ll have trouble getting this done. This means the contaminants in your mouth have all night to interact and create the bad breath that you wake up with in the morning, since there’s not enough saliva to rinse it all away.
Sleep Apnea and Snoring
Some people experience dry mouth as a side effect of medications, while others experience it because of snoring and sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous condition that can do much more than taint your breath, so see your dentist for treatment.
 
You can conquer bad breath by brushing and flossing as well as meeting with your dentist in Tucson on a regular basis. John Carson, DDS can help you turn your oral health and your breath around, so call the office at (520) 514-7203 or look at our website.