When you're awake your mouth usually produces enough saliva to break down food particles that allow odor-causing bacteria to grow. But when you're asleep, the saliva production slows down and the bacteria starts growing and produces what is called 'volatile sulfur compounds' or VSC which cause your mouth to stink.
“Everyone has morning breath to some degree,” says Sally J. Cram, DDS, a periodontist in the Washington, D.C., area and a consumer adviser for the American Dental Association. Here's the simple reason why: When you sleep, your mouth dries out. When your mouth dries out, odor-producing bacteria proliferate.
Brushing your teeth properly for two minutes and flossing before bed will help — and there is no reason why you can't both pop to the bathroom and brush your teeth in the morning, then dash back to bed. However, the simplest way to get rid of funky morning breath is to keep a glass of water next to your bed.
Poor dental hygiene is another major cause behind halitosis. If your partner isn't as diligent as he or she should be with brushing and flossing before bed and in the morning, the mouth can become a fertile growing field for bacteria. Additional causes of halitosis include: Smoking and chewing tobacco.
People who mouth-breathe while they sleep are at higher risk of experiencing halitosis and may have a difficult time addressing the problem, despite proper brushing and flossing.
Everyone gets bad breath from time to time — especially after eating garlic, onions or other strong foods. But bad breath that doesn't go away (chronic halitosis) could mean you have an oral health issue or a condition that's affecting another part of your body.
One way is to lick your wrist, let it dry for a second, and sniff it - you would know if your breath stinks. Another way is to take a floss or tongue scraper and gently move it towards the back of your mouth or tongue and then smell it. This should also give you a fair assessment whether your breath smells bad.
Try using a wedge-shaped pillow to elevate your head and upper torso while you sleep. Aim for an elevation of 30 to 60 degrees. This should help to keep your mouth closed, making you breathe through your nose. Sleeping with your head elevated can also help to reduce snoring and improve sleep apnea.
Your mouth produces less saliva when you sleep.
While other factors can contribute to morning breath, this is the crux of the matter—and it explains why no amount of brushing or flossing is guaranteed to prevent morning breath.
New research suggests that drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning is an effective way of reducing morning breath.
The rotten egg smell comes from the breakdown of microbes that live in your digestive system. It may be as simple as addressing acid reflux with an over the counter antacid or with a stronger medication if it is more persistent.
Mouth infections can cause bad breath. However, if your dentist has ruled out other causes and you brush and floss every day, your bad breath could be the result of another problem, such as a sinus condition, gastric reflux, diabetes, liver or kidney disease. In this case, see your healthcare provider.
However, many people may be too embarrassed to ask a loved one if the problem needs to be addressed. Another possible reason is our natural inability to actually smell our own breath, caused by an opening in the back of the mouth behind the soft palate, called the pharynx, which connects it to the nose.
The most common reason the air in your bedroom smells bad in the morning is a lack of fresh air ventilation overnight. Our bodies go through multiple processes overnight where we regulate our temperature and digest food from across the day. This causes our bodies to release odours from sweat and flatulence.
Martha Dawson, D.D.S, “poor brushing and flossing are probably the primary reason, but dry mouth, gum disease, and illness—like a sinus infection or post nasal drip—can also cause some funky breath.” If you've been frustrated that the mints and gum aren't working, you shouldn't be surprised: “Mints and gum will ...
It's possible to confront a friend or partner about their problem without being offensive. He or she may be slightly embarrassed at first, but he or she will be very thankful in the long run. Bad breath may be an embarrassing problem, but there's no reason not to break the news gently and respectfully.
Sleeping with your mouth open may not seem like a big deal, but it's a major red flag that you're not breathing properly at night, which can have a severe negative impact on your overall health and wellness. In fact, chronic mouth breathing is one of the primary symptoms of sleep apnea.
Sleeping with your mouth open can leave your mouth feeling dry and uncomfortable, and worse, it can put you at risk of tooth decay and other dental problems. If you think you may sleep with your mouth open, talk to your doctor or dentist.