Morning Breath Explained: Why People May Experience Bad Breath Upon Waking Up

Morning breath generally refers to bad breath upon waking up.

Common causes for this include poor oral hygiene and dry mouth.

Morning Breath: Bad Breath Upon Waking Up

Morning breath mainly happens due to bacteria building up within the mouth overnight.

In the night, saliva enzymes break down food particles that stay on the tongue, between the teeth, or around the line of gums. The breakdown results in the release of VSCs (volatile sulfur compounds), which have a foul odor.

The exact food eaten by a person may impact the smell of their breath. While the list of bad-breath-causing foods is extensive, these foods include coffee, onions, garlic, and some spices.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene is a major cause of morning breath problems. Brushing and flossing that are done properly could effectively remove food particles and bacteria that could trigger bad breath.

If an individual does not effectively and regularly clean their teeth and mouth, they could end up developing gum disease and tooth cavities.

Periodontitis and gingivitis are two kinds of gum diseases that could lead to bad breath.

Tooth cavities from plaque-producing bacteria could also end up trapping even more bacteria within the mouth. This is the same for deep pockets caused by gum disease. In such a case, it may be difficult for the person to remove the bacteria as they brush their teeth.

Dry Mouth and Saliva

A person could also have morning breath when they have a dry mouth. Over the day and at night, saliva plays a crucial role in clearing out accumulating bacteria in the mouth.

If the mouth does not produce sufficient saliva, bacteria could accumulate more often. Because of this, VSC release overnight could be stronger, possibly leading to morning breath.

A study that examined how water could affect morning breath discovered that rinsing the mouth with water or drinking water in the morning could reduce VSCs by around 30% to 50%. This generally results in morning breath improvements.

Using the mouth for breathing could also end up drying it out. Individuals who snore strongly or sleep with an open mouth may have drier mouths. They may also have a higher likelihood of having morning breath.

Medical Conditions

There could also be some underlying medical conditions that may be the reason why morning breath happens.

For example, diabetes that is untreated could be a bad breath cause. There are also certain infections, such as bronchitis and tonsillitis, as well as fungal infections of the tongue, lips, and mouth that may adversely affect breath odor.

There are also cases where kidney or liver disease could trigger bad breath.

In such cases, bad breath could be a symptom of the underlying medical condition.

Managing Morning Breath

Some things can be done to treat or manage morning breath. These steps include maintaining the cleanliness of the mouth and hydrating more.

It is generally recommended to brush twice a day and keep the gaps between teeth clean. A person may also use mouthwash to clean the mouth from bacteria.

A study discovered that using mouthwash daily reduced the bacteria count within the saliva.

As for increasing water intake, this is important as drinking water could increase saliva production in the mouth. This could help in managing mouth bacteria.