Frustrated by morning breath each time you open your eyes? Don’t be. It’s something perfectly normal and can be reduced considerably. Whether you are the offending party or the offended one, there’s nothing sunshiny about morning breath!
Prior to looking at some tips and tricks on fighting off morning breath, let us first tackle the reason behind why your mouth or that of your partner or spouse smells like the back of a garbage truck.
Did you know that the number one bad breath-fighting ally you have is your saliva? That’s because it helps clean your mouth, preventing food particles and odor-causing bacteria from sticking on your teeth and tongue. In addition, your saliva contains lots of oxygen, and this is something that helps prevent anaerobic bacteria (microorganisms that thrive when there’s no oxygen present) from multiplying and leaving your mouth as stinky as a sewer.
When you are sleeping, the production of saliva decreases. This gives those anaerobic bacteria the opportunity to multiply and make your mouth smell terrible. The fact that your mouth ends up dry due to snoring only makes things worse!
Now that you know the reason for having morning breath, it’s time to get acquainted with some of the things that you may do in order to keep this embarrassing but very normal problem from striking. Read on!
Keep Hydrated
Since your mouth isn’t producing enough saliva while you are in dreamland, it pays to keep your body hydrated. It is a great idea to have a glass of water on your bedside table and take a few sips throughout the night. When the sun rises, you will find that your morning breath isn’t as offensive as before.
Brush Your Teeth Prior to Hitting the Sack
Definitely, you should remove food particles and bacteria in your mouth before you catch some shut-eye. Otherwise, your mouth will only encourage the multiplication of odor-causing microbes, leaving you with a blood-curdling morning breath the following day.
Don’t Forget to Floss
Brushing alone is not enough to get rid of anything that should not be in your mouth whether you are going to bed or starting your day. This is the reason why flossing should be done to make sure that the spaces between your teeth are just as clean as the rest of your mouth.
Quit Using Alcohol-Based Mouthwash
Alcohol may be very good at zapping oral bacteria, but it can leave your mouth dry — promoting the multiplication of those anaerobic bacteria mentioned earlier. Besides, alcohol is simply too irritating for the gums and soft tissues inside your mouth. It is a much better idea to opt for alcohol-free mouthwash, such as something that relies on tea tree oil or green tea to fight off oral bacteria.
Limit Alcohol Intake
Refrain from having alcohol before bedtime if you don’t want a stinky mouth in the morning. Again, this has something to do with the fact that alcohol has a drying effect. What’s more, alcohol will only keep you from enjoying quality sleep.
Refrain From Smoking Cigarettes
There is no denying that cigarette smoking can leave your mouth smelling like a dungeon. Naturally, ditching this habit that’s so bad for your health can help in reducing the severity of your morning breath — and your breath at any given time!
Opt for Bad Breath-Fighting Late-Night Snacks
Consider having a serving of sugar-free yogurt before hitting the sack to keep morning breath to a tolerable level. The good bacteria in yogurt will keep the number of odor-causing bad bacteria in your mouth in check. Snacking on vitamin C-rich fruits like berries, kiwis and oranges can also help in staving off morning breath. However, do avoid these acidic fruits most especially before bedtime if you have acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
