If you’ve ever wondered why the characters in romance movies never seem to breathe in the morning, you’re not alone. Most of us are familiar with the smell that comes out of your mouth as soon as you wake up.
And while many feel embarrassed about it, all get bad morning breath from time to time. And apparently, some of your daily habits may be responsible for this.
We agree that waking up with bad breath is not a fun way to start your day. So we decided to find out why your breath gets bad and what we can do about it.
What Causes Morning Breath
Your dentist probably warned you that if you don’t brush and floss your teeth daily, your breath can smell. But in fact, there are more things that can cause less than fresh breath, besides poor oral hygiene.
Dry mouth: Saliva kills bacteria that cause bad breath, and because we have less saliva when we sleep, many of us wake up with morning breath.
Certain Foods: Our eating habits affect our breathing, and while we can benefit from foods like onion and garlic in many ways, they are to blame for that not-so-minty breath in the morning, too.
Some health problems: Many people who suffer from acid reflux, a condition that causes stomach contents to reflux, generally have bad breath.
How To Get Rid Of Morning Breath
Don’t Use Mouthwash After Every Brush
While it’s true that mouthwash will make your breath smell fresh for a short time, it can also dry out your mouth.
Most mouthwashes contain alcohol and affect the natural production of saliva through the mouth.
Since the body normally produces less saliva at night, the dead cells that accumulate on the tongue and gums are not removed and cause you to wake up with bad breath.
Don’t Sleep With Your Mouth Open
Many of us breathe through our mouths while we sleep, and this can also cause dryness and stimulate the growth of bacteria.
In fact, breathing through your mouth can even lead to tooth decay and gum bleeding, as well as chronic bad breath.
This is because when we breathe through the mouth, it affects the oral pH balance and changes the types of bacteria in our oral environment.
Some dentists even suggest using mouthwash as a way to solve this problem.
Give Oil Pulling A Try
This breath-freshening method originated in India and has been shown to whiten teeth and improve oral health. Take a tablespoon of the oil and swish it around your mouth for 15-20 minutes.
The bacteria that cause bad breath stick to the oil and dissolve in it. You can use any oil, but many people prefer coconut oil or olive oil because of its pleasant taste.
Be Careful With Coffee
While many of us can’t imagine facing the day before sipping our morning cup of coffee, our beloved beverage may be to blame for our morning breath.
Coffee has a drying effect, causing the body to produce less saliva. Many people also add milk or cream to coffee, and dairy products often cause bad breath.
Don’t Forget To Brush Your Tongue
Like your teeth, your tongue can also harbor bacteria that make your breath stink. If you don’t brush your tongue, the bacteria in your mouth will multiply and you will wake up with bad breath.
You don’t need a tongue scraper to clean it; A regular soft-bristle toothbrush can do the job.
Do you know of any other way to get rid of morning breath that you can share with our reader?
Preview photo credit Shutterstock.com, Shutterstock.com
