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Q: Why is my breath so bad in the morning and is there anything I can do to prevent it?
A: A number of things happen while you're sleeping that contribute to what's commonly called morning breath. Certain bacteria in your mouth can breed a new generation every 4 to 6 hours. If you don't clean your tongue before you go to sleep, you can wake up with several new generations of bacteria in your mouth.
Saliva production also slows when you're asleep, meaning you get less oxygen to the back of your tongue and throat. This triggers bacterial production of sulphur compounds, which is actually the foul taste you experience in the morning. Your tongue rolls to the back of your throat, allowing it to be colonized by the bacteria. Mucous in the nasal area thickens while you are asleep. This mucous is an excellent food source for the bacteria that cause bad breath.
To counter this process, as mentioned above, brush your tongue as well as your teeth before you go to bed for the night. Also, drink a glass of water to help clear as much food debris from the mouth and throat as possible. Talk with your dentist about ways to combat morning breath and other forms of bad breath.
November 9, 2009
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