You’ve probably felt this more than once – your breath smells the worst in the morning. It’s no surprise that you wake up in the morning and rush to the bathroom to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with a freshener to get rid of the smell. 

Morning breath or halitosis is a common problem a lot of people face, and no matter how common it is, it is unpleasant and it is probably not the best way to greet your family or friends in the morning.

According to dentists at Icon Dental Center in Everett and Seattle, morning breath is something that every person has to some degree. The reason behind it? It’s simple, when you sleep for several hours, especially during the night, your moth is at its driest. And when the mouth dries up, odor-producing bacteria become more active – and this is why when you wake up your mouth smells the worst.

And to make matters worse, if you snore or breathe through your mouth during the night, you are more likely to have bad breath than others. 

Common Causes of Bad Breath

• Not everyone who snores or breathes through the mouth suffers from bad breath, there are other common causes that can cause your mouth to smell its worst in the morning. Here are some of the causes that are most common.

Medication

• If you take prescribed medicine, your mouth is at a greater risk of becoming dry overnight, which you guessed it right, makes your breath smell bad in the morning. This is why most older people who are often taking many medications at the same time may find having bad breath in the morning rather unpleasant and more frequent.

Smoking

• People who smoke may find that they have bad breath in the morning. Smoking dries saliva in the mouth, making it dry and raises the temperature which makes your mouth a breeding ground for odor-producing bacteria. 

Allergies

• Some allergies can also cause your breath to smell bad. The mucus that results from an allergy is a food source for bacteria in the mouth. So if your mouth becomes infected due to an allergy, your breath will begin to smell bad.

Common Treatments For Bad Breath

• Having a problem with bad breath? You’re not alone. Millions of people around the world have this problem – the good news, however, is that you can easily treat bad breath at home.

Brush Your Teeth Regularly

• This is probably the easiest and simplest way to treat bad breath. The bacteria and food particles that get stuck in your teeth causes your mouth to smell. Practicing dental hygiene on a daily basis can prevent the breath from going bad. 

Icon Dental Center recommends brushing your teeth for at least 2 minutes to get the best results. Use circular motions and gentle force to get the job done. Also, change your toothbrush every 2-3 months.

Flossing Is Also Important

• Flossing your teeth is just as important as brushing them. The spaces between the teeth can accumulate a lot of food particles that a brush cannot clean effectively. Thus you must also practice flossing on a daily basis after you brush your teeth. 

Mouthwash Can Help

• There are several different kinds of mouthwashes available today and most of them deal with bad breath. A mouthwash can help kill the germs and bacteria in your mouth which effectively gets rid of bad breath. 

If you’re unable to treat bad breath with brushing and flossing, try rinsing your mouth with a mouthwash made for bad breath. You must rinse your mouth for at least 30 seconds to get the best results. 

Visit The Dentist

When nothing works, there is probably an underlying issue that needs a dentist’s attention. If you haven’t been to a dentist recently, it is highly recommended to schedule an appointment and go for a routine dental exam and cleaning.

If there is an underlying issue, a dentist will be able to figure it out immediately and give you the right treatment with long-term effects.