Grim reason why you might be waking up with bad morning breath

Morning breath is somewhat normal, but when it’s really bad…there’s an issue you might not be aware of.

No matter how much you brush, floss and rinse your mouth before bed, if you’re waking up with a pongy smell, there are a few culprits that could be causing it.

Now, you probably already know that the pesky cause is bacteria, but if you’ve been scrubbing your gnashers, why would it still be there?

Well, natural microorganisms are always going to be there, and when you do these things the day before, it means that they’ll be breaking down the material, releasing sulphur compounds and other byproducts into your mouth.

Here’s what you need to know about so you can be fresh every morning.

Bad breath? It might be a dry mouth (Getty Stock Image)

Dry mouth

If you’re brushing as recommended, it could be a dry mouth that’s the cause of your bad breath.

This is because saliva removes nasty bacteria, and if you tend to get a dry mouth whilst sleeping, it’s going to stop that process.

From sleeping with your mouth open, to certain medications you might be taking, dry mouth is a tough one to fix.

Maybe sleep with some water next to your bed?

Poor oral hygiene

If your bad breath is getting you down, but you’re not brushing or flossing effectively, you’re in for a bad time.

This is because food can become lodged in the crevices on the surface of your tongue and in your teeth or gums.

When the bacteria start to break down those particles, it’ll release that nasty smell.

Smelly foods are bad for your breath (Getty Stock Image)

If your oral health is bad, and your breath smells, it could be a sign that you have periodontal disease.

This causes infections in pockets beneath the teeth.

Certain foods

Smelly foods create smelly breath!

Whether you’re munching on garlic or raw onions, not even brushing your teeth will stop you from reaping the consequences the next day.

Smoking

Tobacco is a direct cause of bad morning breath and halitosis which can dry out your mouth and make you likely to develop gum disease.

GERD

Ah, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) aka acid reflux is a horrible thing to live with as many acidic foods can trigger a horrible wash of stomach acid to back up into your throat.

When we sleep at night, this can be particularly bad, and along with a sore throat and horrible taste in your mouth, a bad breath is another symptom of the condition.

Thankfully, there are some medications which help this, or over-the-counter acid reflux tablets too.

Morning breath can be caused by a lot of things (Getty Stock Image)

How to get rid of morning breath

If you can tackle the things above and make sure you brush, floss, and swish with mouthwash, you should be as fresh as a daisy.

You can take extra measures such as cleaning your tongue and keeping hydrated as water helps flush your system, increases saliva production and reduces bacteria.

You can also make sure you’re producing saliva throughout the day be eating at intervals or having a word with your dentist about what options are available to you.