Serving patients of Erwin, Jonesborough, and Greeneville TN
Waking up in the morning with stinky breath may be one of the most common things people dislike. The American Dental Association states that about 50% of adults have bad breath in the morning. Fortunately, bad morning breath is treatable. Therefore, our Greeneville family dentists at Tusculum Dental Care share on the blog today what causes morning breath and four ways to get rid of it.
What causes bad morning breath?
There are a few possibilities that can cause bad morning breath. In some cases, bad breath could be the result of a single cause and easily eradicated. However, in complex cases, bad breath could be the culmination of multiple causes that may require additional time and treatment to address.
Our family dentists in Jonesborough share below possible causes of morning breath:
- Poor Oral Hygiene – The number one cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. When you fail to care for your oral health through brushing, flossing, and rinsing daily, then you dramatically increase your risk for bad breath, gum disease, and additional oral damage.
- Dry Mouth – Your saliva helps protect your mouth by removing bacteria. When you sleep with your mouth open, it develops favorable conditions for bacteria to breed. Therefore, drink water before bed, if you wake up in the middle of the night, and first thing in the morning to help reduce smelly bacteria.
- Food and Beverages – Ingredients in your dinner, like onions and garlic, can directly impact the smell of your breath when you wake up. Since particles remain in your mouth after eating and drinking, they can cause horrible smells, especially when you don’t brush and floss your teeth before bed.
- Alcohol and Tobacco – Alcohol is acidic and high in sugar, which can cause dry mouth, increasing oral bacteria. Additionally, tobacco use also causes dry mouth. Unfortunately, the use of both substances cannot only lead to bad breath but could also cause advanced conditions such as cavities.
- Tooth Decay – Tooth decay is the result of harmful bacteria attacking tooth enamel. As the bacteria infiltrate the tooth, they build up and can cause stinky breath.
What can I do to treat or prevent bad morning breath?
There are multiple treatments available to help you address bad morning breath. However, before you begin treatment, you need to uncover the cause. Therefore, our Greeneville family dentists recommend scheduling a consultation to diagnose the cause of your stinky breath as a first step towards eradicating the problem. Then, we can work together to develop a treatment plan suitable for your oral health care condition.
Below are a few tips to help reduce bad morning breath:
- Improve your oral hygiene habits – The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice and flossing once daily to reduce harmful bacteria and protect your teeth and gums. After boosting your at-home regimen, you should see improvement in your bad breath.
- Tongue scraper – Your tongue can harbor a large number of bacteria that hide on the back of your tongue and cause 85% of your bad breath. Therefore, when you use a tongue scraper to remove the bacteria, your breath should smell fresher.
- Stop smoking – Scientific studies show that smoking negatively affects your oral and overall health. Therefore, limit or cease smoking to improve dry mouth conditions and tobacco odors.
- Drink more water – Drinking water throughout the day can help hydrate your mouth, creating a challenge for harmful bacteria production.
After trying the above tips, you should notice improvement. However, if you still experience bad breath, there could be an underlying health concern. In some cases, bad breath may be the result of bronchitis, tonsillitis, diabetes, fungal infections, sinusitis, and liver or kidney disease. Therefore, you should schedule an appointment at our Greeneville dental office for a consultation. If we’re unable to uncover the source, then we may refer you to your primary care provider for additional testing.
Family Dentists in Greeneville, Jonesborough, and Erwin, Tennessee
Bad breath can be offensive, especially after you wake up. However, by taking a few oral hygiene steps daily and monitoring the foods and drinks you consume, you can reduce your bad breath. If you’ve tried to improve your breath with little to no success, our Jonesborough dentists encourage you to schedule an appointment to discover and treat your bad breath problem. Please call Tusculum Dental Care at (423) 639-7575 or contact us online to schedule your appointment today.