No One Is Safe From Morning Breath!

Morning breath is just a fancy way of saying bad breath. Don’t worry, it’s common – everyone gets it and there is nothing to be ashamed of. Although you cannot stop it from happening, there may be some ways to reduce the odor.

In order to minimize bad breath, you have to first understand why it happens. When your are sleeping, the normal flow of saliva decreases. This causes your mouth to dry out, providing the perfect atmosphere for odor-producing bacteria to multiply. Unfortunately, this means that no one is safe from morning breath.

Here are a few tips to help fight bad breath:

• Drinking plenty of water throughout the day and before bed will help keep your mouth from drying out, helping to lessen bad breath. 
• Avoid certain foods that leave a strong aroma in your mouth. Garlic and onions are the most common. The smell lingers in your mouth and is more difficult to get rid of. 
• Chewing sugar-free gum helps to increase the flow of salvia. This is another way to prevent dry mouth. 
• Brushing your teeth helps to remove the odor-causing bacteria between your teeth and on your tongue. Make sure to brush for at least two minutes and then go right to bed. Avoid eating or drinking after brushing so you are not leaving anything in your mouth while you sleep. 
• Flossing before bed is as equally as important as brushing. It’s the only way to remove food particles from between the teeth and under the gums. 
• Rinsing with mouthwash for 30 seconds helps to kill the bacteria in your mouth that causes odor. 
• Visiting your dentist regularly is very important. Although bad breath is normal, if you continue to have really bad morning breath, this may be a sign of tooth decay or periodontal disease (gum disease). 

 As simple as these steps may be, many people ignore them resulting in bad breath. The most effective way to combat morning breath is with proper oral hygiene.

Remember, morning breath is normal. There is no reason to be embarrassed – everyone gets it!