What Morning Breath Is and How to Avoid It
We all know the problem of the so-called morning breath. But very few people know what the reason for it is and how to avoid it.
Today, we at 5-Minute Crafts decided to learn more about this matter.
Reasons
The main reason why we have morning breath is that the mouth dries out. When we are asleep, less saliva is produced and the mouth becomes dry. It creates a good environment for bacteria that cause the unpleasant smell. It’s especially true for people that breathe through their mouths or snort at night.
There are some other factors causing the unpleasant smell. For example, taking some medications. Many elderly people complain that the smell gets worse with age. This may be caused by the meds they take. Allergies might also lead to the smell: the mucus building up on the back of the throat is the food source for bacteria. Also, not keeping the mouth and teeth clean enough. Finally, the foods you eat before you sleep also matter. For example, onion, garlic, and spices with a strong smell might turn your breath into something you won’t like.
How to get rid of morning breath
Even though you can’t get rid of the morning breath completely, you can control its intensity. Here are some tips:
- Brush your teeth well. Use the toothbrush for at least 2 minutes. After brushing, it’s better to go straight to bed and not eat or drink anything.
- Brush your tongue. A lot of the bacteria causing bad breath are on the tongue. Even if you brush your teeth and floss often, you won’t achieve the necessary effect without brushing your tongue. There are special tongue scrubbers.
- Floss. You can clean the spaces a toothbrush can’t. It’s especially important to remove the food leftovers that might be home for bacteria at night.
- Drink more water. Water can help the body produce more saliva and decrease the amount of bad bacteria. It’s only about pure water, not juices, sodas, or coffee.
- Use a mouthwash. Ιt’s important to follow the instructions on the pack: if it says you need to keep it in the mouth for 30 seconds, do it, or the effect will be weak. It means that this is the time the mouthwash needs to kill the bacteria.
- Eat more greens. The chlorophyll in parsley, basil, mint, or cilantro help fight the bad smell.