Prevent bad morning breath

Bad morning breath can be prevented by taking some steps to maintain good oral health.

Bad breath is caused by bacteria, usually deriving from the gums and tongue. The problem with morning breath is that there is too much bacteria and not enough saliva. Your mouth doesn't produce as much saliva when you are sleeping, than when you are awake. Saliva helps wash away food particles that generates the odor-causing bacteria. Saliva also has chemicals and various protein bodies that help fight off bacteria. When you sleep, saliva production decreases and bacteria grows. Decay and food particles produce a sulfur compound that creates the repulsive odor of bad breath. There are a variety of factors that may cause bad breath. Some include poor hygiene, dry mouth, poor diet, smoking, stress, snoring, and even hormonal changes. Post-nasal drip or sinusitis can also cause bad breath from the mucus that drips in the back of your throat.

To prevent bad morning breath, take these steps:

Hygiene

Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss one to two times a day. Use a mouth rinse that kills bacteria, but does not contain alcohol. You should also visit your dentist twice a year. Your dentist can help find anything that's causing bad breath, and treat it. Bad breath can also be cause by diabetes, liver problems, or other health problems. This is why it's important to see a doctor if you have consistent bad breath. Many bacteria thrive on the tongue. You should brush your tongue daily, or use a tongue scraper that literally scrapes the bacteria off of your tongue.

Diet

Drink eight to ten glasses of water daily to help fight off dry mouth. Bacteria feeds on sugar, so cut down on your sugar intake. Also use sugar-free gum and breath mints. Avoid smoking, drinking, and eating a diet high in proteins. Meats, fish and even milk can cause bad breath from their proteins. All can cause bad breath. Stay away from citrus juices, such as orange, grapefruit, etc. Also stay away from acid-rich foods and drinks like coffees and tomatoes. Garlic and onions cause dreadful breath because the odor-causing compounds go into your bloodstream and transport to your lungs where they are exhaled. This is what causes the temporary terrible breath that we all experience when eating onions or garlic. Some foods that help keep bad breath under control are carrots, celery, apples, and sugar free candy and mints. The sugar free candy and mints help produce more saliva to fight off bacteria.

The best remedy for bad morning breath is to eat breakfast, and brush and floss your teeth. You can also rinse your mouth with a non-alcoholic mouthwash. You can even use a 3% hydrogen peroxide rinse to wash away foul morning odors. The best prevention for bad morning breath is to brush and floss thoroughly before bed. You should also drink a large glass of water to help wash away food particles. Don't forget to brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper to remove bacteria where it thrives the most.

© Demand Media 2011