Don’t Scare Your Family with Morning Breath this Christmas!
Are you staying at a relative’s house this holiday season? You probably want to avoid wandering downstairs for breakfast and watching your family turn their noses up at your morning breath. Embarrassing! Although, maybe not as bad as your robe falling open…
Your breath stinks!
Does your whole family magically clear out of the kitchen when you come down the stairs? Has anyone ever called you “dragon breath” in the morning? Does your spouse shove an orange slice in your mouth when you yawn? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have morning breath.
We can’t claim to cure morning breath, but we hope that by educating Carson City residents about its causes and giving you some possible tips to help, we might save you from some holiday morning embarrassment.
Why is morning breath so stinky?
If you have read previous blog post, Medications and Dry Mouth, then you remember that the number one cause of bad breath is dry mouth. The less saliva present in your mouth, the more likely your breath is to stink. It creates a condition known as halitosis, which is simply a fancy word for bad breath.
The bad news for us is that our mouths often get very dry when we sleep, especially if we are the kind of people who breath through our mouths at night. You know how your tongue feels all dry and swollen when you wake up? Saliva flow decreases dramatically overnight, which leads to a stinky mouth in the morning.
Morning Breath Fixes
Although it may sound like a broken record coming from Dr. Euse, the best way to avoid morning breath is truly to take good care of your teeth. Brush and floss twice a day, and make sure one of those times is right before you go to bed, after you are done eating and drinking. Don’t forget to brush your tongue, where a majority of bad-breath-causing plaque resides.
Stay away from alcohol and tobacco products if you want to escape the dreaded morning breath. Avoid eating foods that you know make your breath smell, such as garlic and onions. Drink lots of water. If you wear dentures, be sure to remove them at night.
Schedule and keep your regular dental check-ups with our Carson City office, to make sure your morning breath isn’t related to a more serious problem like gum disease or diabetes.
Happy holidays from all of us here at Advanced Dentistry By Design!