What Causes Morning Breath and How Do You Prevent It?

Why is morning breath a morning problem?  Saliva. Specifically, saliva production decreases while you’re sleeping, leaving you with dry mouth at night. Since saliva usually flushes out odor-causing particles, you’re left with bacterial buildup that makes its presence known with its distinctive aroma.

If you sleep with your mouth open, the problem gets even worse. Breathing through your mouth exacerbates the drying effect, so the risk of morning breath increases. Nighttime dryness is normal, but there may be other factors at play, such as certain medications or health conditions which are related to chronic dry mouth.

Dry mouth at night is a primary cause of morning breath, but it isn’t the only one. Poor dental hygiene is a red-carpet invitation for the stinky bacteria to live in your mouth. That includes any food particles left overnight, plaque buildup on your teeth and in your gums, and dentures that could stand a thorough cleaning.

Even if your oral care routine is top-notch, some causes are tough to combat. Modifiable factors, such as eating certain foods or smoking, are likely to cause morning breath. Aromatic vegetables like garlic and onions release compounds that move from stomach, to blood, to lungs, to breath. Learn about the top 5 foods that cause bad breath here. Additionally, smoking is the #1 modifiable risk factor for periodontal disease (gingivitis and periodontitis), which can also lead to morning breath.

A large majority of bad breath causes start in the mouth, which leaves 5-10% with non-mouth causes such as ear/nose/throat issues or gastro-intestinal disorders.