Don't let nighttime dry mouth stink up your breath

Do you wake up in the morning with powerfully bad breath? If so, you're not alone. Many people suffer from halitosis in the morning, even if they brush and floss their teeth before going to bed. Some individuals may be wondering how they can end up with such awful-smelling breath in the morning when they are doing everything they can to practice proper oral care techniques before going to bed. The answer is simple - bacteria is to blame.

According to Gizmodo.com, while you sleep, your mouth acts as a Petri dish for the bacteria that live in your mouth. This is particularly true if you sleep with your mouth open, since this causes saliva to dry up, which means there is nothing regulating the bacteria and keeping it from proliferating.

Bacteria and stinky compounds

Gizmodo pointed out that even if you don't sleep with your mouth open, saliva production slows significantly when you're resting, leaving the bacteria in your mouth to multiply for hours and emit a strong and unpleasant odor. In fact, scientists estimate that there's more bacteria currently inhabiting your mouth than there are people in the entire world.

Fight back against bacteria

What should you do if you don't want to wake up with stinky breath? That's a complicated question, considering that even if you brush and floss, you're still likely to wake up with a bout of halitosis. However, there are ways to prevent dry mouth. To start, try using an alcohol-free mouthwash before bedtime to kill as much bacteria as possible. Along with that, you shouldn't consume alcoholic beverages too close to bedtime because they are sure to dry out your mouth.

Furthermore, The Mayo Clinic recommends limiting your caffeine intake. It's also important to prevent your sleep environment from getting too dry, so purchase a humidifier if necessary.

Also, make sure you drink water throughout the day since it can help keep your body and oral cavity hydrated. Another important thing to do during the day is breathe through your nose, not your mouth, to preserve moisture.

Finally, if dry mouth is becoming a serious issue in your life, be sure to talk to a doctor or dentist.