This Is Really Why You Wake Up With Morning Breath

Waking up with morning breath can be unpleasant, especially if you live with a significant other, but it's actually pretty common. This is because your mouth dries out when you sleep, allowing bacteria to build up and emit a foul-smelling odor.

"Everyone has morning breath to some degree," Dr. Sally J. Cram, a periodontist in the Washington, D.C. area and a consumer adviser for the American Dental Association told Everyday Health. "When you sleep, your normal flow of saliva decreases. That's why your breath can be worse in the morning." Snoring and mouth breathing can also increase the likelihood that your breath will smell bad in the morning since they both tend to cause mouth dryness.

This is not the only cause of morning breath, however. Allergies, smoking, bad oral hygiene, and certain medications can all cause you to have bad breath when you wake up in the morning. Eating pungent foods can also make your breath smell more than usual.

If you're concerned about your morning breath, don't worry. There are steps you can take to treat it and prevent it. One way to prevent morning breath is to practice good dental hygiene by brushing your teeth, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash twice a day (via Healthline). Another solution is to drink plenty of water before bed. This will prevent your mouth from drying out at night.

You can also try to avoid eating pungent foods like garlic or onions before you go to bed. This will reduce the chances that the smell of the food will still be on your breath the next morning. If you're a smoker with morning breath, it might be time to think about quitting. Giving up smoking can almost immediately improve the smell of your breath, no matter what time of day it is.

If none of these solutions seem to work, call your dentist and make an appointment.