What bad breath in the morning tells about our health: Causes and mistakes that worsen the condition

Have you ever wondered why your breath smells bad after a night's sleep? Of course, you have stayed only 8 hours without brushing your teeth, but you do this during the day too!

Here's why: When you sleep, your mouth dries out. And when your mouth is dry, bad breath-producing bacteria multiply.

"When you sleep, the normal flow of saliva decreases," explains Dr. Cram. "This is why your breath may not be fresh in the morning."

If you are a mouth breather or snore at night, you are more likely to have bad breath in the morning than nose breathers.

In both of these situations, your mouth is even more prone to drying out, increasing the chance of bad bacteria multiplying (because after all, it's saliva that neutralizes bacteria).

Other causes of heavy breath:

Some medications can make your mouth dry overnight, therefore making halitosis (the condition of bad breath) worse.

Allergies can also worsen the condition. The mucous lining the part of your throat becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. If this area becomes infected (for example when we have sore throats) the breath has a characteristic heavy smell.

Also, smokers may have bad breath in the morning. Smoking can not only dry out your mouth, but it can also increase the temperature of your mouth, making it a breeding ground for bad breath bacteria.

Odor-causing bacteria accumulate on your tongue and between your teeth, so be sure to brush your teeth well in the morning. Make sure you do this for at least 2 minutes, not 35-40 seconds like many people.

Also, after brushing your teeth, brush your tongue. "85% of bad breath comes from the tongue," according to New York dentist Irwin Smigel, DDS, president and founder of the American Society for Esthetic Dentistry, writes Living.

Brushing alone will not remove food particles that may remain between the gums. Flossing is just as important as brushing! /Telegraph/