Every time someone wakes up in a movie, they go on to talk to the person next to them as if their breath smelled like cool winter mint. They kiss. They eat. They keep talking. Meanwhile, you know if that were real life, that odor would be intolerable. In fact, the smell is foul. You know that bad taste in your mouth when you wake up in the morning.
While we know that morning breath is a fact of life. Do you know what causes it? Is there anything you can do to improve it?
Saliva helps remove bacteria from your teeth and gums. It also breaks up the film that causes plaque to form on your pearly whites. However, when you sleep, saliva production significantly decreases. As a result, bacteria reproduce at a much faster rate than during waking hours.
If a person fails to floss and brush their teeth at night before going to bed, bacteria will have an even bigger feast, since they’ll feed off the sugar and starches left behind from the foods you ate before going to bed. And yes, flossing is an important step to ensure healthy oral hygiene, since not doing so means that food particles will be left behind along the gumline and between teeth.
In addition, other factors that may increase the intensity of a person’s morning breath are:
– Sleeping with your mouth open
– Snoring
– Poor oral hygiene
– Dry mouth
– Some medications
While it’s normal to have morning breath, you should pay attention to how bad it is, since it can be a sign of an underlying issue, such as gingivitis or periodontal disease. This is especially true if the bad breath is chronic (halitosis).
Yes. Using a tongue scraper before bed allows you to get rid of additional bacteria left behind after brushing and flossing your teeth. It’s relatively easy to see if you have any to scrape off: Stick out your tongue in front of a mirror. If it’s pink, you’re good. If it’s covered by a white film, you have bacteria all over it.
There are additional benefits to scraping your tongue every night:
1. Preventive health measure.
Bacteria that accumulates in your mouth can easily find its way into your bloodstream. In fact, there’s a link between worsening oral health and cardiovascular disease , as well as Alzheimer’s.
2. Reduces bad breath.
Granted, you’ll likely develop bad breath throughout the day as you eat and drink. However, scraping your tongue at night will significantly reduce your morning breath when you first wake up.
3. Improve your sense of taste.
When you get rid of the film of bacteria covering your tongue, your taste buds will be better able to enjoy the different flavors of foods.
While you should be cleaning your tongue with a toothbrush every time you brush your teeth, using a tongue scraper will allow you to eliminate up to an additional 30% of the bacteria that accumulates overnight.
At Impeccable Smiles, we understand that visiting the dentist can make people anxious. However, one of our top priorities is making our patients feel welcome and comfortable.
Call us to schedule a consult. We’ll help you achieve impeccable oral health!
The post Why Does the Back of My Tongue Smell Bad? appeared first on Impeccable Smiles.
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