You wake up in the morning, and the smell of your own breath is enough to make you want to run away form yourself. Bad breath or halitosis as it is called is a common condition that has affected us all, at least first thing in the morning.

Causes of Bad Breath

Food
Garlic and onions are the main culprits. Like alcohol it will stay in your system until the food is eliminated.

Poor hygiene
Failing to brush and floss your teeth on a regular basis contribute to bad breath. This is because bacteria are attracted to the food particles that you’ve neglected to brush and floss away. This combination of food particles and bacteria releases hydrogen sulfur vapors also known as smelly breath.

Dry mouth
The purpose of saliva is to cleanse and moisten our mouth. Saliva production decreases when we sleep, which is why we wake up with morning breath. Certain prescriptions and medical conditions also cause dry mouth.

Diseases
Certain diseases emit a particular odor such as a urine odor which may indicate kidney failure, a dead fish in your mouth smell which can indicate liver disease and a fruity odor which can indicate ketoacidosis in diabetics.

Dieting
Severely limiting your carbohydrate intake throws your body into ketosis which can lead to you having an unpleasant acidic fruity breath.

Tobacco
Tobacco leaves you with bad breath not only because of the dryness it creates but also because tobacco smells.

Illness
Sinus infections, strep throat, mononucleosis can all also lead to bad breath.

The main cause of bad breath is usually due to poor hygiene. The average person only spends 30-45 seconds brushing their teeth as opposed to the recommended 3-4 minutes.

Ways to improve your breath.
1. Improve your dental hygiene, brush and floss regularly, after every meal or at least two times a day.
2. Don’t skimp on the flossing. Flossing removes particles that have gotten trapped between your teeth which can not only lead to cavities but to bad breath even though you may brush your teeth.
3. Drink non-dehydrating fluids such as herbal teas and water in order to keep your mouth moist.
4. Change your toothbrush regularly. Change your toothbrush after every illness and every three months.
5. Brush your tongue the insides of your cheeks. Often overlooked in dental care, your tongue and cheeks are a host to many bacteria that leave your breath smelling wonky.

If this doesn’t help reduce your bad breath after 1 week see your dental professional.