Bad breath in the morning

Bad breath in the morning is medically called halitosis.

Since the human sense of smell is naturally accustomed to odors, many people with chronic bad breath do not even notice it.

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Causes breath odor in the morning

Bad breath from the mouth appears as a result of the proliferation of anaerobic bacteria in it. They produce compounds containing sulfur (these elements are the source of the unpleasant odor). Under normal conditions, the oral microflora (microorganisms found in saliva) does not allow these bacteria to develop. An imbalance of microflora can occur in the event of the following pathological conditions:

• Diseases of the gums, teeth, oral cavity (such as periodontal disease or caries), wearing orthodontic mechanisms or poor quality dentures;
• Infectious diseases of the respiratory system, acute respiratory viral infections;
• Angina, chronic tonsillitis;
• Chronic pathologies of the paranasal sinuses and nose (rhinosinusitis, sinusitis, rhinitis), nasal polyps, adenoids and adenoiditis. Inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx can become a causative factor for bad breath in the morning, since the infection as a result of the disease gets into the throat and mouth - this happens because the patient often breathes through the mouth, thereby provoking the development of dry mucous membranes. Because of this, the protective functions of saliva are disrupted, allowing pathogenic bacteria to develop and multiply;
• Postnasal drip syndrome;
• Chronic disorders of the lungs and bronchi;
• Digestive disorders, gastrointestinal pathologies (GERD, gastric ulcer, intestinal dysbacteriosis, gastritis);
• Diseases of the pancreas, liver and biliary tract;
• Diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2;
• Severe stage of renal failure (in chronic form);
• Oncological diseases (tumors in the nasopharynx or nose, larynx or throat;
• Worm infestation.

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Risk factors

Risk factors for the development of foul odor in the mouth include the following irritants:

• Poor oral hygiene;
• Feeling of dryness in the mouth;
• Dry air in the room;
• Smoking and alcohol abuse;
• Thick saliva;
• Frequent strain on the vocal cords;
• A diet that requires consuming a lot of protein (meat, dairy products, legumes);
• Use of medications that cause dry mouth (for example, antidepressants or antihistamines);
• Mouthwashes that contain alcohol (they dry out the mucous membranes).

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Symptoms breath odor in the morning

Symptoms that in some cases accompany an unpleasant odor in the mouth:

• Toothache and loose teeth;
• Pain, swelling and looseness of the gums;
• The appearance of discomfort in the throat area (scratching sensation, lump in the throat, pain);
• Mucus running down the throat;
• Difficulty breathing through the nose;
• Belching, feeling of nausea, heartburn;
• Feeling of thirst;
• There is an unpleasant taste and dryness in the mouth;
• Coughing up blood.

Bad breath in the morning is physiological halitosis. Its appearance is due to the fact that the process of saliva production decreases while a person sleeps, and as a result, gram-negative anaerobes begin to multiply on the tongue root. This disorder is not a pathology - it is eliminated by brushing your teeth, and then does not appear again during the day.

The main cause of the bitter taste and smell of bitterness from the mouth in the morning are considered to be diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular, gastritis, gastric ulcer, chronic cholecystitis, dyskinesia of the biliary tract of the hypomotor type. In addition to the above symptoms, heartburn and a feeling of heaviness in the right side are also observed. Also, bitterness in the mouth with a corresponding smell can be a sign of problems with the gums.

The smell of acetone from the mouth in the morning is often a sign that there is an excess of ketone bodies in the blood, which are products that arise as a result of the breakdown of fats.

The main reason for the appearance of such a smell is the development of diabetes mellitus type I. There are also other causal factors that cause this pathology. Among them are various diseases in which there is an increased metabolic process, starvation, and some disorders in the liver.

Bad breath in the morning in a child

Bad breath in the morning in a child can occur for many reasons: eating certain foods, dental or oral diseases, stomach problems, and stress. Bad breath in a child is rarely a sign of any serious illness.

Complications and consequences

Bad breath can first and foremost become a serious social problem. It can lead to social isolation, which can lead to depression.

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Diagnostics breath odor in the morning

During the diagnostic process, the patient's medical history is studied and the patient's complaints are analyzed. In this way, the doctor finds out how long ago the problem appeared, at what time of day the smell occurs, whether it is related to food consumption, whether the patient often breathes through the mouth, whether he has chronic diseases of the paranasal sinuses and nose, gastrointestinal tract, gums, oral cavity, liver.

Next, the doctor uses an organoleptic method to assess the intensity of the smell, using a scale of 0-5 points. The patient must refrain from spicy food for 48 hours before the procedure; odorous cosmetics must not be used for 24 hours before the procedure; eating and drinking, using mouthwashes, breath fresheners, performing hygiene procedures, or smoking must not be done for 12 hours before the procedure.

The dentist examines the tongue (for the presence of a yellowish or white coating), teeth and oral cavity.

A consultation is carried out with a pulmonologist to exclude the possibility of lung or bronchial disease, and also, in some cases, a gastroenterologist and otolaryngologist.

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Tests

A biochemical blood test is performed to determine the level of liver transaminases and glucose.

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Instrumental diagnostics

To identify the cause of the foul odor, instrumental diagnostics are carried out. Among the procedures:

• Sulfide monitoring using a halimeter – this measures the level of sulfur compounds in a sample of air exhaled by the patient.
• Pharyngoscopy for examination of the throat.
• Laryngoscopy for examination of the larynx. To conduct a more detailed examination, optical instruments are used - a flexible fiberoptic laryngoscope and a rigid laryngoscope.
• Endoscopy for examination of the nasopharynx and nose.
• A CT scan or X-ray may be ordered to rule out sinus disease.

Differential diagnosis

In the process of differential diagnostics, it is very important to determine the form of origin of the disease - oral or extraoral (nasal or pulmonary/hematogenous). Air exhaled through the nose brings odors that are in the respiratory tract, paranasal sinuses, and tonsils of the nasal cavity, but does not affect the odors that appear in the mouth. That is why, in order to identify the cause of an unpleasant odor, it is necessary to separately examine the pulmonary, nasal, and oral air. Thus, if exhalations through the mouth are accompanied by a bad odor, but nasal breathing is clean, it can be said that the source of the odor is in the mouth and has no connection with the nose and other ENT organs.

Pulmonary/endogenous air occurs when exhaling through the mouth (in this case, possible oral sources of odor are pre-blocked - the oral cavity is rinsed with 0.12% chlorhexidine solution or 0.75% hydrogen peroxide). If the odor persists after such procedures, it can be stated that its cause is a disease of the lower respiratory tract. But if the pulmonary odor remains clear, and an unpleasant one occurs when exhaling through the nose, then the cause is the presence of some pathology in the nasal cavity or adjacent sinuses.

If an extraoral nature of the unpleasant odor is identified, the patient is sent for examination to the appropriate doctors.

If it is determined that the nature of the smell is oral, it is determined whether it arose for physiological reasons or due to some pathology. To do this, a procedure is carried out to analyze the composition of the air exhaled by the patient: if the smell is physiological, hydrogen sulfide will prevail in the LSS set, and if it is pathological, all LSS will have almost equal parts (only dimethyl sulfide will be slightly less). To get rid of the problem, it is necessary to undergo a dental examination to find the source of the LS.

Treatment breath odor in the morning

Among the simple but very effective ways to eliminate sources of bad breath are the following:

• A balanced diet that includes plenty of plant foods;
• Regular, properly performed hygiene procedures;
• Regular dental check-ups for professional tartar removal and, if necessary, timely treatment of gum and tooth diseases.

Doctors who deal with the problem of bad breath have long noted that the intensity of its release increases after eating protein products. That is why those who eat a lot of vegetables complain much less about bad breath. Thus, by including more fruits and vegetables in your diet, you can reduce the risk of bad breath.

Regular, high-quality oral hygiene also helps eliminate odors. All existing modern devices should be used for the procedures - gels and pastes for teeth, dental floss and rinses. Nowadays, in addition to simple toothbrushes, electric options are often used, allowing for better cleaning of teeth. Thanks to this, dental plaque, which is the main distributor of microbes, forms much more slowly.

To make the treatment of bad breath more effective, you should clean not only your teeth and gums, but also your tongue, which many often forget about, while it is on this organ that bacteria accumulate and multiply. There are now models of brushes that allow you to clean your tongue as well.

Medicines

To get rid of bad breath, you need to eliminate the bacteria that cause inflammation or infection. The following medications are used for this:

• Remodent is a mild drying agent used for rinsing the mouth. It contains substances such as iron, manganese, sodium, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, copper, magnesium. The drug is used for remineralization, caries prevention, and acceleration of the maturation process of tooth enamel;
• triclosan is a powerful antiseptic that can provide effective antimicrobial action over a long period of time. This drug prevents the growth of bacteria in the mouth and is a component of many toothpastes;
• chlorhexidine, which is used as a solution for rinsing (0.005%). The drug has antifungal and antimicrobial action (affects gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial agents). The drug can cause dry mucous membranes;
• Cetylpyridine is an antiseptic that prevents the proliferation of gram-positive and partially gram-negative bacteria. It does not affect bacterial spores. It destroys some types of fungi and viruses. This substance is usually included in some toothpastes and mouthwashes;
• Kamfomen is a combination drug that includes such substances as alcohol, menthol, freon, furatsilin, castor, eucalyptus, as well as camphor and olive oils. It has a bactericidal effect, eliminates inflammatory processes. It is used for inhalation in the treatment of nasopharyngeal diseases, and in addition as a spraying and irrigating agent;
• Etonium is a bactericidal and bacteriostatic medicine used for gingivitis, stomatitis and ulcers that occur on the oral mucosa. It is available in the form of applications that must be applied to the mucosa.

Vitamins

To solve the problem of bad breath, you should eat as many fruits and vegetables, greens, natural products, and also food containing fiber as possible - all this helps prevent the occurrence of periodontitis and caries. It is also very important that the diet contains vitamins A in the required amount every day, and along with them B-3 and B-5, as well as groups C, E and P.

Physiotherapy treatment

Often the cause of bad breath in the oral cavity is chronic tonsillitis. This disease is also treated with the help of physiotherapeutic procedures KUFO (impact on the tonsils) and LUCH (impact on the area under the jaw).

Folk remedies

You can get rid of bad breath using folk remedies.

Vegetable oil (any kind will do – olive or rapeseed, sunflower or sea buckthorn) effectively gets rid of unpleasant breath odor. You need to rinse your mouth with it for a few minutes to wash away particles of exfoliated epithelium, which is the source of bad breath.

Berries of different plants contain acids that help eliminate dryness in the oral cavity. Rosehip, strawberry, cranberry and sea buckthorn juice infusions are good for rinsing. Perform this procedure three times a day.

Maple or birch sap adds freshness to your breath – you should drink them regularly, every day.

If your mouth often gets dry, you should eat a piece of lemon at such moments - this will increase the secretion of saliva, which will cleanse and wash the oral mucosa.

3% hydrogen peroxide helps very well to eliminate bad breath. You need to dilute 3-4 teaspoons of peroxide in a glass of water and rinse your mouth with this solution 2 times a day - in the morning and in the evening.

Fresh pine needles also effectively combat the smell; thanks to phytoncides, they have a disinfecting effect on the oral cavity. It is enough to chew them for a few minutes.

Herbal treatment

Herbal treatment is also a good way to get rid of bad odor.

Thyme effectively copes with this problem - a tincture of this herb effectively eliminates the smell. To achieve the desired result, you need to rinse your mouth daily after eating, and do this for 2 weeks.

Another remedy is calamus leaves. You need to chop the leaves or calamus root and pour 1 tbsp. of chopped leaves into 1 glass of water. Then boil the water for 1 minute, leave for 1 hour, and then strain the infusion. You need to rinse your mouth 5-6 times a day with a warm decoction.

An effective remedy is a collection that includes nettle, St. John's wort, oak bark, chamomile and birch leaves. You need to mix all the ingredients in equal parts and then brew it like tea - 1 teaspoon of the mixture per 1 cup.

Infuse the strawberry leaves for several hours and rinse your mouth with this infusion 5-6 times a day. You can use a tincture made from strawberries in the same way.

Tincture of wood sorrel herb effectively eliminates rotting processes in the mouth, accompanied by bad breath. The recipe is simple: pour 3 teaspoons of chopped herb with 500 ml of boiling water, then leave for 2-3 hours, and then strain the tincture. The resulting decoction should be used to rinse the mouth. Also, to eliminate bad breath, you can use the juice of this herb diluted with water.

Prevention

Bad breath in the morning can be prevented by the following methods:

• Regular hygiene procedures – brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day;
• Visit your dentist regularly for checkups;
• Treat emerging diseases of the gums or teeth, throat, ears, nose in a timely manner;
• Treat diseases that are accompanied by difficulty breathing through the nose;
• Treat pathological processes in the lungs and gastrointestinal tract in a timely manner;
• Constantly humidify the air in the room where you are staying;
• If you have chronic tonsillitis, you need to regularly rinse your tonsils.

Take care of your health and maintain a healthy lifestyle:

• quit smoking and do not abuse alcohol;
• regularly perform moderate physical exercise - walk in the fresh air every day, play sports;
• stick to a routine, try to sleep at least 8 hours;
• the diet should be balanced (you need to eat foods that contain a lot of fiber - greens, fruits and vegetables; avoid fried, hot, spicy foods);
• eat often, but in small portions – 5-6 times a day.

Forecast

Bad breath in the morning can be treated quickly and effectively, but only if the problem is not ignored. The cause of the odor must be found as quickly as possible and eliminated. The prognosis is always favorable if the correct treatment is carried out.