Why do we get bad breath in the morning? artwork

Why do we get bad breath in the morning?

Do you really know?

August 31, 2026

According to The Cleveland Clinic, around one in four people are affected by bad breath. It’s also known as halitosis and bad breath can be a source of embarrassment. It’s sometimes caused by consuming certain well-known foods, like garlic, onion, cheese, and coffee for example.

Topics: Education, News

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Why do we get bad breath?
Thanks for asking.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, around one in four people are affected by bad breath. It's also known as halitosis and can be a source of embarrassment. It's sometimes caused by consuming certain well-known foods, like garlic, onion, cheese and coffee, for example. But it can also be a symptom of an underlying health condition, such as pneumonia, gum recession, kidney disease or gastrointestinal disorders. Do bacteria have anything to do with it? Indeed, they do a lot of the time. In most cases, bad breath results from the proliferation of certain bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria can accumulate on the tongue, gums and teeth and produce volatile sulphur compounds which are behind that unpleasant odour. And of course, those bacteria tend to grow when we don't brush our teeth regularly. Tobacco and alcohol consumption can also contribute to bad breath. That's because they're substances which tend to dry out the mouth and promote the growth of bad smelling bacteria. How can we avoid bad breath? Obviously, having impeccable oral hygiene is a must. That means brushing your teeth at least twice a day, preferably with a soft bristled toothbrush, for a minimum of three minutes each time. Using dental floss or interdental brushes to remove food from the gaps and eliminate plaque, and finally rinsing your mouth thoroughly. If you can't brush your teeth during the day, you should avoid eating sugary sweets because the bacteria in our mouth turns sugar into acid. You could go for a sugar free pastel instead. You should also stay hydrated, which has the benefits of limiting the proliferation of bacteria and stimulating salivation, which helps fight the germs that are responsible for bad odors. Morning breath is actually the result of a lack of salivation during the night. To avoid bad breath, you should also pay attention to your diet. Too much garlic, onion, curry, paprika, coffee, alcohol or sugar can increase the risk of halitosis. If bad breath persists, consult a doctor to make sure there are no underlying health conditions.
There you have it.
Now you know why we get bad breath.
In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know it for sure.

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