Why does our mouth stink after a night's sleep despite brushing before going

Bad breath, or `Halitosis' is a common problem, which often occurs due to

bacterial activity in the mouth.

Although brushing is a good mechanical aid for maintaining proper oral

hygiene, there are many factors that may cause morning bad breath or

halitosis. Some people suffer from bad breath without knowing it, while

others build up exaggerated fears about breath odour even though they do not

have it. Halitosis, also termed `oral malodour' is a foul or offensive odour

emanating from the oral cavity. It is caused primarily by volatile sulphur

compounds specifically hydrogen sulphide and methyl mercaptan which result

from bacterial putrefaction of protein containing sulphur amino acids. These

products could be involved in the transition from good oral health to

gingivitis (inflammation of the gums or gingival) and then to periodontitis

(inflammation of supporting tissues of the teeth).

Local source of mouth odour is mainly the tongue. Post nasal drip on the back

of the tongue which occurs during sleep can also cause oral malodour in the

mornings and can cause throat infections in some cases. A coated tongue is

also said to be a cause of halitosis, due to excessive bacterial activity on

the tongue. The causes of bad breath can be divided into

Intraoral sources(sources inside the mouth which can cause bad breath)

Extraoral sources(sources outside the mouth or anywhere else in the body).

Intraoral sources include retention of odoriferous food particles on and

between the teeth, coated tongue and dehydration states which can cause

dryness of mouth leading to oral malodour. caries

Habits like smoking, alcoholism and pan chewing, artificial dentures,

insufficient salivary flow, gum problems, post nasal drip on the back of the

tongue cause bad breath. Any infections of the respiratory tract like

bronchitis, pneumonia can also cause bad breath.

Periodontitis (inflammation of the tissues surrounding the teeth) is one

condition if left untreated can cause bad breath from accumulated debris and

increased rate of putrefaction of the saliva.

There are many ways to prevent halitosis or oral malodour. Getting teeth

cleaned periodically in a dentist's office is one such practice.

Dental flossing along with tooth brushing helps in removing debris from in

between the teeth. Using a soft bristled toothbrush on your tongue, taking

plenty of liquid, cleaning your mouth after eating or drinking milk products,

fish, meat helps. If you are a denture wearer, soak the denture in antiseptic

solution overnight.

Chlorhexidine, Listerine and triclosan mouthwashes are available in the

market that can be used after consulting your dentist.

Thus halitosis can be prevented by education of people regarding brushing

techniques and other oral hygiene aids and motivation of people to make

behavioural and habitual changes thereby avoiding unnecessary anxiety and

apprehension