# Morning Breath **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-breath/225128 "2004-01-18T17:39:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Methos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Methos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Methos)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-breath/225128/1 "2004-01-18T17:39:27Z")
My friends and I came across the topic of morning breath and we were trying to figure out just what exactly causes it, and even why when you have a power nap of 10-20, you still wake up with a milder case of morning breath. Thanks for the help -Mith ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-breath/225128/2 "2004-01-18T18:33:45Z")
When you’re awake, you’re constantly cleaning your mouth and teeth with your tongue, though you’re not normally aware of this. When you sleep, this activity stops, and bacteria can grow undisturbed. It doesn’t take long for bacterial growth to begin to produce odor. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-breath/225128/3 "2004-01-18T18:42:33Z")
It’s a bit complex. This [Halitosis site](http://www.altcorp.com/AffinityLaboratory/halitosisfundamentals.htm) should tell you more than you want to know about the causes and treatments of bad breath. “Morning mouth” is due more to bacteria building up on the tongue during sleep, partly because of increased dryness during this time period. Sometimes this is due to a physiologic decrease in salivation during sleep, sometimes it is due to sleeping with one’s mouth open and drying things out quicker. The roll of tongue motility has not been fully explored, but may well contribute to _some_ of the cases of morning breath. But if you really want the straight dope on bad breath, check the link. It’s quite thorough. QtM, MD ---
**Author:** ![Methos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Methos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Methos)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morning-breath/225128/4 "2004-01-19T19:26:55Z")
Cool, thanks for the info 😃 > [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > It’s a bit complex. > > This [Halitosis site](http://www.altcorp.com/AffinityLaboratory/halitosisfundamentals.htm) should tell you more than you want to know about the causes and treatments of bad breath. > > “Morning mouth” is due more to bacteria building up on the tongue during sleep, partly because of increased dryness during this time period. Sometimes this is due to a physiologic decrease in salivation during sleep, sometimes it is due to sleeping with one’s mouth open and drying things out quicker. The roll of tongue motility has not been fully explored, but may well contribute to _some_ of the cases of morning breath. > > But if you really want the straight dope on bad breath, check the link. It’s quite thorough. > > QtM, MD