eli5: Why do your teeth feel so gross when you first wake up even though the last thing you did before sleeping was brush your teeth?

456 views

I assume it has something to do with the bacteria in your mouth thriving and replicating from the warm, moist, undisturbed environment…. But you’re not eating at night to help form plaque so I don’t get it.

In: 1710

17 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

It’s because you didn’t actually remove all the bacteria in your mouth during your last brushing. I’m not insulting your brushing habits, it’s just not realistic to expect that you removed 100% of the bacteria every single time you brush. Also, remember that bacteria and other pathogens are airborne. This means even if you did succeed in removing every single last bacterium when you brushed, your first breath contaminates your mouth all over again. Essentially we are playing catchup at all times, trying to keep the inevitable invasion of bacteria at bay as best as we can.

Anonymous 0 Comments

When you sleep at night, you don’t produce as much saliva (spit) as when you are awake. Saliva helps protect and wash your teeth. The reduced production allows the bacteria inside your mouth to multiply overnight, causing the terrible taste and bad breath. If you sleep/breathe with your mouth open, your teeth dry even faster, worsening the effect.

This is also why you are more likely to drool when napping because your saliva production doesn’t go down as much as when you are asleep at night.

Anonymous 0 Comments

The bacteria had time to multiply and grow, but the biggest reason is that your mouth dries out while you sleep (especially if you breathe through your mouth at night, as you probably do if e.g. you’re overweight). That drying concentrates the sugars and proteins dissolved in your saliva into a thick, sticky film that (a) feels and tastes kinda gross and (b) is a lovely place for bacteria to hide out.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Do you floss? I’ve flossed every night for the last 15 years and I never have this issue when I wake up.

Anonymous 0 Comments

there is that but also the fact that your saliva glands decreese in activity so oyu dont choke on your own spit, causing your mouth to dry out, making anything thicker than water to form into a film all over your mouth.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Because throughout the night, spiders climb into your mouth and shit on your teeth. We, of course, have no idea about this violation. But it happens and there is nothing we can do about it.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Because the bugs that live in your mouth, and consume the bacteria in your mouth, have been pooping for the last 8 hours.

Anonymous 0 Comments

In general, it’s because your mouth produces less saliva while you sleep. That slightly drier and more importantly less enzymatic environment along with a long period without any rinse (like drinking water during the day would provide) makes a very hospitable environment for bacteria to reproduce. That bacteria feeds on food particles and sugars and produces acids which can harm your tooth enamel, but also produce a strong smell (halitosis). So when you wake up, you’ve got lousy breath.

Anonymous 0 Comments

If my teeth taste funny when I wake up in the morning that usually means I was too drunk and forgot to take them out and put them in the denture cup and put Efferdent tablets in so they soak so they can clean themselves

Anonymous 0 Comments

I used to wake up with a bit of that gross mouth, but then I started picking and flossing with xylitol toothpaste before brushing. Get that stuff between your teeth and into whatever pockets you might have. Brush afterwards and don’t rinse. You will wake up with a clean mouth.