Does your mouth stink in the morning? Here's how to get rid of it

Does your mouth stink in the morning? So does mine.

In fact, it stinks so much that the first thing I do in the morning is to rush for my toothbrush. If I accidentally swallow saliva before brushing, I'll experience serious stomach aches.

If for some reason I can't brush, I would have to spit more than a pregnant woman to avoid stomach aches. Also, I don't speak to anyone until I've brushed - not even to my parents. I just nod like a lizard.

Finding the Solution to Stinky Morning Breaths

Option #1: Brush Before Sleep

According to doctors, we should all brush at night before going to bed. I'm kind of lazy. In fact, if not for the stomach aches, I probably would go days without brushing - probably. In a way, I should be thankful for potential stomach aches. 

Option #2: Floss Daily - preferably before bed

Doctors recommend flossing. The problem is that flossing is even more bothersome than simply brushing my teeth. Consequently, I've never flossed.

Option #3: Use Mouthwash

The dental association recommend gurgling mouthwash before bed. I liked this option enough to spend money on it. I bought, used Listerine for a while and it worked. The morning breath reduced dramatically.

With late-night Listerine, I could talk without suffocating the listener. Also, no more stomach aches. 

I however found some problems with the mouthwash stuff.

1. Burning sensation in my mouth - It was too hot. So, I couldn't swish it in my mouth for long. 
2. I still had to dedicate time to go into the bathroom for it 
3. It's Costs Money - I mean, I'm already spending money on toothpaste right?

After a few bottles, I stopped and the breath situation resurfaced.

I thought that the problems would remain forever. But then, I accidentally stumbled on the perfect solution.

1. It's free - You won't spend a dime
2. Do it anywhere, any time - even on your bed 
3. It's painless - You can swish and gurgle as often and as long as you want

The Perfect Solution

As a child, I enjoyed watching Nigerian films - especially those with Village settings. I adored the elders in those films because they didn't waste words. They would use proverbs instead of long speeches.

Pick any village themed Eastern-Nigerian film and you'll notice what I'm about to tell you.

The Swish Therapy

After meals, elders habitually take big gulps of either palm wine or dry gin and then...

Swish! They'll swish the liquid in their mouth vigorously for several seconds and finally swallow. Like picking one's teeth in the public, I found this practice tasteless.

Funny thing, my dad did the same. Only difference was, he used water. I remember watching him as a child and laughing at him secretly. I thought, "Dad's such bushman."

In hindsight, I feel like a fool. 

Firstly because my Dad spends at least 20 minutes every morning brushing. In fact, he uses two different brushes. (I laughed so hard writing that. It's funny isn't it?) With that much dedication to his teeth, he must be a dental expert right?

Secondly, I now do the same. I swish water after meals even more than he does.

I don't recall how or why I started swishing water around my mouth. Maybe it started as a joke - an imitation of the aforementioned people. Nevertheless, once I noticed the benefits, I never looked back.

I could write a full article on the benefits of water swishing alone. However, I'll not spoil the fun for you. 

Try it

After your next meal swish some water around your mouth. You'll be surprised by how much food particles would come out of hiding. You can spit them out or swallow. In my experience, it's not harmful.

I really want to write more about this swishing stuff. Particularly about my first experiences with it but I'll save that for another time. 

Good day and don't forget to swish.