{"id":5536,"date":"2025-09-22T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=5536"},"modified":"2025-09-24T21:33:52","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T21:33:52","slug":"this-is-why-you-wake-up-with-a-weird-taste-in-your-mouth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/22\/this-is-why-you-wake-up-with-a-weird-taste-in-your-mouth\/","title":{"rendered":"This is why you wake up with a weird taste in your mouth"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A dentist has explained why we wake up with weird tastes in our mouths (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For many of us, the moment we first wake up in the morning<\/a> isn\u2019t pretty -from messy bed head to drool on our chin and a gross taste in our mouth.<\/p>\n

But why is it that we get morning breath even though we haven\u2019t eaten anything in hours and brushed our teeth <\/a>before bed?\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to dentist<\/a>, Dr. Sofina Ahmed, there are several reasons why and it turns out your saliva, how well you slept<\/a> and your sinuses could all be playing a big part.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been struggling with weird tastes in your mouth, here\u2019s everything you need to know about what’s causing it, as well as some top tips to smell fresh as a daisy in the morning…<\/p>\n

Why do we get morning breath?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Sleeping with your mouth open decreases your saliva production (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When we sleep, our production of saliva lessens and only continues to decrease if you sleep<\/a> with your mouth open or breathe through your mouth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This lack of saliva means that your mouth doesn\u2019t clean itself as it should, allowing bacteria that has an odour to thrive, especially around your tongue.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018This paves the way to not only morning breath but also a bitter taste,\u2019 Dr. Ahmed, from Viva Dental, says.<\/p>\n

Why do I taste salt or blood when I wake up?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A salty or \u2018bloody\u2019 taste in your mouth first thing in the morning is linked to your nose and could be a sign that something is wrong with your sinuses.<\/p>\n

You could have an infection, an allergy or a condition like rhinitis which can trigger pot-nasal drip – this is where mucus drips down the back of your throat during sleep.<\/p>\n

\u2018This mucus can carry bacteria, inflammation byproducts, even tiny traces of blood from irritated tissues. This often leads to the lingering salty and metallic taste,’ Dr. Ahmed explains.<\/p>\n

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A sinus infection can cause a salty or bloody taste in your mouth (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What does a sour or metallic taste mean?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Throughout the night your saliva becomes acidic as bacteria in your mouth breaks down any leftover sugars or food debris.\u00a0This acidity can impact your taste buds, tooth enamel, and the overall \u2018freshness\u2019 of your mouth.<\/p>\n

Laryngopharyngeal reflux, also known as silent reflux, can also play an \u2018instrumental role\u2019 in this causing an odd taste in your mouth. This is a condition where stomach acid and enzymes travel back into the throat and voice box, but without causing the typical heartburn or indigestion of acid reflux.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018Even without usual symptoms, stomach acid can sneak up into your throat and mouth at night, coating the tongue and leaving a sour or metallic taste that lingers into the next morning,\u2019 Dr. Ahmed warns.<\/p>\n

Your sleep hygiene could be impacting your taste buds<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you aren\u2019t suffering with any of the conditions above, you might want to consider how well you\u2019ve been sleeping lately, as Dr. Ahmed reveals that \u2018poor sleep hygiene<\/a> can distort how you perceive flavour\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She shares: \u2018If you find that you wake with a dull taste in your mouth, snore, gasp when you sleep or feel like your sleep isn\u2019t restorative, it may signal that your sleep is affecting your taste as well as your energy.\u2019<\/p>\n

Those with a sleep apnoea have it the worst though, as they can lose sensitivity to foods that are sweet, salty, sour and bitter, according to the dentist. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Poor sleep hygiene can impact your taste (Credits: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How to avoid morning breath<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dr. Ahmed claims there are several thing you can try to make \u2018a significant difference\u2019 to how fresh you feel in the morning. Her first top tip is to stay hydrated by drinking a glass of water before bed and having one on your bedside table.<\/p>\n

\u2018A dry mouth increases a bad taste by letting bacteria proliferate. Ensure that you keep hydrated throughout the day,’ she advises.<\/p>\n

Next stimulate saliva in the evening by chewing sugar-free gum. This encourages saliva production and helps flush out debris.<\/p>\n

She also recommends adding a tongue scraper into your nightly routine when getting ready for bed.<\/p>\n

\u2018Brushing the tongue helps remove tongue coating (dead cells, debris, bacteria) shown to correlate strongly with bad morning taste,\u2019 Dr. Ahmed adds.<\/p>\n

And finally, don\u2019t forget to floss and use antibacterial or neutral pH mouthwash to clean the inside of the cheeks and under the tongue.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n


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