I’m going to be direct with you: In case your breath is persistently dangerous, protecting it up with mints and mouthwash isn’t simply masking the issue—it’s making it worse.
I see this on a regular basis. Somebody DMs or emails me, embarrassed about continual dangerous breath. They’ve tried every little thing—Listerine, Altoids, water flossers, these little breath strips. Nothing works.
And once I ask them to stay out their tongue and have a look at it within the mirror and describe to me what they see, I instantly know why.
Their tongue is coated in a thick, white-yellow biofilm. The again of the tongue appears like a shag carpet.
That biofilm? It’s a metropolis of sulfur-producing micro organism churning out unstable sulfur compounds (VSCs)—the precise reason behind dangerous breath.
However right here’s what most individuals don’t understand: These micro organism aren’t simply inflicting dangerous breath. They’re additionally blocking considered one of your physique’s most essential pathways for cardiovascular well being.
Your Tongue Is Purported to Defend Your Coronary heart
After age 40, your physique’s capability to provide nitric oxide (NO)—the molecule that retains your blood vessels versatile and your blood stress wholesome—drops off a cliff.
However your physique has a backup system: your oral microbiome.
Once you eat nitrate-rich meals like spinach or beets, these nitrates focus in your saliva. Then useful micro organism in your tongue (like Rothia and Neisseria) convert these nitrates into nitrite, which turns into nitric oxide all through your physique.
This protects your cardiovascular system.
But when your tongue is roofed in sulfur-producing micro organism, this conversion doesn’t occur.
No conversion = no nitric oxide = no cardiovascular safety.
So continual dangerous breath isn’t simply embarrassing. It’s an indication your oral microbiome is damaged—and your coronary heart is paying the value.
Why Mouthwash Makes All the pieces Worse
Right here’s the cycle I see continually:
Unhealthy breath → use Listerine → contemporary breath for half-hour → dangerous breath comes again worse.
Why?
As a result of antiseptic mouthwash kills every little thing—the great micro organism AND the dangerous micro organism.
Then one thing predictable occurs: the dangerous micro organism (anaerobes like Fusobacterium and Prevotella) develop again quicker than the great micro organism.
They thrive within the disrupted, oxygen-poor surroundings mouthwash creates.
Now you may have:
- Worse dangerous breath (extra VSC manufacturing)
- A damaged oral microbiome (much less variety, extra sulfur producers)
- Larger blood stress (no nitrate-reducing micro organism = no NO manufacturing)
Research present that utilizing chlorhexidine mouthwash measurably will increase blood stress inside hours as a result of it wipes out the micro organism you want for nitric oxide manufacturing.
You’ve made the issue continual.
The Hidden Perpetrator: Nighttime Mouth Respiration
However there’s one issue that’s even worse than mouthwash.
Mouth respiratory at night time.
Right here’s what most individuals don’t perceive: Nighttime mouth respiratory is way more damaging than daytime mouth respiratory.
Through the day, even should you’re mouth respiratory:
- You’re ingesting water
- You’re swallowing (which stimulates saliva)
- You’re speaking (which strikes your tongue and creates moisture)
- You’re feeling the dryness and instinctively attempt to hydrate
However at night time, your salivary glands primarily shut down.
Once you mouth breathe throughout sleep:
- Your mouth desiccates fully
- Saliva stream drops to virtually nothing
- The pH drops (turns into extra acidic)
- Oxygen stress plummets
- Anaerobic micro organism explode in inhabitants
This creates the right surroundings for:
- Sulfur-producing micro organism (dangerous breath)
- Cavity-causing micro organism (decay)
- Gum illness micro organism (periodontitis)
- Full oral microbiome dysbiosis
Morning breath after mouth respiratory all night time isn’t simply “regular.” It’s an indication of profound microbial imbalance.
In the event you get up with a dry mouth, coated tongue, and dangerous breath—you’re mouth respiratory at night time. And it’s destroying your oral ecology.
What Truly Works: Breaking the Unhealthy-Breath Cycle
Right here’s what I’d advocate:
1. Tongue Scraping Each Morning
This bodily removes the sulfur-producing biofilm, reduces anaerobic bacterial load, and will increase oxygen publicity in your tongue floor.
Much less natural substrate = fewer sulfur producers = much less VSC manufacturing.
I scrape 5-7 instances till the scraper comes away clear.
That is the one I designed, however any chrome steel scraper works.
2. Nitrate-Wealthy Mint After Scraping
After scraping, I take advantage of this nitrate-rich mint which I developed in partnership with oral microbiome and nitric oxide scientist Dr. Shawn Inexperienced.
Right here’s why this works:
The nitrate feeds useful micro organism like Rothia and Actinomyces—those that produce nitric oxide and DON’T produce sulfur gases.
These useful micro organism outcompete the sulfur producers. Their metabolism is completely totally different—they create nitrite and NO, not malodorous VSCs.
Extra nitrate → extra useful micro organism → fewer sulfur producers → more energizing breath AND cardiovascular safety.
It’s not masking. It’s restoring microbial steadiness.
3. Mouth Tape Each Evening
That is non-negotiable if you wish to repair dangerous breath completely.
Mouth taping forces nasal respiratory, which:
- Retains your mouth moist all night time
- Maintains regular pH
- Prevents anaerobic bacterial overgrowth
- Preserves salivary stream (even the lowered nighttime stream is protecting)
- Delivers pure antimicrobial peptides in saliva
Nasal respiratory reshapes your oral ecology right into a secure, low-odor equilibrium.
I take advantage of this mouth tape each single night time.
4. Magnesium Every day
Magnesium helps wholesome salivary gland perform. Extra saliva = higher bacterial flushing, optimum pH, and the correct surroundings for useful micro organism.
That is the magnesium I take every single day.
5. Leafy Greens Every day
Arugula, spinach, beet greens—these feed the nitrate-reducing micro organism in your tongue.
No dietary nitrate = no gas for the useful micro organism.
6. By no means Use Antiseptic Mouthwash
Throw out the Listerine, the Therabreath, the ACT. Even the “pure” mouthwash manufacturers comprise important oils, that are oral microbiome disruptive as a result of they indiscriminately kill micro organism.
In the event you do rinse, rinse with MCT coconut oil.
The Take a look at: Test Your Tongue Proper Now
Stick out your tongue. Have a look at the again third.
Coated? White? Yellow? Fuzzy?
Now scrape it with a tongue scraper (or should you don’t have one but, a spoon for now).
Scent it.
If it smells like sulfur, your oral microbiome is damaged.
And should you get up with dry mouth and dangerous breath, you’re mouth respiratory at night time.
Unhealthy Breath Is a Warning Signal
Once I see continual dangerous breath, I see:
- Disrupted oral microbiome
- Misplaced cardiovascular safety
- Elevated systemic irritation
- Nighttime mouth respiratory destroying oral ecology
Your breath is telling you one thing is unsuitable.
The repair isn’t mouthwash. It’s restoring steadiness.
Begin Right here This Week
✅ Scrape your tongue each morning
✅ Use mouth tape each night time (that is the game-changer)
✅ Eat leafy greens day by day
✅ Take magnesium
✅ Throw out antiseptic mouthwash
In the event you’ve been coping with continual dangerous breath, this isn’t about vainness. It’s about your oral microbiome, your cardiovascular well being, and your physique’s capability to provide nitric oxide after 40.
Your tongue is a metabolic organ that’s supposed to guard your coronary heart.
Let’s begin treating it that method.
Mark
P.S. What would you want me to cowl in future newsletters?
With a group of over 100,000 now (and rising) I’m sadly unable to answer to each single electronic mail like I used to again in 2016, nevertheless, I do nonetheless learn each considered one of your messages. So, should you’ve emailed me, thanks. I so admire your suggestions and your curiosity within the mouth-body connection.