why does our mouth stink after a nights sleep despite brushing before going to sleep

The primary cause of odor in the breath or halitosis is sulfides produced by either grain negative bacteria or in the normal breakdown and renewal of your oral mucosa or tissue. A bi-product of the bacteria is methyl mercaptan or hydrogen sulfide gases which produce these volatile sulfide compounds or VSC. VSC are also formed in the normal cellular turnover in the mouth. When tissues are inflamed or infected a concentration of bacteria is found and the normal rate of tissue regeneration is greatly increased, thus increasing the amount of VSC present leading to malodor

Research has also led us to believe that these vsc may have a harmful effect on the normal gum or periodontal membrane. VSC are believed to increase the permeability of this membrane to increased bacterial invasion leading to periodontal breakdown or periodontitis (pyorrhea). If we can control the level of vsc in the mouth we can not only remove mouth odor but we may be able to stop periodontal disease in its earliest stages