Does your mouth taste bitter as soon as you wake up in the morning? Attention This is a sign of liver failure or serious stomach disease.

New Delhi/Ghaziabad: Often people ignore the bad taste or bitterness in the mouth after waking up in the morning, considering it as normal. If this is happening to you every day, then it is not just a matter of ‘morning breath’. According to doctors, bitterness in the mouth in the morning can be an early warning sign of some serious problem developing inside your body, especially stomach and liver related diseases. Experts say that if it is not identified in time, other health related complications may increase.

Acid reflux and stomach upset are the major reasons

The most common reason behind bitterness in the mouth is gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). According to Dr. Santram Verma, senior physician at District Hospital, Ghaziabad, when we eat heavy food at night or late at night, acid is released in the stomach to digest the food. In the lying position, this acid reaches the throat and mouth through the esophagus. Due to this acid, one feels bitterness or sourness in the tongue and mouth after waking up in the morning.

Is your liver working properly?

Bad taste in mouth is not limited to stomach only, it can also be directly related to the health of your liver. Dr. Verma explains that the main function of the liver is to remove toxins from the body. When the functioning of the liver is disrupted or it is unable to detoxify properly, waste begins to accumulate in the body, a major symptom of which is impaired taste in the mouth. If this problem persists, then doctors recommend that you should get a liver function test (LFT) done once so that the condition of the liver can be known.

Oral hygiene and bacterial attack

Negligence in cleaning the mouth is also a major reason for this problem. When we sleep at night without brushing or do not clean our tongue regularly, harmful bacteria start growing in the mouth. These bacteria accumulate between the teeth and gums and cause bad odor and bitterness. Neglecting oral health for a long time also increases the risk of gum diseases and tooth infections, which ultimately affects your overall health.

Easy methods of prevention suggested by experts

If you want to get rid of this problem, you will have to make some small but effective changes in your lifestyle. Dr. Verma advises to have a light meal at least 2-3 hours before sleeping at night. Make it mandatory to brush teeth and clean your tongue before sleeping. Also, if you have frequent acidity or sour burps, consult a doctor instead of home remedies. Drinking adequate amount of water and improving diet is the surest way to avoid this problem.