A Whiff of Reality: Kids Can Have Bad Breath

A Whiff of Reality: Kids Can Have Bad Breath

Baby’s breath is so sweet that a flower is named for it, but as your child grows, it’s likely that he or she will have not-so-sweet breath at some point. It might even smell downright bad. Usually the cause of bad breath (halitosis) is quite benign. The culprit could be foods like onions, cheese, orange juice or soda. Some medications also contribute to halitosis-like symptoms. And if your child is an adolescent, chronic bad breath can be the result of smoking or the use of other tobacco products.

But once these causes have been ruled out, the next culprit to consider is the bacteria in your child’s mouth. Your child needs to floss daily and brush at least twice a day, for two minutes each time, to effectively get rid of food particles upon which these bacteria feed. If there is enough nutrition available for the bacteria, they’ll stick around in your child’s mouth and release sulfur compounds that have an unpleasant aroma.

And it is especially important to brush the tongue, especially the back third of it. Odor-causing bacteria congregate there, as well as on tooth surfaces.

A condition such as enlarged adenoids that results in your child’s breathing through the mouth can contribute to halitosis, as well. Less saliva (called dry mouth) means fewer antibacterial compounds swishing regularly through the mouth. In general, drinking water regularly can ensure that the mouth stays hydrated enough to help prevent bad breath.

Other medical conditions, of varying degrees of rarity, can cause halitosis. They include

• chronic post-nasal drip; bacteria thrive on the accompanying mucus and other secretions.
• diabetes can cause the breath to have an acetone smell, akin to that of nail-polish remover
• strep throat (and other oral infections)
• kidney or liver failure

While an antibacterial mouthwash can offer a quick and temporary fix for one or two instances of bad breath, a visit to KiDDS Dental is in order if the halitosis recurs frequently and diligent oral hygiene doesn’t solve the problem. Halitosis should not be present at a young age, and halitosis in children means that something is definitely wrong. So make sure that you are well aware of what’s going on with your child, and seek proper care and treatment to eliminate halitosis.

If you have questions about your child's bad breath, click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.