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Bad Breath Kids - An Overview

Most kids would go out of their way to avoid eating garlic or onions, yet it is not unusual for a child to wake up with very smelly breath. Throughout the day, a child's saliva, swished by the mouth muscles, washes away unwanted debris. As soon as a child falls asleep, saliva production plummets, and the muscles relax. The longer a child sleeps, the higher the bacterial count in the mouth rises, resulting in "morning breath. Naturally saliva helps to prevent cavities by digesting the sugars and by washing the teeth. Bad breath can often be treated or prevented through good oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing, cleaning the back of the tongue, keeping the mouth moist, rinsing the mouth. The treatment of any underlying allergies, sinus infections or other medical conditions may contribute to the bad breath. So it is necessary to clean the back of the tongue and keeping the mouth moist.

Bad breath (halitosis) is common in children, especially older children and adolescents. It is often related to bacterial activity in the back of the mouth, nose or on the teeth. Postnasal drip is the most common cause of bad breath in children, and may be caused by allergies, recurrent colds or chronic sinus infections. Poor dentition is usually suspected when children have bad breath. It may be from cavities, inflamed gums (gingivitis) or trapped food particles, which can also become trapped in the crypts of the tonsils, leading to tonsilloliths. Bad breath can often be treated or prevented through good oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing. If your children breathe through their mouth (as opposed to their nose) their saliva will dry up at night, keeping it from helping wash bacteria away.

Bacteria, it seems, is very fond of people's tongues, so even if your children regularly brush their teeth, bacteria will survive if the tongue is not also brushed. Treatment, therefore, involves careful brushing and flossing several times a day, with special attention paid to the tongue. You may even want to consider buying a tongue scraper from your local drugstore to be extra diligent in getting rid of the bacteria. Chewing sugarless gum may also help; increased saliva production helps wash out the bacteria. Mouthwash will improve breath for a few hours, but children run the risk of ingesting its high alcohol content if not careful, so pediatricians generally discourage its use. In case, it might instead be a result of a sinus infection or problem with the tonsils. Your pediatrician or dentist can help if you are concerned about your child's bad breath lasting for more than two weeks, despite good oral hygiene.

Disclaimer : The text presented on these pages is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. It may not represent your true individual medical situation. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting a qualified health care provider. Please consult your health care provider if you have any questions or concerns.

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