Bad Breath in Children: Causes and Treatment
Bad breath in children? what? This dreaded oral condition is often associated with adults so it’s always a bolt from the blue for parents when they smell their little angel’s unpleasant breath. While it is true that chronic bad breath in adults can be a sign for something serious such as head, neck or stomach cancer; this is not especially true for children. in most instances, the stench comes from the mouth itself or from nasal cavity.
-Causes
1. you can blame this on poor dental hygiene. some parents ignore the fact that kids do need to brush their teeth on a regular basis. Keep in mind that food particles in the mouth is what causes bacteria to grow. these bacteria produce sulfur compounds that make the breath smell awful.
2. Another cause for bad breath in children is tooth decay. This is very common among kids and there’s really nothing to worry about. the problem is mostly caused by sticky deposits called plaque that collect especially around the gum line, the edges of fillings and the uneven surfaces of the teeth. just because your child isn’t experiencing any pain, it doesn’t mean that they are free of tooth decay. an awful-smelling breath should signal you to take your kid to the dentist.
3. Acute and chronic sinusitis is also known to make the breath smell. if your child’s breath smells awfully unusual and they have fever, face swelling and a thick yellow-green nasal discharge, this is most likely sinusitis.
4. Bad breath in children is also sometimes caused by a throat infection like pharyngitis. the odor comes from the bacterial infection itself that feed on stagnant saliva because your child is breathing through their mouth.
5. This might be scary but if your child shoved something up into their nose like a pea or a dime, this will cause the breath to smell really bad because of the surrounding infection if it has been there for a while.
-Treatment
Bad breath in children is not that hard to deal with. the main thing is having periodic visits to the dentist and teaching your child the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene at an early age and this can equate to decreasing mouth bacteria and increasing saliva flow. I would not suggest getting your child a tongue scraper. make brush time fun for your child so they won’t feel like you’re always dragging them to brush their teeth.
Let your tot pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste. make sure that the toothbrush has soft or medium bristles and small enough for their mouth. the toothpaste should contain fluoride. if possible, start with flavored toothpaste. Trust me, your kid is going to love you for it what about flossing? When should your child start? Experts always say that once any two of your child’s teeth touch then you should start them on flossing. This will result in healthier gums because the decaying food particles are removed.