Children and Bad Breath

One of the most frustrating questions we get from parents on a daily basis is about kids and bad breath.
  

"Why does my child have bad breath even after I brush their teeth?"
"My child always has bad breath, I hope this doesn't cause social problems with other kids at school. What can I do?"

As a parent it is important to know that you are not alone. A recent study found that almost 25% of all kids had "bad breath" or Halitosis.

Most often the cause of the halitosis is from the mouth.

• Food. The breakdown of food particles in and around teeth can increase bacteria and cause a foul odor. Eating certain foods, such as onions, garlic, and other vegetables and spices, also can cause bad breath. After your child eats these foods, they enter their bloodstream, are carried to the lungs and affect their breath.
• Poor dental hygiene. If you don't brush and floss your child's teeth two times daily, food particles remain in their mouth, causing bad breath. A colorless, sticky film of bacteria (plaque) forms on their teeth and if not brushed away, plaque can irritate your gums (gingivitis) and eventually form plaque-filled pockets between your teeth and gums (periodontitis). The uneven surface of the tongue also can trap bacteria that produce odors. Orthodontic appliances can also be a trap for bacteria that cause halitosis.
• Dry mouth. Saliva helps cleanse your mouth, removing particles that may cause bad odors. A condition called dry mouth — also known as xerostomia (zeer-o-STOE-me-ah) — can contribute to bad breath because production of saliva is decreased. Dry mouth naturally occurs during sleep, leading to "morning breath," and is made worse if your child sleeps with their mouth open. Some medications can lead to a chronic dry mouth, as can a problem with children's salivary glands and some diseases.
• Infections in the mouth. Bad breath can be caused by surgical wounds after oral surgery, such as tooth removal, or as a result of tooth decay, gum disease or mouth sores.

Not all bad breath comes from the mouth, though. Bad breath can occasionally stem from small stones that form in the tonsils and are covered with bacteria that produce odorous chemicals. Infections or chronic inflammation in the nose, sinuses or throat, which can contribute to postnasal drip, also can cause bad breath.

Some medications can indirectly produce bad breath by contributing to dry mouth. Others can be broken down in the body to release chemicals that can be carried on your breath.

There are other causes of halitosis in kids that are rare but are significant. Diseases, such as some cancers, and conditions such as metabolic disorders, can cause a distinctive breath odor as a result of chemicals they produce. Chronic reflux of stomach acids (gastroesophageal reflux disease) can be associated with bad breath.

And of course my all time favorite reason for bad breath in young children: A foreign body, such as a small toy or piece of food, lodged in a nostril.

 So, what do we need to do to prevent our kids from having Stinky Breath?

Of course the most important this to start with is good brushing. Brushing both the teeth and the tongue will eliminate most of the causes of bad breath. Rinsing with a fluoride and non-alcohol mouthwash is also important. If this does not always work then we need to evaluate other causes such as foods and reflux.

As always, if you have any questions we are here to answer them. Give us a call or email us.

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