Bad breath 'Halitosis' in children… Causes and care

Causes of bad breath: 
Bacteria and fungi cause halitosis in children. Good and bad oral microorganisms exist in every child and adults’ mouth. Bad breath is caused by sulfur-producing bacteria. Infrequent brushing and flossing can cause plaque and food particles to build up, allowing sulfur-producing bad bacteria to grow and produce foul-smelling compounds.

Some other causes that can lead to poor breath include:
• Skipping meals
• Being dehydrated
• Consuming foods with a strong odour, like garlic or onions, causes bad breath. 
• Accumulation of bacteria and plaque between teeth.
• Infections of the throat or mouth (such as strep throat), 
• Tooth cavities or gum disease.
• Respiratory infections

It is important to note that halitosis in children can also be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diabetes, or liver disease.

Therefore, if a child has persistent bad breath, it is important to consult a Pediatric healthcare provider (Dental and Medical Pediatrician) for proper evaluation and treatment.

Care for bad breath: 

Bad breath in the morning and the natural cleansing properties of saliva: 
Saliva cleanses and prevents bad breath. Sleeping slows salivary flow. Thus, as saliva production drops, bad breath-causing bacteria can multiply and generate bad breath, which may explain the morning odour in children and adults.

Oral Care Instructions:
Give your youngster carrots or cucumbers to chew after meals and snacks to clean their mouths. 

Parents should remind kids to brush and use tongue scrub to clean their tongue. 

Parents should teach kids to floss every day when they're old enough.

If the child's mouth is dry, please encourage them to sip water. 

If the child has tooth cavities, please seek treatment to restore the cavities with fillings.

For infants and toddlers:
After brushing, use the washcloth wrapped around the finger, and clean the roof of their mouth and gums at least once daily.