Do Your Kids Have Bad Breath?
When it comes to bad breath, adults may be the first people we think of, but they aren’t the only ones. But bad breath is so common that it can affect everyone regardless of age. So if you have children, you may notice that even they can have bad breath.
You may think that since they’re young, they may not get halitosis. But bad breath in children isn’t unusual. What you need to do, because you are the parent and kids can’t be expected to pay attention to their breath, is to find out the cause and then take action to treat the problem.
Here are the main causes of bad breath in children:
Oral Hygiene – For both children and adults, poor oral hygiene is the leading cause of halitosis. Food particles left in the mouth and the buildup of bad breath causing anaerobic bacteria happen because of the lack of flossing and brushing. Be sure they rinse their mouths with water after eating. Then regular flossing and brushing with good toothpaste, like that from Therabreath rather than the latest bubblegum flavored cartoon character dentifrice, will keep bad breath in check.- Teeth – Kids have teeth growing in, falling out, then growing in again. The minor inflammation caused by this can create ideal conditions for the bacteria that cause bad breath. When there is a problem with crooked teeth or baby teeth and adult teeth crowding each other, this also can cause inflammation or places where food particles can be trapped. Keep up a good routine of brushing and flossing and have your children see the dentist regularly.
- Mouth Breathing – When children breathe through their mouths, their mouth will dry out. This creates bad breath (see our posts on bad breath and dry mouth). Make sure they drink adequate water throughout the day and check with your doctor to see if there is a problem that causes them to breath this way.
- Postnasal Drip – One of the leading causes of bad breath in children is postnasal drip. This is usually caused by allergies, colds or sinus infections. Check with your doctor for this one.
There you have the top four reasons for bad breath in children. Check with your doctor or dentist when it seems advisable. Otherwise, start them on a good set of oral hygiene habits. Daily brushing, flossing, and, when they are old enough, tongue cleaning, will help them keep bad breath at bay and give them good habits for a lifetime.
