Halitosis, also known as bad breath, is common in children. Children are prone to sinus infections that can cause bad breath, and they are often inexperienced when it comes to proper dental hygiene and care. Although many different causes of bad breath exist, you generally can identify the origin and effectively treat and prevent bad breath.
Dental and Hygiene Causes
Food particles in your child's mouth collect on her cheeks, tongue and around her gums and teeth. This causes an unpleasant odor, especially if she ate a pungent food such as onion or garlic. The Mayo Clinic states that the odor of onion or garlic can cause bad breath for up to 72 hours after consumption. Poor dental hygiene can cause bad breath if you don't remove the food particles. Dry mouth causes bad breath, as well, because saliva is necessary to rinse away dead cells that sit in her mouth. When you don't rinse them away, these cells decompose and cause odor, resulting in what is commonly known as morning breath.
Medical Causes
An infection in your child's lungs can produce an unpleasant smell released through his breath. A sinus infection also can be to blame, because nasal discharge drips down the back of the throat. If your child has a foreign object in his nose, he may also experience nasal discharge that causes bad breath. Unpleasant breath is also common after a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy--the removal or the tonsil or adenoids in the back of the throat.
Treatment
The most effective way to treat bad breath is to target the cause instead of attempting to mask it. Have your child thoroughly brush her teeth for at least two to three minutes. If she is experiencing a lung or sinus infection, the doctor needs to treat it. She may also need her doctor's assistance if she has a foreign object in her nose. If she has just had a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy, let her rinse out her mouth with water. Do not let her gargle because that can cause bleeding after those surgeries.
Prevention
Have your child brush his teeth after eating or at least twice a day. Be sure that he also brushes his tongue to remove dead cells and bacteria that accumulate daily. He may need your help brushing his teeth if he is younger than 6. If he is younger than 2, he can use water instead of toothpaste for brushing. The Mayo Clinic suggests changing your child's toothbrush every three to four months so it stays new. Take your child to regular dental checkups twice a year. Your child should drink water regularly to keep his mouth moist, and consider letting him chew on sugarless gum to increase his saliva production. If he is young and uses a pacifier, sterilize it regularly to keep it from harboring bacteria.
Warnings
Avoid giving your child breath mints that contain sugar. The sugar collects in your child's mouth and creates more opportunities for the production of bacteria and plaque. Babycenter recommends against using mouthwash for a child, since many mouthwashes contain alcohol that she could accidentally swallow. If you would like her to use mouthwash, dilute it to one-third strength with water. If no home methods control your child's bad breath, take her to the doctor.
