Bad breath, also referred to as halitosis, can be an embarrassing problem, but you may wonder how your baby could develop bad breath, especially if he is not even eating solid foods yet. Infant bad breath can happen for a number of reasons, and several methods can be used to remedy the situation.
Oral Hygiene
Poor dental hygiene can cause bad breath, even in babies. If your baby takes a bottle to bed with her, the milk can pool around her teeth and cause unpleasant breath. In addition to not allowing her to fall asleep with a bottle, take good care of her teeth. Website Babycenter suggests wiping her gums with gauze or cloth even before she has teeth. When she starts to get teeth, clean her teeth and tongue with a toothbrush made for babies. She does not need toothpaste or mouthwash at this age.
Sickness
If your baby is sick, it may be causing him to have bad breath. He may be breathing through his mouth and sleeping with his mouth open if he is congested. This can cause his mouth to become dry and prevent saliva from rinsing away dirt and bacteria that cause bad breath. He may also have bad breath and appear uncomfortable after eating if he has gastroesophageal reflux. In rare cases, bad breath can indicate tonsillitis.
Sucking
If your baby repeatedly sucks on her fingers or a pacifier, the saliva and bacteria residue on these objects can give her bad breath. Wash her hands with soap and water regularly if she sucks on them, and sterilize her pacifier by putting it in boiling water for 3 minutes to remove germs.
Other Problems
Babycenter says it is a common problem for older babies and toddlers to stick items up their nose, such as peas, beans and small toys. This can cause bad breath and a yellow discharge coming from his nostril. If you suspect your baby has an object up his nose, take him to the doctor to have it removed. Do not let your baby play with small objects that he can put up his nose or swallow.
Recommendations
Women’s Health recommends that you take your baby to the dentist when she is 1 year old. The dentist can look at your baby’s teeth and determine if she needs fluoride supplements to make her teeth resistant to bacteria. If you are unsure what is causing your baby’s bad breath, take her to see the doctor. In some cases, bad breath can be the result of poisoning.
