Bad breath in children is most often a sign of poor dental hygiene, but it can also be a sign of a more serious medical condition, cites the American Dental Association. In order to treat your child's bad breath, you must first get to the root of the problem.
Oral Hygiene
Proper oral hygiene helps keep your child's teeth healthy and his breath smelling fresh. He should brush his teeth and tongue for three minutes, twice a day, using a pea-sized amount of an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste. He should also floss at least once a day, and begin rinsing with an ADA-approved therapeutic mouthwash once a day after the age of 6. A therapeutic mouthwash has antimicrobial agents that reduce plaque, gingivitis and bad breath. Cosmetic mouthwashes only temporarily relieve bad breath and do not fight the bacteria that cause bad breath.
Diet and Lifestyle
What your child eats can affect her breath. Certain foods, including garlic, onions, cabbage, cheese, orange juice and soda can cause bad breath. If you pack your child a lunch with stinky foods, consider also packing her a toothbrush and toothpaste to use after she eats. Eating fresh parsley or a strong mint can temporarily freshen her breath, suggests The National Institutes of Health's MedlinePlus website. Chewing gum or breath mints may temporarily mask bad breath. Children who smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol or coffee may also have bad breath.
Dental Problems
Dental problems can also cause bad breath in children. If your child complains of mouth pain, he may have a cavity, impacted tooth or even an abscessed tooth. He could also have gum disease. Gingivostomatitis is a type of gum disease especially common in children where there's a viral or bacterial infection of the mouth or gums that leads to swelling and sores. Symptoms of gingivostomatitis include fever, sores inside the cheeks or gums, sore mouth, general discomfort and bad breath, cites MedlinePlus. Your child's dentist must treat any of the preceding dental conditions.
Common Illnesses and Conditions
Sometimes bad breath is a sign your child is sick or has a chronic condition. When your child has nasal discharge dripping down her throat, such as when she has sinusitis or a cold, she is likely to have bad breath. Upper and lower respiratory infections and tonsil infections may also cause bad breath, cites MayoClinic.com. Your child may also have bad breath if she sleeps with her mouth open or has another dry mouth condition. If you notice bad breath in a very young child, check her nasal passages for a foreign object, such as a toy or piece of food.
Distinct Odors
If your child's bad breath has a distinctive, unusual odor, it may be a sign of a serious medical condition. Fruity-smelling breath may be a sign of diabetes. Excessive vomiting, especially with a bowel obstruction, can cause breath that smells like feces. Breath that smells fishy or like urine is common in people with chronic kidney failure.
