Could Your Child Go Back to School with Bad Breath?

Bad breath is quite common among both adults and children. But when it happens to kids, they get bullied by their classmates in school. In addition, many children feel embarrassed of themselves because of how stinky their breath smells. But is it really the child’s fault? What exactly causes bad breath in children? We have shared it all in today’s blog.

Causes of Bad Breath in Children

Bad breath or halitosis happens in kids due to various reasons. A few common ones are stated below:

• Certain foods like garlic and onion are the main culprits of halitosis. It happens because these foods contain sulfurous compounds that later get released by the lungs.
• If your child is not following the proper oral hygiene rules, they can develop plaque. This is also a common cause of bad breath.
• Bacterial infections inside the mouth can cause gingivitis and tooth decay, resulting in bad breath.
• If your child is suffering from dry mouth, then, too, bad breath will be prevalent in them. This is because saliva works as a cleaning agent for the mouth.
• The cleaning agents or mouthguards used by the child can also cause bad breath if they are not cleaned regularly.
• If you smoke in front of kids, they are exposed to passive smoking. This, again, can cause bad breath in a slight amount.
• At times bad breath happens because of infection in the tonsils, respiratory tract, and adenoids.  

Tips to Prevent Bad Breath in Children

Certain ways you can prevent bad breath in children are:

• Give your child mint or raw apple as soon as they consume foods like garlic or onion. This will minimize the chances of bad breath.
• Teach them good oral habits like brushing twice a day and flossing every day.
• In case of oral infections, do not delay your dentist’s appointment.
• Ask your child to drink plenty of water to prevent dry mouth. If it still persists, visit the dentist.
• Teach them to clean oral appliances before use. If they are too young to clean appliances, please do it for them.
• Do not smoke in front of them.
• For non-oral infections, contact a doctor.

A dentist can help you the best to deal with bad breath problems in children. Regular visits to a dentist are a must for any kid. So book an appointment with Dr. Daniel Lee at East burn Dentistry and Implants. Call us at 503 2334871 or visit our website for more details. We are located at 1415 SE Ankeny St, Portland, OR 97214.