My child has bad breath, so what is causing this?
We get this question frequently! Bad breath is common for both kids and adults. Bad breath, also known as Halitosis, is caused by many different factors. Here are some common causes of bad breath:
Leftover food and plaque – adequate brushing and flossing not only help to prevent the formation of cavities, but also to stop bad breath! Food stuck between the teeth can cause foul odors. Plaque removal prevents cavity causing bacteria from spreading and gum irritation – any inflamed or infected tissue or large cavity can cause odors. Daily brushing 2x a day and flossing can help eliminate these odor causing bacteria. Once teeth are touching, flossing should be incorporated into our routine to remove any impacted food or plaque that can be causing odors and to aid in cavity prevention between the teeth!
Forgetting to brush our tongue – our tongues are made up of tiny bumps called papillae. These papillae grab onto bacteria that can be causing bad breath. Gently brushing our tongue daily can decrease this bacteria that causes halitosis! Tongue cleaners are also great tools to scrape off the bacteria from our tongues and can be found in your local dental aisle.
Dry mouth – for some, dry mouth is caused by medications, breathing through our mouth rather than our noses or from a lack of water! Stay hydrated! It’s important to drink water throughout the day and rinse your mouth with water after taking drying medications.
Sinus issues or swollen tonsils – sinus issues or post nasal drip can cause fluid to collect in our throats and nasal passages and cause foul odors when bacteria gathers. Swollen tonsils are also a common place for bacteria to gather and cause bad breath. Brushing our teeth or tongues can be uncomfortable in these times, but continue oral health care and consult with your doctor if an infection is suspected.
Creating a good oral hygiene routine to remove plaque and food and visiting your dentist to check for cavities or infections can help eliminate halitosis! Have more questions? Our dentists at Bite Size Pediatric Dentistry are here to help! 🙂
