Family health - Bad breath in kids

Bad breath is a problem for people of all ages. Even though adults may experience more difficulties due to it, children can experience certain inconveniences as well. The most often seen problem is a child with bad breath being teased and taunted by other children. However, bad breath is usually seen among children, according to the experts. Plenty of symptoms and causes are not any different from those of adult halitosis.

Bad Breath in children

Parents often think that thier children should not have bad breath. In situations when foul breath does not go away for a long period of time a majority of parents will consider that there is something wrong with their child. One of the main reasons why that is so, is because bad chronic breath is considered to be a sign of head, neck or stomach cancer in adults. The situation is never that serious when chronic bad breath in children is present. Many studies have confirmed that foul breath in children most often comes from the mouth or the nasal cavity.

Various factors in nasal and oral cavity may lead to foul breath in children. Improper dental hygiene is probably the most often seen cause of bad breath in children. Bad breath in the morning occurs due to bacteria that feed on dead saliva and food particles that remained in the mouth. This condition is called morning breath. However, morning breath can easily turn into afternoon or evening breath unless the child does not brush his or her teeth properly in the morning. Brushing the teeth alone is not enough and it is vital that the tongue is brushed as well. Food particles can sometimes get caught in tinny crypts in the tonsils and that can also be the cause of bad breath.

Tooth decay is another reason of foul breath that occurs quite often. The decay does not need to affect the dental root in order for the person to suffer from pain but it will cause bad breath to occur.

Certain conditions like acute and chronic sinusitis can also be the cause of foul breath. However, when a person is suffering from sinusitis, bad breath is not the only symptom that occurs. A high fever, cough and even face swelling are usually present with these conditions.

Foul breath can also be the sign of throat infection, otherwise known as pharyngitis. In this situation the child will experience a sore throat apart from bad breath. Just like in situations when a child is suffering from sinusitis, the actual cause of foul breath are the bacteria which feed on dead saliva. Breathing through the mouth is one of the reasons why this happens.

Seasonal allergies can lead to bead breath in some situations. When mucus pools in the back of the throat, halitosis is almost always present as well. Other signs accompany seasonal allergies. Dry cough, itchy eyes and a runny nose are present in a majority of these cases.

Foreign bodies lodged in the nose of young children can sometimes lead to bad breath. A simple piece of foam rubber or a kernel of corn or even a small toy lodged in the nose can cause an infection. That infection is the cause of foul breath. A parent who suspects of a foreign object in the nose of his or her child needs to contact the doctor as soon as possible.

Dry mouth is another reason of bad breath that is seen quite often. If the oral tissues are dry the bacteria will grow and spread more easily. Dry mouth can occur due to a number of reasons such as certain physical ailments, medications and even thumb sucking or sucking of a favorite toy or a blanket.

What parents need to do?

Plenty of ways exist in which parents can help their children get rid of bad breath. One of the most vital things is not to make the child feel self-conscious. Every child will spend a lot of time worrying about bad breath as he or she gets older and there is no need to start doing that at so early age. Teaching the child the importance of teeth brushing is a way better option. Letting the child choose his or her own toothpaste and toothbrush can help as well. The only things that parents need to pay attention to is that the toothbrush has either soft or medium bristles and that it is not too big to fit in the child’s mouth. Fluoride is an essential part of every good toothpaste and the parent should make sure that the child chooses the one that contains it. During the first period, parents should always brush the teeth at the same time their children do. This way the parents will be able to supervise their children’s brushing and show them how it is done properly. In addition to these tips, regular dental checkups are essential for the healthy mouth.