BURLINGTON, VT — I often find myself face-to-face with parents who want to discuss their children’s bad breath.
So, this week let me odor-up or should I say order up some info on bad breath in children.
Most bad breath is due to bacterial germs releasing sulfur compounds in the mouth. The more germs, the more sulfur and the worse the breath.
What Increases Bacterial Germs?
• Tooth decay or gum disease
• Overuse of a dirty thumb, a pacifier, or chewing on a security blanket or old stuffed animal
• If your child is a mouth breather, their saliva will dry up at night and not be able to wash these bacteria down the throat where they can no longer cause a problem like bad breath.
Preferred Treatments/Approaches
• Careful brushing and flossing for at least two minutes several times a day
• Scraping or brushing of the tongue to get rid of the bacteria that may collect there
• Keep the thumb, blankets and pacifier well-washed if these are considered culprits.
• Drinking lots of fluids or chewing sugarless gum which can increase saliva production will help wash the bacteria out as well.
• Mouthwashes buy you a few hours but run the risk of your child ingesting high alcohol content if used in excess or swallowed so I do not recommend mouthwashes in younger children.
• Don’t forget that certain foods can contribute to bad breath, including those that contain onions and garlic.
If despite these suggestions you find the bad breath is no better, it might be a result of a sinus infection, allergies, or a tonsil problem, or because your child put something up their nose and it has not come out for days creating the bad odor you smell in their breath.
Your child’s health care professional or dentist can help sort out other causes of the problem, especially if you see no improvement with good toothbrushing.
Hopefully, tips like these will allow you to give your child’s bad breath the brush –off when it comes to making this problem an easier one for you and your child to swallow.
Lewis First, MD, is Chief of Pediatrics at The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine. You can also Catch “First with Kids” weekly on WOKO 98.9FM and NBC5.