What causes bad breath in kids? Ho to prevent bad breath in kids? Bad breath called halitosis can be seen in children. Although it varies according to age groups, the incidence of school-age children is considered as 15 percent. It is of great importance to identify the cause of halitosis seen in two types, physiological and pathological, and to plan treatment immediately. In this article, you can learn about eight reasons that cause bad breath in children.
Causes Of Bad Breath In Kids
Brushing teeth every night before going to bed helps your kid to have a good oral care practice. It is beneficial for developing teeth, but it may not always prevent bad breath. Bad breath is not about oral health; there may be other reasons that require other solutions.
Even the best brushing and oral hygiene habits are sometimes not enough to remove bad breath from children’s mouth caused by tooth decay or other infections. Tooth decay, gum disease, or mouth sores can cause bad breath. Tubes of toothpaste designed specifically for children can prevent the spread of such problems, but brushing teeth cannot heal an already existing caries. If your child has caries, it is time to go to the dentist.
8 Causes Of Bad Breath
- Physiological halitosis: Bad breath that arises when you wake up in the morning, can be due to lack of oral secretion, dehydration, some vitamin-mineral deficiencies ( vitamin A, vitamin B12, iron, zinc) and hunger.
- Bad breath due to intraoral reasons: Saliva, bacteria, epithelial cells, and food residues on the tongue may accumulate and cause bad breath. Gingivitis, oral infections, dry mouth, ulcers in the mouth, mouth aphthae, and dental diseases can cause bad breath.
- Bad breath due to respiratory tract causes: Sore throat infections, tonsillitis, throat inflammations, sinusitis, nasal inflammation, chronic nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, and foreign bodies in the airways, bronchiectasis, and lung infections can cause bad breath.
- Bad breath due to systemic diseases: Diabetes, metabolic diseases, intoxications, blood diseases, malignancies, etc. can cause bad breath.
- Bad breath due to gastrointestinal system: Gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophageal diverticulum, esophageal stenosis, gastric outlet stenosis, duodenal stenosis, bowel absorption defects, liver failure, helicobacter pylori infections, and parasitic diseases can cause bad breath.
- Drug use: Nitrates and nitrites, cytotoxic agents, phenothiazines, amphetamines, dimethyl sulfoxides, and chloral hydrate can cause bad breath.
- Food and Drinks: Onion, garlic, cabbage, alcohol, coffee, dairy products, etc. can cause bad breath.
- Bacteria: The presence of bacteria producing volatile sulfur compounds, organic compounds, and nitrogenous compounds in the mouth can cause bad breath.
Bad breath is called chronic bad breath if it is persistent for more than two months. Some tests may be used to diagnose the child with bad breath. Tests such as gas chromatography and heliometer can be applied. Bad breath both irritates the person and those around. For this reason, finding the cause and treatment is essential.
Ways To Prevent Bad Breath In Kids
- It is essential to consume plenty of fluids to prevent dry mouth.
- Increasing salivary secretion is significant for oral hygiene. The consumption of sugar-free gum can increase salivary secretion.
- Children can use mouthwashes to provide oral hygiene.
- It is recommended to restrict the nutrients that show bad breath
- If a child has bad breath even though there is no problem in oral hygiene, it is necessary to consult the doctor to find the problem causing it and to treat it for a child’s health.
