How do I treat Bad Breath in My Child?

Bad breath in children is a less mentioned, but frequent oral health issue.  If the breath is just a result of irregular brushing, then simply following a proper brushing routine will take care of the problem.  If your child is below 8 years old, he may need you to help him brush his teeth for him.  Kids often hate to brush their teeth, and may need some incentives in the form of sweet-tasting, nicely favored toothpastes, sparkly pastes and gels and glitzy packaging, as well as an appealing toothbrush.

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can sometimes be the result of a cavity that is developing in your child’s mouth. A cavity can begin even without causing any pain, and symptoms of pain can usually set in much later. In such cases where the root canal has not yet suffered damaged, the cavity can manifest itself in the form of foul breath in your child's mouth.

However, if your child continues to suffer from "morning breath" in spite of regular brushing, there may be other underlying causes for it. Understanding these causes and treating them will require a proper and detailed examination by your pediatrician. There could be a throat infection that causes the bad breath. In case your child suffers from a throat infection like Pharyngitis, then your child may be forced to breathe through the mouth. In such cases, bacteria can feed on the child’s stagnant saliva, and cause foul breath.

Sinusitis and seasonal allergies can also be the reason of constant bad breath. You will have to consult your pediatrician to rule out these conditions. 

Whatever the cause of the bad breath, don’t make your child feel self conscious about it.  This could stunt emotional growth, and the child may suffer from self esteem issues and an inability to make friends with others because of what he perceives to be a social handicap.  Be patient.  Make it a routine to brush and floss together with your child because setting a good example is best for your child. Talk to your child about the points of good dental hygiene. Don’t try to scare your child with gruesome scenarios about what can happen if she doesn't brush her teeth at least for a minute each time.   Kids can be stubborn, but positive talk always helps.