Causes of Children Bad Mouth – Bad breath is a common problem for everyone. Apart from adults, children also usually experience this situation. So don’t be surprised if you smell your little one’s breath smells bad.
Bad breath or the medical term is called Halitosis is a condition in which oral health is disturbed by bad breath being one of the signs. This situation can occur even in healthy children. Many factors cause bad breath in children. Generally, bad breath is caused by a buildup of bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria in the mouth will release sulfur compounds, making your little one’s breath smell bad. The bad breath your little one experiences is usually temporary and generally not bothersome. However, that does not mean you allow this condition. The reason is, it could be that your little one’s bad breath is a sign of health problems. If it’s like this, it’s important to get special handling.
Causes of Children’s Bad Mouth
Bad breath is a condition that can be experienced by anyone, including children. As a parent, it is important to know what causes your child’s bad breath so you can find the right way to overcome it. Well, here are the causes of bad breath that you should know.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Lack of maintained oral hygiene is the main reason why your little one has bad breath. Lack of maintenance of oral hygiene because your little one rarely brushes his teeth, so that eventually plaque appears on the teeth. The formation of plaque on the teeth is formed from bacteria that get stuck on the teeth which are left over from drinks or food. This dental plaque can appear on any area of the tooth. The presence of plaque on the teeth will make your little one bad breath. If left untreated, this condition will even cause gum disease. So this is where your role as a parent is to pay attention to children’s oral hygiene. If your little one is lazy or doesn’t want to brush your teeth, you should be able to persuade him to maintain the health of your little one’s teeth.
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth occurs because usually your little one hasn’t eaten or drank for quite a long time. Dry mouth also usually occurs after waking up. In this condition, the production of saliva will be retained. Though you know what? Saliva has an important function in the mouth, which helps to eliminate bacteria in the mouth.
The presence of bacteria on the tongue
Not only teaching children to brush their teeth, but it is also important to teach children to keep their tongue clean. This is because the bacteria in the mouth are not only found on teeth and gums, but also on the tongue. A dirty tongue will make your little one’s breath smell bad. It’s just that, the thing you need to remember is to avoid teaching your little one to clean the tongue using a toothbrush. In this way the tongue is not clean but can add bacteria to the tongue. In addition, the tongue’s ability to taste food will decrease. Instead, you can teach children to clean the tongue by using a special tongue cleaner.
Gum Infection
Most of the gum infections will be experienced by children. Gum infection occurs due to poor hygiene of your baby’s mouth and teeth. If your child consumes too often sugary foods or drinks, but doesn’t brush her teeth afterward or doesn’t want to brush her teeth at night before going to bed or in the morning, it will result in gum infection which will trigger bad breath in children. (Also read: Beware of Infectious Diseases That Often Affect Children )
Habit of Mouth Breathing
Bad breath that occurs in children can also be caused by the habit of your little one breathing through the mouth. Usually, the habit of breathing through the mouth is done while sleeping when the mouth is open and the nose is blocked. When the mouth is open, it will be difficult to produce saliva, so eventually the mouth will dry out and the breath becomes bad.
The state of cavities
The state of cavities can be the cause of bad breath in children. Cavities in children are usually caused by consuming too much sweet food, poorly maintained dental hygiene, consuming too often acidic food and drinks, rarely brushing teeth before going to bed and so on. Well, the state of cavities if left unchecked it will get worse. When you eat food scraps will build up even more, which will eventually cover the holes in your teeth. The food left in the cavities of the teeth will eventually rot and cause your little one’s breath to smell bad. Not only does it cause bad breath, cavities will also cause pain that will make your little one fussy.
Food and Drink
Other causes of bad breath in children are caused by the food or drink consumed. When a child consumes food or drink with a strong aroma, their breath will be affected. To prevent this situation, you can avoid foods or drinks with strong aromas so that your little one doesn’t consume them.
There is a foreign object in the nose
The presence of foreign objects in the nose can cause bad breath in children. Usually, foreign objects such as food or toys enter the nose when they are under five. As a parent, it is important to always pay attention and supervise your child.
Medical State
In addition to the trigger factors above, medical conditions such as asthma, swollen sinuses and adenoids can cause bad breath in children.
How to deal with bad breath in children
Actually, the way to deal with bad breath in children and adults is no different. When you smell bad breath on your little one, you shouldn’t panic. Before taking him to the doctor, you can first provide home care. Give your little one lots of fruit to eat, drink lots of water, eat yogurt and so on. In addition, it is also important to always keep your little one’s mouth clean. You should get your little one in the habit of brushing their teeth at least twice a day before eating and before going to bed at night. You should replace your child’s toothbrush every three months.
Avoid some foods such as cheese, spicy meat, garlic and anchovies which will only leave the oil and cause bad breath. (See also: Lifestyle Causes Bad Breath )
In order to avoid dental problems, you can have your teeth checked by a doctor regularly. It’s just that, if your little one’s bad breath doesn’t go away or gets worse, then you should check with your doctor for proper treatment.
Thus, as a parent you have an important role in maintaining children’s health, including oral health. In order to avoid oral problems that might occur, make sure your little one’
s oral health is always maintained. Those are some of the causes of bad breath that are important to know and how to deal with it. Hope it is useful.
This article is reviewed by Midwife Pevi Revina sTR. Keb
