Bad Breath in Kids: Causes and Symptoms

Bad breath, scientifically known as halitosis, has been a lingering phenomenon mostly seen in adults although its prevalence in children and teenagers is not uncommon. It can be embarrassing for the child amongst their peers especially during their preschool age and concerning for parents to deal with. There can be many reasons for halitosis, ranging from local to systemic factors and simply brushing and flossing teeth regularly is not enough to get rid of it.

1. IMPROPER DENTAL HYGIENE

Common cause of acute halitosis in children as oral hygiene is generally not given much importance by the parent. Rough chewing surfaces on teeth, braces, previous fillings and crowns, the tongue, all act as a gathering spot for food debris accumulation when left undisturbed.

Not only will this decompose to release foul odour, but also further damage gums and lead to dental cavities and dental infections, after which point even religious brushing will not work. Food debris along with calcium and other minerals from the saliva leads to calculus build-up that is harmful to the gums and unpleasant to look at.

It is best to visit a dentist for regular check-ups, professional cleanings, and polishings.

2. PUNGENT FOOD HABITS

Cheeses, canned meat, onions, garlic, pickled vegetables are extremely pungent and cause bad breath. They are known to have by-products of either fermentation, oxidation or are naturally smelly with sulphur compounds.

The mouth is the first organ to absorb the food habit after which it is digested. The pungent smell is an implication which happens much later. Such compounds are also absorbed by the body and are given out through the mouth and sweat after digestion. A temporary solution would be to make sure that the child rinses their mouth immediately, however, this is nothing to be worried about.

3. DRY MOUTH

It is a well-known fact that spit, or saliva keeps bad breath at bay by virtue of its flushing action on the teeth, and maintaining a constant pH in the oral cavity crucial to avoid decay and cavities. Both children and adults have bacteria in their mouths. The flow of saliva tends to slow down at night leading to an increased bacterial activity, and morning breath.

Brushing twice a day at 12 hour intervals can significantly reduce morning breath. Other causes for xerostomia, or dry mouth, can range from dehydration to mouth breathing, anti-allergic drugs and anti-cancer therapy.

Hard-to-get-rid-of habits like thumb sucking, prolonged use of pacifier causes subtle but overall changes in the anatomy of the lower face leading to incompetence of the lips, mouth breathing, snoring during sleep, dry mouth and halitosis.

4. ENLARGED TONSILS

Children with enlarged tonsils often present with a history of bad breath. Enlarged tonsils along with their tonsillar pockets or lumps are excellent landing zones for bacteria, food debris and nasal secretions.

Apart from this, tonsillar stones also present the same picture. Surgical removal of infected tonsils is a permanent solution to this problem.

5.  SINUS INFECTIONS

Sinus infections along with a prolonged bout of the flu and sore throat is well known for causing halitosis. Excessive fluid formation in the sinus drips down the nasal passages and throat forming a playground slide for strep bacteria to feed on and breed. Bad breath occurring from this simply cannot be treated with vigorous brushing and flossing, one must visit the dentist to treat the main cause.

6. GUM INFECTIONS

Children are as prone to gum disease as adults. Eruption gingivitis, primary herpetic gingivostomatitis leading to a sore mouth, plaque on teeth, gum abscesses due to deep cavities or simply food getting stuck irritates the gums can cause foul odours to waft from the oral cavity.

7. LOCAL ANATOMY

Rough chewing surfaces of teeth, primate spaces between milk teeth in children, long standing orthodontic treatment and crowding- all lead to bacterial accumulation, are difficult to clean and parents are generally unaware of such situations existing in the mouth and fail to provide extra care to maintain oral hygiene. Dentists must educate parents and children regarding the same.

8. TOOTH DECAY AND FILLINGS

Cavities do not smell great, thanks to decay causing bacteria acting on the tooth and food stuck to such teeth. Such teeth are difficult to clean and can also lead to deeper cavities and pus formation, worsening halitosis.

Loose crowns and previous fillings basically act as areas of trapping food and bacteria and can be areas that harvest germs and eventually emit foul odour.

9. FUNGAL INFECTIONS

Although very rare, children are prone to oral fungal infections which mainly stick to the tongue owing to its extremely rough surface, roof of the mouth and the throat. Early detection of such fungal infections, treating them with local ointments and anti-fungal tablets can help in avoiding foul odour in children’s mouths.

10. TONGUE COATING

The tongue is a breeding ground for bacteria and is easily neglected during oral hygiene practises and a cause for halitosis. Food and exfoliating cells can easily get stuck in the hard to reach areas of the tongue. Children must be taught how to safely use a medical grade tongue cleaner to scrape off residue, along with good tooth brushing.

11. SYSTEMIC CONDITIONS

Diabetes, gastric reflux disease and, in rare circumstances, liver and renal problems, can all produce bad breath in youngsters. While the vast majority of cases of halitosis are not serious, consult your child’s paediatrician if the other causes of bad breath have been checked out.

12. FOREIGN OBJECT

Sometimes, children put random objects in their nose and mouth which get stuck there. Our bodies try to immediately reject the foreign object, which in turn brings about a fever, runny nose and a foul odour. Such situations require immediate medical care.

HOW to GET RID of BAD BREATH in CHILDREN?

It is tempting to give your child mints or a breath strip if they have terrible breath, but these merely hide the problem and are not beneficial. While the underlying reason of your child’s halitosis will determine whether or not the following foul breath cures and advice are effective, they will in most circumstances.

  • It is important to teach kids proper oral hygiene practises like brushing, tongue cleaning and flossing. The idea is to not allow for bacteria and their toxins to remain on the teeth long enough to decompose food that is stuck.
  • Fight dry mouth by keeping the child hydrated plenty.
  • Stick to a healthy, fibrous diet with lots of fruit and vegetables and eat sugar in moderation.
  • Sugar free chewing gums can be given to middle school children to encourage salivary flow and its flushing action.
  • Majority of the causes of halitosis in kids do not point towards anything serious and can be easily fixed. Persistent bad breath that doesn’t improve with good oral hygiene can be well managed by a paediatric dentist.

Conclusion

Poor oral hygiene, cavities, and gingivitis are the most common causes of halitosis in children. Smelly meals, mouth breathing, loose dental restorations, dry mouth, infections in the mouth, ears, nose, or throat, and certain health conditions and drugs can all cause bad breath.

Start with vigorous brushing and flossing, a well-rounded, healthy diet, and frequent check-ups and cleanings at your paediatric dentist when it comes to how to get rid of bad breath in a child. Giving kids sugarless gum to chew, keeping them hydrated, not missing breakfast, and taking care of medical illnesses or dental difficulties are all other foul breath cures.