OK, so your kids brush their teeth twice daily. They may even munch on some breath mints or sugarless gum. Yet there are still times when their breath is odoriferous, kind of like their tennis shoes!
Why is this?
Bad breath can originate from other causes beyond simply a buildup of plaque and bacteria in the mouth. There are reasons that most people don’t even know can lead to bad breath in children and teenagers.
Sinus infection
Want a recipe for bad breath? Allow fluids to collect in the nasal passages and the throat with a sinus infection. When this happens bacteria go crazy and get down to multiplying. Brushing won’t do a thing to this type of bad breath, so ask your child if he or she has a sore throat or burning nasal passages. Then call the doctor.
Swollen tonsils
Healthy tonsils should look like a wad of Double Bubble gum and be spot free. Infected tonsils will appear red, inflamed, and have white spots on them. The smell will be less than appealing. Bacteria can collect in the pits of swollen tonsils and create bad breath. Antibiotics will be required to cure this breath, and maybe tonsil removal surgery.
Dry mouth
Kids may run around like banshees, but they’re usually not all that concerned with water intake. A lack of water means the mouth produces less saliva, and since part of the job of saliva is to wash away odor-causing bacteria, guess what’s next? Bad breath. This isn’t excessive parenting, either, getting your kid to drink more water. Hydration is good and dry mouth is bad. Beyond bad breath, it can lead to tooth decay.
Decay and gingivitis
The other root cause of bad breath could actually stem from poor brushing, just not today. If decay and gingivitis (gum irritation) have taken hold due to lackadaisical brushing, both conditions create bad breath that won’t be remedied by immediate brushing. A trip to see us at Gentle Dental will fix the issues.
See? It may not be the case that your child would rather have a test in school than brush his or her teeth. That may not be causing the bad breath. Still, be sure they’re brushing and flossing regularly, and coming to see us twice yearly for professional cleanings and exams with the team at Gentle Dental. Call us at (732) 549-5660 to make an appointment.
