One of the most notorious problems affecting kids’ is bad breath. Bad breath affects people of all ages and from all backgrounds.
There are many reasons why people get halitosis, and it is not uncommon for children to have bad breath early in the morning.
People who suffer from this issue constantly worry about how others perceive them. People can easily detect bad breath when they talk one-on-one, and this can make young children feel ashamed if they have to talk to anyone.
This problem generally goes away once your child has had something to eat, drink, and has brushed their teeth to go to school. However, this ‘morning breath’ is pretty simple to correct. If the condition continues throughout the day, then it may be a sign of a bigger problem that requires professional help.
Let’s go ahead and review what happens in our mouths when we suffer from this condition, how you can work on it at home, and when you should ask a professional dental health specialist for help.
What Is Halitosis or Bad Breath?
Halitosis is an unpleasant smell that comes from the mouth. For many people, bad breath can lead to shyness and avoidance of social situations. According to this article, bad breath can negatively impact anyone’s social interactions.
People with bad breath may not know that they have it. It can lead to other people noticing it and even pointing it out. Such situations usually make young children feel much embarrassment and insecurity.
If you notice your child struggles with bad mouth odor, you must consider their feelings when finding a solution that helps them. Be tactful when finding a way of getting the problem looked at and finding positive ways to overcome it.
Isn’t It Just About Dental Hygiene?
There are several causes of malodor in kids; generally, if your kid just has a case of morning breath, the problem will go away as soon as they freshen up.
Our mouths dry up during the night as saliva production decreases. Mouth dryness contributes to halitosis, but once your kid is refreshed, and the dryness has gone, the condition will improve.
The simplest of cases are related to minor deficiencies in your child’s dental hygiene routines. You can easily correct these by joining them and helping them develop good oral health habits.
Remind your kid about the need to brush their after meals, floss daily, and use mouthwash to rinse their mouths at the end of the cleaning. Furthermore, join them during those activities and try to make it fun for them.
More Causes of Bad Breath
Other issues such as obstructed airways or infections can also have an impact on their mouth odor. If your child has a blocked nose, a throat infection, or sinusitis, it can cause breathing problems. When anyone struggles to breathe, it can dry up their mouth and cause this problem.
Over time, the worse the problem with their health, the worse their malodor may become. Many kids will have infections or coughs and colds that linger longer than they should or never really go away.
Other young patients suffer from digestive problems. The issue could be related to something that they are eating, or it may be down to them not keeping themselves well hydrated.
Such problems can sometimes cause problems issues with bad breath in kids. This may be related to unbalanced diets that rely only on one type of food.
Still, not every case is as simple, and your child’s halitosis may indicate severe problems with their teeth or gums.
In the instance that your child suffers from an eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia, they may also suffer from oral malodor.
Some more severe health problems such as diabetes or kidney damage can also lead to bad breath.
Dental Health Complications Related to Bad Breath
Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine is all about preventing such problems, but severe deficiencies in such a routine can lead to dangerous dental health complications. Some of those health problems cause oral malodor, and you should pay attention to the signs and act soon to protect your child’s health.
The harmful bacteria in your kid’s mouth loves to feed off from food remains. As the bacteria multiply, they produce acids that erode your tooth’s enamel layers, leading to tooth decay.
The same condition harms your periodontal tissues. The gums at the base of your tooth begin to recede, become inflamed, and bleed easily. With sufficient time, a young patient can develop gum diseases like gingivitis or periodontitis.
Periodontal disease is no joke.
Your kid’s jawbones could suffer significant damage giving way to a sensation of pain that radiates from their face and causes headaches. They can suffer premature tooth loss, develop abscesses, and infections that could spread from their mouth to the rest of their body.
All these dental health complications can cause oral malodor in kids, so you would understand why we say it’s a serious condition deserving of our full attention.
What Can You Do About Bad Breath in Kids?
If your child has bad breath, and you are worried that it may be more than just ‘morning breath,’ you should try and find out what is causing it.
Your child’s dentist is a good place to start the process of finding out what is causing their bad breath. The dentist will look at your child’s gums and teeth and look for signs of decay or plaque build-ups. They will be able to advise on treatment that they can help deliver to help in these areas. They can also provide support with your child’s dental hygiene so that they can avoid these problems from reoccurring.
Keeping up with brushing teeth twice a day and introducing flossing and the use of mouth wash will ensure that your child’s dental hygiene is looked after as best as possible.
When bad breath is a symptom of a wider health problem, then go to your Kids’ Dental Care in Aurora and make an appointment with your child’s doctor where we can have an examination to find the root cause. Where your child’s bad breath may be caused by an infection, the doctor may be able to provide medication to help.
For further information on bad breath problems or any other dental concerns, contact us, your Epic Dentistry for Kids in Aurora. You can call us directly at 720-721-3600 or make an online appointment. We will help you and your kid identify the causes of bad breath and help with treatment.
