Halitosis Treatment in Children

Brushing your child's teeth every night before going to sleep helps them to develop a good oral care practice. Getting into the habit of brushing twice a day is good for developing teeth. However, bad breath cannot always be prevented in children. Bad breath is not just an oral health issue; it can have other causes that require other solutions.

Physiological halitosis may vary from individual to individual. Physiological halitosis may vary depending on the child's fluid intake, saliva production, oral hygiene, oral and nasal flora, microbiota, chemical, biochemical, hormonal effects of the last food consumed, feeling of hunger or satiety, sleep patterns, enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract. 

Causes of Bad Breath in Children

There is no underlying disease or pathological condition in physiological halitosis. Pathological halitosis, on the other hand, has many causes. We can list the causes of bad breath in children as follows;

• Subjective bad breath,
• Mouth odor due to causes inside the mouth,
• Breath odor due to respiratory tract causes,
• Mouth odor due to gastrointestinal problems,
• It may develop due to problems with blood gas.

Cotton Accumulation

In the natural flora of the body, many types of bacteria and fungi are in balance. As long as this balance is not disturbed, discomfort does not occur. However, when this balance is disturbed for a certain reason, a bacterial or fungal species gains victory and begins to multiply very quickly and increase its number, infectious diseases occur. One of these is oral thrush, which appears as a fungal disease. Thrush is a fungal disease that occurs in the mouth and can be seen in people of all ages, but generally affects infants and children. This condition, which causes negative conditions such as restlessness and refusal to accept sucking, which is usually seen in newborn babies, is less common in babies who receive food only with breast milk.

Health problems such as thrush and infection can also cause bad breath. This fungal disease can spread to your baby's tongue, palate, gums and under the tongue. It can lead to bacterial growth and cause loss of appetite in your baby.

Teething Process

There is no clear data on how long the teething process lasts in infants. However, according to research, the eruption phase of a tooth can last more than 8 days. Symptoms appear 4-8 days before the tooth erupts. In summary, if the gums are swollen, the tooth can erupt after an average of 4 days.

During the teething phase, your baby's oral gums become sensitive and oral cleaning can hurt your baby. Therefore, when bad breath is noticed in teething babies, you need to take care of oral and gum care more sensitively than usual. Babies who are fed with formula can also have intense bad breath. In order to prevent this situation, you can consult your doctor and choose a different formula, but if the problem persists, oral care can be continued after each food intake.

Dental Problems

Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth can also be a sign of gum (periodontal) disease. Plaque buildup on the teeth and toxins that wear down the gums can lead to gum disease. However, if bad breath is caused by gum disease, treatment should be started as soon as possible.

Infections in the Mouth

Dental caries and gingivitis are important causes of bad breath. A certain infection in the mouth increases bacterial growth. This can lead to persistent bad breath. Therefore, you should definitely listen to the dentist's advice.

How to Prevent Bad Breath in Children

You should brush your teeth and tongue together with your child, because bacteria can also multiply on the tongue. Flossing once a day helps to get rid of particles that get stuck between the teeth. In addition, you should visit your dentist as a family twice a year for regular check-ups and cleanings.

In addition to performing a thorough mouth and teeth cleaning, the dentist will check every area of your mouth for problems that can cause bad breath. For example, gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, can cause bad breath and damage teeth.