Bad breath in children, how easy is it to get rid of it?

Not only can the bad breath occur in adults, children can also experience it. Actually, the condition of bad breath in children with bad breath can get back to normal by itself after brushing their teeth.

As parents, you must understand very well the main causes of bad breath in children. The reason is, bad breath can come from oral health problems or other conditions experienced by children, so it requires separate handling.

Recognize the various causes of bad breath in children

Bad breath or the medical term called halitosis is a common condition that can be experienced by anyone, including your child.

Quoted from the journal published in Neonatal and Pediatric Medicine, this condition mostly occurs due to the activity of bacteria in the mouth. So it can be said that the main cause of bad breath in children is poor oral health.

Several causes as well as explanations for what triggers bad breath in children include the following.

1. Lack of maintaining oral hygiene

The main cause of bad breath in children is the result of their poor oral hygiene habits. The most basic thing is due to the behavior of your child rarely brushing their teeth, which eventually causes plaque between their teeth.

In fact, plaque on teeth is formed from a collection of bacteria left over from food or drink stuck on the teeth. Plaque can appear anywhere on the teeth, be it in front, behind, along the gums, between the teeth.

In addition to making your little one bad breath, plaque buildup can eventually develop into tartar and lead to gum disease.

2. There are bacteria on the tongue

Besides being taught to brush their teeth, children should also be reminded to always keep their tongue clean. This is because bacteria in the mouth do not only hide in the teeth and gums, but also between the tongue papillae. A dirty tongue condition can be the cause of bad breath in children.

The thing you need to pay attention to is to avoid teaching children to clean the tongue using a toothbrush. This method will actually increase the bacteria on the tongue, as well as reduce the tongue's ability to taste food.

Instead, teach children to use a special tongue cleaning tool or tongue cleaner which is specially designed to clean the surface of the tongue without injuring it.

3. Dry mouth

Dry mouth conditions usually occur when a child has not eaten or drunk for quite a long time or after waking up. Both of these conditions can hold the production of saliva so that it causes bad breath in children.

In fact, saliva plays a role in helping to remove bacteria and particles in the mouth that cause bad breath. Therefore, it is important to meet children's drinking water needs to keep the oral cavity moist.

4. Breathe through the mouth

Bad breath in children can occur because of the habit of breathing through the mouth. For example, while sleeping with their mouths open and when the child's nose is blocked, making it difficult for them to breathe normally.

The condition of the mouth that is constantly gaping and opening can make it difficult for the salivary glands to produce saliva. Over time the mouth will become dry and trigger bad breath.

5. Infection of the gums

Most children who experience gum infections start from a habit of not being careful in maintaining oral and dental hygiene.

For example, too often consuming sugary foods and drinks without brushing your teeth afterward or lazy brushing your teeth regularly, namely in the morning after breakfast and at night before bed.

As a result, gum infections appear which can cause bad breath in children. Infection of the gums is initially characterized by an inflammatory condition, also known as gingivitis.

Therefore, if you find your child experiencing symptoms of gingivitis, such as swollen gums or bleeding gums, immediately visit the dentist.

In addition, infection of the gums can also occur due to complications of medical dental procedures in children, such as tooth filling or tooth extraction.

6. Cavities

The condition of cavities in children that have not been treated can get worse, because the chewed food will continue to accumulate and form acid. Acid and bacteria on the surface of the teeth are what cause damage and form cavities.

The combination of cavities and bacteria makes fresh breath turn unpleasant. In addition, food trapped in these tooth cavities will gradually rot and cause bad breath in children.

7. Food, drink and medicine

Whatever children consume, be it food, drink, or drugs that are taken continuously is the main factor that triggers bad breath in children.

So, when children consume food and drinks with a characteristic aroma that is strong enough, it will certainly affect their breath. For example, low consumption of carbohydrates, seasonings such as garlic, onions, or even cheese.

At least levels of carbohydrates are claimed to produce ketone compounds. If not used in the body, it will be released through the air and cause a bad breath condition.

8. Inflammation of the tonsils

Tonsillitis or inflammation of the tonsils is an inflammation of the oval tissue at the back of the throat. In this area there are pockets where food particles will generally accumulate.

Then, there is also a condition called tonsil stones which is one of the causes of bad breath in children. Tonsil stones are small white granules containing anaerobic bacteria with a mixture of mucus and food residue.

9. Other medical conditions

Sinusitis, asthma, swollen adenoids, can actually be other causes of bad breath in children. Although not always the case, children with diabetes, stomach infections, kidney failure, liver problems, and oral cancer can also trigger bad breath conditions.

How to properly deal with bad breath in children?

Handling bad breath in children and adults is not much different. If you notice that your child has this condition, don't worry right away, you can use home remedies to help deal with bad breath, including:

• Teach children to brush their teeth with the correct techniques, morning after breakfast and at night before going to bed.
• Take additional oral and dental care, such as flossing to clean between teeth and clean the tongue with a tongue scrub (tongue cleaner).
• Gargle with a powerful mouthwash to get rid of bad breath - only recommended for children 6 years of age and over as recommended by the American Dental Association.
• Gargle with natural ingredients, such as apple cider vinegar and a baking soda solution with sodium carbonate which is effective at killing bacteria in the mouth.
• Increase the consumption of bad breath eliminating foods, such as apples, yogurt, mint gum, and foods containing vitamin C.
• Often consume water to prevent dry mouth conditions.

If the condition of the child's breath is not good for the better, try to consult further with your dentist. The dentist will find out the reason for bad breath in children and provide treatment according to the cause.

For example, in the case of gum infection, dentists can take certain medical procedures to treat the condition.

Meanwhile, in the case of cavities, immediate treatment is needed to prevent the onset of a more severe infection.