Bad breath or also known as “halitosis” can be an uncomfortable and embarrassing dental problem for anyone, including kids and teenagers. Children like adults experience bad breath too. Though halitosis among children has less social implications compared to adults, it’s still a condition that warrants treatment.

Kids develop halitosis due to two main reasons. First, kids and toddlers fail to brush their teeth regularly. The second one is that they breathe through their mouth instead of their nose. Young children dislike brushing their teeth thoroughly, and this causes food particles to accumulate in their mouth and stimulate bacterial growth, which lead to cavities, tartar buildup, and bad breath. On the other hand, breathing through the mouth can also cause dry mouth, which leads to halitosis too.

Other causes of bad breath in children are swollen tonsils, sinus infection, foreign object, and other dental problems such as gum disease and tooth decay.

Children are not capable of conveying health problems unless something is causing them pain. Therefore, a regular dental checkup is necessary to ensure that your kids won’t have malodorous breath and in general, maintain a healthy oral cavity.

Daily brushing and flossing can also help treat bad breath. If your child has no signs of infection such as a cold or fever, brushing your kid’s teeth and cleaning their gums are effective enough to treat halitosis. Furthermore, brushing the surface of the tongue can also help relieve bad breath according to the Dental Association.

To learn more about bad breath in children, you can contact us at Kids Dental in Stouffville, Markham, and Richmond Hill.

– The Kids Dental Group Team