Bravery for Your Root Canal

As an adult, you may be able to tell that you are suffering from halitosis, more commonly known as bad breath. But it can be hard to tell in children, as they are not usually aware of the fact that their breath smells. When you lean in to wake your child up or go to kiss them, you may notice this smell. If you notice that it seems like your child has bad breath that is more noticeable, they may be suffering from halitosis. Here are three of the reasons why this may occur. 

An Illness

The number one reason why children get smelly breath out of nowhere is because they are suffering from an illness. If your child has a sore throat, upper respiratory infection, sinus infection or other infection in their upper body or head region, their breath may be affected. In fact, many parents are often alerted to the onset of a cold or illness by bad breath. If your child has bad breath and doesn't feel good, have them rinse their mouth up to three times a day with a salt water rinse. Salt kills germs and bacteria, while also working to freshen breath. 

A Cavity

Another reason why your child may have bad breath is because they have a cavity. A cavity causes decay and rotting in the tooth. This may carry a foul or bad scent with it. Having an appointment with a pediatric dentist every six months is the best way to prevent a cavity and catch them early. If you smell a foul scent, your child may have a cavity that needs to be filled. 

Poor Dental Hygiene

The final reason why your child may have bad breath is because they poor dental hygiene. They may not be brushing their teeth or flossing them well enough. If your child has bad breath, consider sitting with them while they are brushing their teeth, going over proper brushing techniques and/or helping them to reach all of their teeth while brushing.  

If your child is suffering from halitosis and you cannot figure out why, you should schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist. A pediatric dentist can take a look in your child's mouth and work to determine whether there is any rot or decay, if your child's dental hygiene is poor or whether there are other things going on that may be causing the bad breath. They can then work with you and your child to come up with a plan to decrease the scent or eliminate it all together.