Bad breath also know as halitosis  in children is often caused by bacterial building up between the teeth or the back of the tongue. There  may be other causes such food the child eats, medical condition and so on. If bad breath persists, consult your doctor.

Causes of bad breath in children

Some of the common causes of bad breath in children include the following :

• Poor oral hygiene : If the child doesnt brush and floss frequently, it can result in bad breath.
• Dry mouth : Saliva cleanses the mouth. If your child is  producing less saliva than normal, it can result in this condition.
• Bacteria on the tongue : Most odor causing bacteria reside on the tongue. If the child doesnt brush his tongue, odor causing bacteria will accumulate and result in bad breath.
• Mouth breathing : Breathing though the mouth can prevent saliva from washing away bacteria that result in bad breath.
• Mouth infections : Bad breath can result from   cavities, plaque build up , mouth sores or oral hygiene.
• Medications : Certain medications can result in this condition because they break down in a way that releases chemicals that result in bad breath.
• Certain foods :  If the child consumes foods that have strong odor such as garlic, onions and specific spices,  it can have an impact of the freshness of breath.
• A medical condition :  If your child is suffering from allergies, a sinus infection , tonsillitis or other conditions, it can result in sticky  breath.

How to avoid bad breath

You can avoid bad breath in children by doing the following :

• Your child should brush twice a day with an American Dental Association ADA accepted fluoride toothpaste to promote  fresh breath. It is important to supervise smaller kids so that they brush well and do not swallow the toothpaste.
• Floss daily  in order to remove odor causing food particles from the teeth.
•  It is important that the child brushes her  tongue as bacteria can collect and grow on the tongue.
• It is important to change your child’s toothbrush  every few months. This is because dull bristles  cannot effectively remove plaque and debris from the teeth.
•  You should also schedule regular checkups  and professional cleanings with the dentist.

Most of the time bad breath goes away with good oral hygiene. However , some children may experience chronic bad breath. In this case , if your dentist determines if  everything is fine with  your child’s oral health, he will refer the child to a primary care  physician  for additional testing to diagnose the underlying cause of halitosis.