Bad breath, also called halitosis, is a condition caused due to poor oral hygiene. Children may have bad breath due to many causes, like skipping brushing their teeth daily, unusual food habits, and some medical conditions like diabetes, which affect oral health. It is necessary to educate them on preventive measures for bad breath.
Factors affecting Halitosis
- Eating Smelly Foods: Foods like garlic and onions contain sulfur compounds, which give off a bad odor and may not get rid of even after brushing.
- Poor Oral Hygiene: If your children are not often brushing or flossing their teeth, food particles and plaque may accumulate inside and cause halitosis.
- Dry Mouth: If sufficient saliva is not being produced, bacteria and food particles stay inside the mouth and cause bad breath.
- Morning Breath: It is more common in all age groups; saliva production slows down during the night, and bacteria are present inside the mouth, which can lead to a bad odor in the morning.
- Gum Disease: Children may have gum disease due to plaque and tartar inside the gums and between the teeth, which can cause inflammation of the gums and lead to gingivitis. If gingivitis is not treated early, it can lead to periodontitis.
- Sinus Infection: A sinus infection may also cause bad breath in children. Mucus present inside the throat may come and sit on the tongue while coughing, due to which halitosis occurs.
