Determining the cause is the best place to begin. There are a number of possibilities. It could be anything from not brushing their teeth regularly enough, eating certain foods, not drinking enough water, an abscessed tooth, dental carries, different types of antibiotics, or even gingivitis. There are plenty of reasons that bad breath could be taking place. The key is to figure out the source of the problem and move forward from there. This will help you come up with the best plan of action.
If brushing their teeth seems to solve the problem, the cause of bad breath could be from eating certain types of food or not brushing regularly enough. In that case, it’s time to communicate with your child. When halitosis is caused by certain spices or ingredients found in a particular type of food, stress the importance of brushing their teeth immediately after they finish their meal.
On the other hand, if the issue seems to be not brushing regularly enough, it may be time to re-vamp their dental routine. Most children don’t enjoy brushing their teeth. Despite this, there are many ways to make brushing a little more exciting. Try coming up with a game, singing a song before or after, using colored or flavored toothpaste, or grabbing a toothbrush with their favorite cartoon character on the handled. Do whatever you have to do to make sure regular brushing is a part of their day. Another hint? Get them to brush their tongue as well. Bacteria tend to build up quickly there, which can cause bad breath.
There are solutions for other issues as well. When a dry mouth causes bad breath, have your child bring along a water bottle when they leave the house. Simply getting enough to drink could eliminate the problem altogether. If it has to do with certain medications or antibiotics your child is taking, get them to brush more often or give them a stick of sugar-free gum to chew on when you’re out and about. You may also want to speak to your doctor or dentist to find out how you can work around this particular problem.
Lastly, if an abscessed tooth, dental carries, gingivitis, or another dental issue is causing bad breath, it is time to book a dental appointment. Don’t wait another minute! When food or bacteria becomes trapped in the mouth, it can cause halitosis to occur. That is what causes the odor. So, the sooner you can get your child to the dentist to fix the problem, the sooner they will be free of bad breath!
Does your child have a bad breath?
Then it’s time to find a solution. When in doubt, make sure they are brushing often and take the time to speak to your family dentist. From there, you’ll be able to determine the cause – and eliminate bad breath once and for all.