Why Does My Child’s Breath Smell Bad?

So you snuggle up with your child and you notice their breath smells bad. The smell may even persist after brushing their teeth. What gives?

There are a lot of different factors which can cause the child's breath to smell unpleasant. And figuring out what caused it is key to removing this problem once and for all. Here are a few possible explanations for bad breath in children.

Improper Oral Hygiene

The most common cause of bad breath in children is just poor oral hygiene habits. This causes plaque to build up on their teeth and slowly affects their dental health, causing bad breath but even increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease!

Tongue Coating

If your child’s tongue looks whiter, this is actually a film of bacteria that get stuck to the tongue, causing an unpleasant smell. It can be removed by brushing the tongue along with brushing the teeth every day.

A Love of Smelly Foods

Some foods can alter your breath, such as onions or garlic, and the smell can persist even after brushing their teeth because their stomach is still processing this smelly food. If the child’s breath is back to normal the next day, then it’s likely just a problem with their love of garlic.

Mouth Breathing

If your child is breathing through the mouth, this will cause the mouth to become drier and can lead to unpleasant odors. It’s a common occurrence in children dealing with a stuffy nose who cannot breathe through the nose for a few days. Once their nose clears and their breathing is back to normal, the smell will go away too.

However, if your child is not breathing through their nose because of a medical issue, you should speak to a doctor right away. The absence of saliva can have a huge effect on your child’s dental health because saliva helps flush the mouth of food particles and debris.

A Cavity, Gum Disease, or Other Oral Health Issues

Bad breath can also be a sign that your child’s oral health needs a bit more attention. Many dental issues can cause bad breath, from cavities to infections, plaque build-up, or even gum disease.

If you’ve ruled out other causes, it’s important to take your child to a pediatric dentist for a consultation and see what has caused their unpleasant breath.

Water Valley Dental Can Help

If you’ve noticed your child has an unpleasant breath that persists even after brushing, Water Valley Dental is here to help you figure out what’s causing the bad odor. Our pediatric dental services will ensure your child’s oral health is back on track.

To get started, please book an appointment with Dr. Daniel Banks today, or call us directly at (970) 460-8989 to find out more about how we can help.