Bad Breath (Halitosis) Treatment For Kids & Teens

Come visit our dentistry center and meet our doctors Dr. Khabensky DDS and Dr. Kim DDS who can quickly identify the cause for bad breath, and professionally clean your child’s teeth to remove harmful food debris and dental plaque.

Diet and Nutrition

One of the most common causes of bad breath is dietary, as when children eat strongly flavored foods like onions or garlic or food that is very spicy, they can have temporary halitosis. As they digest the food, strong-smelling molecules enter the bloodstream and are gradually exhaled through the lungs.

If your child regularly has temporary bad breath, it could be worth looking at their diet and perhaps limiting some of the stronger flavored foods to see if this makes a difference.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene is one of the most common reasons for bad breath, so make sure your child is brushing and flossing regularly and correctly. A routine of twice-daily brushing and once-a-day flossing will eliminate leftover food debris and dental plaque.

When food debris remains trapped on and around teeth, he quickly begins to rot and soon starts to smell unpleasant.

The bacteria in dental plaque also produce unpleasant odors, and as these bacteria build up, they can irritate the gums, potentially causing gum disease. If a child has gum disease, this can cause problems with bad breath. The bacteria in dental plaque can also cause tooth decay; another reason why your child may develop halitosis.

How We Can Help

If your child does have bad breath, make sure they see us for a checkup and professional dental cleaning. Dr. Tracy or Dr. Igor can quickly identify any dental problems that may be causing bad breath, and professionally cleaning your child’s teeth removes harmful food debris and dental plaque.

Also, we can review your child’s oral care routine with you both. If your child is old enough to brush on their own, we can make sure they know how to brush and floss correctly, reviewing their techniques with them while explaining why good oral care is so important.

Disease and Infection

If your child has a good oral care routine and is taking care of their mouth, they could be another reason why they have developed halitosis. Sometimes it can be a symptom of an infection or disease.

Swollen Tonsils

Infected tonsils can smell unpleasant and can harbor noxious bacteria, causing bad breath. It’s worth taking a look inside your child’s mouth to examine their tonsils, which should be pink and healthy. Unhealthy tonsils look red and inflamed and may have white spots. If you suspect your child’s tonsils are infected, ask your pediatrician for advice and suitable treatment.

Sinus Infections

A child with sinus infections will often have unpleasant breath. Sinus problems allow fluid to collect in the throat and nasal passages, attracting bacteria. If you suspect your child has a sinus infection, contact their doctor for help and advice.

Other Diseases

Other much rarer diseases can cause bad breath in children and which include kidney failure, diabetes, liver problems, stomach infections, and oral cancer. If we can’t discover the reason for a child’s bad breath, we may suggest they see their pediatrician for more tests.

Oral Habits and Mouth Breathing

Children that breathe through their mouth or who use a pacifier or suck a finger or thumb can have a drier mouth than normal. Snoring or sleep apnea have the same effect. Saliva is important for good oral health, washing away smelly bacteria, helping to keep the mouth cleaner and more comfortable, and reducing the risk of tooth decay.

We can assess children with oral habits like pacifier use, some or finger sucking or mouth breathing, and can often provide suitable treatments or advice to remedy these habits. Also, it’s important to make sure your child drinks enough water each day as a simple lack of hydration can cause halitosis.

Foreign Objects

Children are naturally curious, and it’s not exactly unknown for them to stick small objects up their nose.

If an object becomes stuck, it can cause an infection that will smell unpleasant. If there is a possibility your child has something stuck up their nose, see their doctor who can check the nasal passages and remove any foreign objects.

Pediatric Dentistry Center
2148 Ocean Ave, Ste 401A
Brooklyn, NY 11229
☎ 718-339-1810