Is Your Child Suffering from Bad Breath? Here's How to Fix It
Is your little one battling halitosis, commonly known as bad breath? If so, you should find a lasting solution quickly. Children are prone to oral health issues if they don't observe proper oral care. Unfortunately, some of these issues can have far-reaching effects into their adulthood.
Before fixing bad breath in your child, it's essential to ascertain the cause. This way, you can provide long-term solutions to ensure proper oral health in your little one. With this in mind, keep reading to learn the causes of halitosis and how to prevent it.
Poor Oral Health
The most common cause of bad breath in children is poor oral health. If a child doesn't brush their teeth daily, the food debris in the mouth causes a foul smell after some time. Also, if left unchecked, poor oral health can cause serious dental health problems such as tooth decay and premature loss of milk teeth in young kids.
Develop a dental care routine for your child. It should include brushing regularly, particularly after dinner. Show your child how to properly brush their teeth to get rid of all food debris. If possible, you can also invest in an electric toothbrush which is more effective for kids than a manual one.
Dry Mouth
How often do you give your child water during the day? Failure to drink water causes dry mouth, which restricts saliva flow and encourages bad breath. Lack of adequate saliva helps harmful bacteria to thrive in the mouth and feed on the leftover food particles stuck between the teeth as well.
Protect your child from a dry mouth by ensuring they are adequately hydrated every day. Give them around eight glasses of water every day. This will keep bad breath at bay and promote overall health by ensuring that oxygen and nutrients are supplied to all the body cells.
Tooth Decay
If your child is suffering bad breath even after brushing regularly and drinking lots of water, they may be suffering from tooth decay. Tooth decay occurs when bad bacteria in the mouth feed on food debris and release acids. The bacteria, acids and food particles lead to the formation of a sticky substance known as plaque. Plaque deteriorates the tooth enamel and leads to tooth decay and cavities.
In the initial stages, tooth decay can go undetected. However, the child suffers bad breath due to the presence of plaque. If you suspect your child has a cavity, visit a dentist immediately before the cavity progresses to the later, painful stages.
Follow these tips to protect your child from bad breath. For proper dental health, visit a dentist specialising in children's dentistry regularly for checkups, professional advice on dental health and prompt treatment of underlying problems.
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