Ugh, bad breath. Well for us adults, taking care of bad breath is easy. But for kids, it is just a whole other story.
Bad breath in kids is a concerning issue for parents today. This problem mainly occurs due to the lack of hygiene. However, medical issues are a significant reason as well.
The conflict occurs mostly when the parents fail to understand why the situation arises. Read on to find out all about bad breath in kids and how to take care of it!
Bad Breath in Kids: Causes and Cures
Have you ever experienced a situation when you are in public, and you say something to your companion getting close to him, but you find his face looks like there is something wrong?
Maybe it can be your smelly breath, but who knows?
This awful issue can also lead you to social awkwardness. A child is indeed helpless in this situation. Let’s figure out the causes and remedies of bad breath in kids and evaluate what it is.
What is Bad Breath in Kids?
Bad breath in kids is a common medical condition, known as halitosis. It occurs due to various reasons, and the most common among them is when people don’t brush their teeth correctly.
Halitosis is a sign of various other underlying diseases, including GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) digestive problems and even kidney failure too.
Please don’t take it as a cakewalk, as encountering this problem is necessary to keep both mental and physical health fit and fine.
Especially in the case of bad breath in kids, parents should strictly look into the problem, as it may lead to severe illnesses.
This bad breath or halitosis is due to the bacteria in the mouth, releasing a nasty odour. It signifies that this problem is uplifted via the tropical atmosphere causing bacteria.
Behind this, there are numerous causes, such as improper food habits, poor oral hygiene, and so on.
Taking proper care of your teeth is most of the time enough to get rid of bad breath. In case it becomes a routine, you should consult a doctor.
Causes of Bad Breath in Kids
Take the necessary precautions according to the cause of bad breath in kids. The various causes may include:
1. Dry Mouth and Mouth BreathingÂ
Our saliva, inside our mouth, bears great importance, as it assists in washing away harmful bacteria by keeping bad breath away. A dry mouth occurs if someone is sleeping with an open mouth.
Suppose the baby breaths via their mouth while sleeping. In that case, the child may have a dry mouth. A dry mouth may lead to bacteria accumulation resulting in a bad smell.
To combat this problem, make your child drink at least six glasses of water each day.
2. Improper Dental Hygiene
One of the significant reasons behind bad breath in kids is poor oral hygiene. It significantly happens in kids, when they are infrequent in cleaning their teeth and tongue properly.
You should make sure that your kid is brushing and flossing his teeth in the right way, so that the food particles in his tongue, and in between teeth can’t bind with the natural bacteria, resulting in bad breath.
3. Diseases and InfectionsÂ
Bad breath in children is not surprising if he or she suffers from any disease or infection. Sinus infection is a major one, to be mentioned here, as well as tonsillitis and gum disease can also cause this issue.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is too a source of bad breath in kids, as here the acids in the stomach reach the esophagus (food pipe), leading to smelly breath.
4. Having Smelly Foods
Consuming acidic foods may also lead to bad breath. It mainly includes garlic or onions, as this food is universally known as one of the sources of bad breath.
Your kid may like garlic or onions, so keep an eye on their diet. By keeping this kind of spicy food away, you can maintain their fresh breath.
Always remember the causes mentioned above of bad breath in kids, and maintain the precautions as far as possible. Check the remedies for this issue in the section below!
Natural Remedies for Bad Breath in Kids
1. Healthy & Balanced DietÂ
Probably the best remedy to terminate lousy breath in children is to have a healthy and balanced diet. Research has discovered that processed food and refined sugar mainly cause bad breath due to its spiciness and sourness.
Boiled food along with rice and nuts can also be added to the diet to cure bad breath.
2. Usage of ClovesÂ
Having cloves, is an excellent option, as it assists in keeping your mouth and breath entirely fresh. It too helps in combating the harmful bacteria in your mouth, responsible for the formation of cavities.
Make your kid suck a few each day, but be careful and don’t take the clove oil or powder, as they taste too strong for your kid, and they can also cause burns.
3. ParsleyÂ
Improper digestion is a common problem for many of us in today’s world. It may lead to several issues, and among them, bad breath is a significant one.
Bearing various antiseptic qualities in it, chewing parsley leaves is an effective measure to ease digestion, and prevent bad breath.
Apart from these, it also acts as a natural mouth freshener, possessing a natural scent with good chlorophyll volume. To reap the best results, make your kid chew a few of these leaves, after every meal.
4. Maintaining Proper Oral Health and HygieneÂ
Improper dental hygiene is a major cause of bad breath in kids, as specified earlier.
Your kid should maintain good oral health, so make them brush their teeth not quickly, but in the right way, at least for two minutes. It is highly recommendable to brush with fluoride toothpaste, twice a day.
However, many people exist with the point of view that to prevent tooth decay; brushing is mandatory after each meal. To prohibit the growth of bacteria from foods stuck between teeth, brushing at least two times per day is needed.
5. Drinking an Adequate Amount of WaterÂ
Earlier, it was specified that our saliva plays a significant part to keep our mouth clean. For this, you must drink an adequate amount of water for saliva production, and keep the body hydrated.
A dry mouth generally occurs while sleeping, when you breathe with your mouth open. It signifies the reason why bad breath is common after walking up from rest.
So to defend against this problem, make your child drink at least six to eight glasses of water each day.
6. Citrus FruitsÂ
Citrus foods are beneficial in killing the harmful bacteria in the mouth. Being rich in vitamin C, it helps the saliva to develop, eventually resulting in stamping out bad breath.
Orange, rich in vitamin C, is a perfect example of these fruits, which you can consume to get rid of bad breath.
7. Green TeaÂ
Green tea consumption can be useful to get rid of bad breath with ease. It efficiently assists in wiping out bad breath and keeping a fresh one.
It is excellent at deodorizing, and its disinfectant characteristics hold the refreshing breath for the time being. It would be best if you carry this with you, and sip it slowly all day.
Also, don’t forget to brew it the night before and refrigerate it, to derive the best results. Mint is also an excellent option to choose for this issue, which comprises the same properties.
So undoubtedly, a green mint tea will be a superb option to choose for your child, if he suffers from the problem of bad breath.
8. Fennel or Anise seedsÂ
Fennel or anise seeds are one of the effective ways to defend lousy breath. People of this nation have used these seeds since ancient times and have experienced good benefits too.
You can have your child eat this, coated with sugar, direct, or even roasted.
It is used in different regions as a mouth freshener, administering the breath of a fresh scent. In its mixture, remains various aromatic essential oils, and it is sweet to taste overall.
Conclusion
Bad breath is a common phenomenon, and everyone faces it, including your child once in a while. You can easily find a solution to this problem by using the natural remedies for bad breath for kids, mentioned above.
Just brush their teeth properly, and then implement the other steps, if necessary.
But in case your child is unable to resolve the issue, irrespective of home and natural treatment, don’t keep it till the eleventh hour, and consult a dentist or doctor soon.
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