Bad breath is gross, and there’s no way around that fact. However, there are solutions to bad breath. We’re not talking about the stinky morning breath after a good night’s rest. That is easily remedied by some breakfast and brushing your teeth first thing. Chronic bad breath is a whole different story, and something that is an indicator of a bigger problem.
Stinky food
Some foods carry stronger smells than others, like fish, onions, garlic, and cilantro. While delicious, they can leave your child’s breath in a nasty state. This is a problem that is easily fixed, however. Brushing their teeth, chewing on a stick of sugar free gum, or even consuming a dab of mustard, should remedy their bad breath.
Dairy
While we know that dairy is a great source of calcium and great for your child’s oral health, it can also cause some seriously stinky breath. Bacteria loves the high levels of amino acid contained in dairy. To fix bad breath caused by dairy consumption, have your child rinse their mouth after eating a dairy heavy meal or snack. Also make sure they are brushing and flossing their teeth regularly to remove this bacteria.
Mouth breathing
Breathing through your mouth is a common cause of stinky breath, because it dries out your mouth. This is why we often wake up with stinky breath! If it is a common problem, it could be caused by congestion, or a more serious sleeping issue such as sleep apnea, snoring, or asthma(it can also be caused by seasonal allergies, which will thankfully go away!).
Gum disease and plaque
Plaque buildup in the mouth is one of the most common causes of chronic bad breath, and can be an indicator of gum disease. Bacteria will grow in between the teeth, letting off a foul smell. The solution to this is a vigilant brushing and teething schedule, and possibly a visit to a dentist to remove the plaque buildup and check their gums for an infection.
Medications
Some medications, like antihistamines, can make your mouth produce less saliva, which dries out your mouth, which causes bad breath. If you can change the medication, this can solve the issue. Otherwise, chewing sugar free mint gum will signal your mouth to produce more saliva. Drinking an increased amount of water will help this, as well, as it will help flush out the bad bacteria.
