Parents who bring their children to a pediatric dentist, often do so because they have oral health questions. We are the experts when it comes to early childhood dental health and is happy to answer questions and provide detailed information.
We can do this during a routine examination and dental cleaning appointment. The question people ask on a regular basis is about bad breath. A lot of children have stinky breath. Here is what you need to know about it.
BAD BREATH COULD BE A SIGN OF A HEALTH PROBLEM
Children who have seriously stinky breath could have bad breath because of an oral health problem. In fact, that bad smell can be a sign of tooth decay, infection or gum disease. The smell is the body’s opportunity to alert everyone that there is an issue the child needs to address.
If bad breath does not go away with regular brushing, we encourage parents to call our office and schedule an appointment. During the appointment, we can conduct an examination and determine if there is a health problem. If so, we can treat the problem and help the child return to good oral health.
BAD BREATH COULD BE A SIGN OF BUILT-UP PLAQUE AND TARTAR
Even if a child has not yet suffered from tooth decay, a build-up of plaque and tartar can lead to horrible breath. As a pediatric dentist, we find that a deep cleaning can help to improve our patients’ oral health and their breath at the same time.
THINGS PARENTS CAN DO TO IMPROVE BREATH AT HOME
There are several easy steps that parents can take at home to improve their child’s breath. These include:
1. Give them more water to drink
Bad breath can be the result of a dry mouth. Give a child a water bottle to drink from throughout the day. By keeping their mouth moist, it should reduce their bad breath. Plus, water can help to wash away built up food particles that remain on their teeth after eating.
2. Brush their teeth twice a day with a mint toothpaste
Parents often use flavored toothpaste like bubblegum or cotton candy but this does nothing to improve the breath. A child should use mint toothpaste for the maximum benefit.
3. Floss their teeth
It can be difficult to floss a child’s teeth, so many parents do not do so. However, if food becomes trapped in between the teeth or plaque builds up there, it will lead to bad breath. Flossing once a day can help to reduce bad breath and improve their health.
4. Stick with a healthy diet
Feed your child a healthy diet that includes lean protein, fruits and vegetables, along with whole-wheat. Foods that are high in sugar are going to exasperate bad breath problems and foods that are very fatty can do so as well.
5. Avoid soda
Soda is bad for the teeth and can also contribute to bad breath. So, avoid giving soda to a child. Instead, stick with water or milk.
VISIT A PEDIATRIC DENTIST NEAR
To improve your child’s oral health and their breath, call us and schedule an appointment for a dental cleaning today at (301) 828-1903. Montgomery Dental Associates & Implantology Center can examine and clean your child’s teeth, improve their oral health and make additional recommendations at that time.