Let’s face it: there are few things cuter than a newborn with two or three teeth poking out of their gums. That not-quite-toothless grin might put a smile on anyone’s face. But what might take away a teething baby’s appealing quality? Poor breath! Baby bad breath may sometimes be a symptom of a more severe problem that has to be treated.
Examine Their Mouth for Foreign Objects
First and foremost, ensure that your kid does not have a piece of food or a foreign item lodged between their cheek and gums. Something small can sometimes accommodate in a pocket of the mouth, emitting an odour over time. Identify the thing and remove it carefully. Simple!
Examine Your Mouth for Dryness
Is your youngster prone to dry mouth? Baby bad breath due to the dry mouth may be induced by some drugs or breathing through the mouth rather than the nose. A dry mouth indicates a lack of saliva, and germs cannot be washed away naturally. When a baby’s breath smells, microbial accumulation is often to blame.
Examine Their Tongue
Hopefully, you remember to brush your child’s new teeth for two minutes at a time at least twice a day. But do you remember to wash their teeth and tongue as well? The language is home to many odor-causing microorganisms that are often overlooked. Brush their tongue gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush for a few seconds while brushing their teeth.
Sugar
It feeds germs if sugar is not brushed or wiped away from your baby’s teeth and gums. As the bacteria consume the leftover sugars, it produces gases that cause bad breath.
Milk
If your kid drinks too much milk, they may vomit it back up into their throats, resulting in a terrible baby breath.
Toys
Most newborns and toddlers investigate their surroundings with their mouths. If your kid does not clean their toys after putting them in their mouth, germs will be transmitted back into their mouths when they play with the item again.
Pacifiers and teethers
According to Pediatric Dentistry Indianapolis IN, babies suck and chew on their pacifiers and teethers, causing saliva and germs to be left behind. If these objects are not adequately cleaned, they will develop a bad odour and the germs will be passed back into your baby’s mouth when they use that specific item again.
Tooth Deteriorate
If good oral hygiene is not performed, your child’s teeth may decay. As the tooth decays, it expels unpleasant breath.
Infection
Certain illnesses, such as gum disease or sinus infections, may cause bad breath in babies and toddlers. Sinus infections, in particular, create bad breath because fluid accumulates in the nasal passages and travels to the back of the throat and tongue.
Foreign Objects
If a foreign item, such as a bead, becomes lodged in your child’s nasal canal, they may be forced to breathe through their lips, resulting in bad breath. Furthermore, food particles might get lodged and decay in the nasal canal, adding to the unpleasant odour.
Gastroesophageal Reflux
An acidic odour is created when stomach acids regurgitate or come back into the throated.
Something Was Stuck In My Nose
Last but not least, when it comes to what might cause bad breath in children, an item lodged in the nose must be mentioned. Babies and toddlers are prone to putting food and toys in their noses, and if foreign bodies get stuck there, it may cause irritation, a runny nose, and a bad stench. Seek medical assistance immediately away if you suspect your kid has shoved anything up their nose, and they also have a fever and dark green mucous.
Pungent Foods Eating
Eating meals with strong scents might cause bad breath in your kid. Digestion begins with the first bite of food, and whatever your child eats begins to break down in their mouth, causing an unpleasant odour.
Kids Dentist Indianapolis IN recommends, Sulphur-producing foods, such as garlic and onions, create bad breath in children (and adults). The sulphur compounds settle in your child’s mouth and are even absorbed into their bloodstream. The fragrance from the chemicals will be emitted when your kid exhales for many hours after eating. Fortunately, it is just transient and should not be cause for concern. Brushing your teeth, on the other hand, will not remove it.
Saliva Is Insufficient
We’ve said it before, and we’ll repeat it: saliva is a dental health hero. Spit aids in the removal of food waste and microorganisms from the mouth, as well as the neutralization of cavity-causing acids. Bad breath is generally kept at bay while saliva is flowing.
According to Pediatric Dentist Indianapolis IN, when children sleep, saliva production slows dramatically, and germs in their mouths congregate, so they often wake up with morning breath. Because everyone, no matter how old or young, has germs in their mouth, morning breath may even produce bad breath in newborns and toddlers. This form of bad breath is just temporary and will go away as your kid brushes their teeth, and their saliva begins to flow normally.
Dry mouth, commonly known as xerostomia, causes poor breath in children. With dry mouth, not enough saliva is generated, and, as with morning breath, food particles and germs accumulate on the teeth, causing an unpleasant odour. Bad breath from dry mouth, unlike morning breath, is not necessarily transient since the problem may be persistent and caused by specific drugs or health concerns.
Baby Bad Breath Treatment
According to Childrens Dentist Indianapolis IN, bad breath in babies and toddlers may be swiftly remedied in most situations. Here are a few simple actions to take:
- Frequently washing your baby’s hands, toys, and pacifiers 2. Feeding them a diet low in starch and sugar
- Gently cleaning or brushing your baby’s teeth and gums with a soft-bristled toothbrush after feedings and before sleep.
- Taking their child to the dentist or dental hygienist as soon as their first tooth develops.