Halitosis in Children

Bad breath. Problem? You bet! So what's bad breath got to do with halitosis? Who said I was straying? Bad breath is halitosis. Another name for it, that is. So how does halitosis in children come about? And what are they supposed to do about it? The following article will take us through some of the causes of halitosis in kids and the treatment methods that are adopted for the same. Read to know more.

Causes

There are three main reasons that could lead to halitosis in adults or children; oral, non-oral, and psychological. In the following article we shall take a look at some of the causes of bad breath.

Dry Mouth
People don't realize this, but a dry mouth can cause bad breath. One of the worst enemies of dental health. Notice how the next time you sit for long periods without talking or drinking something - your mouth stinks. (Keep this to yourself and stop turning people into innocent victims of your experimentation!). What causes a dry mouth? Not speaking for long hours means that the saliva hasn't moved around and enough production or flow of saliva is not happening. So also if one breathes through their mouth instead of their noses then that leads to the saliva drying up faster. Other reasons could include general dehydration, intake of certain medicines, chemotherapy, salivary gland disease.

Teeth
Well actually, it's not so much the teeth as is the gaps in them. There are scores and scores of microorganisms and bacteria that inhabit the mouth and when there are gaps or cavities in the teeth, they go and lodge themselves there. Also, when one eats something and does not rinse or floss, the particles go and stick in the gaps. Thus accumulating there and leading to the rotting of food. These are places that are difficult to reach and clean and therefore their presence there causes bad breath.

Tongue, Gum and Cancer
Halitosis in kids can also be caused by the growth and layer of bacteria that develops at the back of the tongue. This often produces bad breath. So also if there are any other diseases like in the case of gum diseases etc, that could also lead to halitosis. Chemotherapy or medication that is taken after developing oral cancer can lead to bad breath as well.

Non-Oral Reasons
There are several non-oral reasons that can lead to halitosis in children. Here are some of them:

• Liver failure can lead to chronic bad breath in children.
• Post nasal drip leads to the production of bacteria that thrive on the phlegm and other secretions that run down the throat and other areas during an infection. These bacteria will invariably cause bad breath.
• Kidney failure leads to a condition called uremia which develops an ammonia smell in the breath. Ammonia has a pretty strong smell that can be termed 'bad'.
• A condition like diabetes can also lead to bad breath.
• Digestive problems. They say that the stomach is the most vital organ in the body. If there is any problem in the digestive health, the effects will be felt throughout. Other than the obvious symptoms of constipation, diarrhea or flatulence, it will cause acne to appear, and halitosis as well.
• Certain medication types also lead to the development of bad breath. These medicines include antipsychotics, antihistamines, antidepressants, bronchodilators and antispasmodics.

Other than these reasons, there might also be psychological reasons that could lead to halitosis. These include the phobia or fear that even after treatment, the problem of halitosis persists. This requires that one consult a psychologist to get the proper counseling required.

Treatment

Here are some of the treatment methods that you should urge your children to take up for treatment of halitosis:

• Brushing is extremely important. Make sure that the right method and correct techniques of brushing teeth are followed.
• Rinsing and flossing after every meal is a must!
• Get rid of the build up behind the tongue by rubbing the tongue with a soft bristled toothbrush.
• Drinking plenty of fluids will lead to hydration and will prevent the mouth from drying out.
• Finding solutions for your digestive health and correcting it will correct the halitosis as well.
• If any underlying health problem is the cause then make sure that you treat it.
• Eat a meal that consists of fiber, this will help stimulate saliva and prevent the mouth from drying up.
• There are several home remedies for this problem as well that can be used other than the preventive measures mentioned above.

Halitosis should not be present at such a young age (it should not develop at any age, actually) and if there is halitosis in children then it means that something is definitely wrong. So make sure that you are well aware of what's going on with them and take the proper care and treatment for the same.