Causes of Halitosis in Children and Adolescents

Having a child or adolescent with chronic halitosis can be a confusing and worrying ordeal. After all, we want what’s best for our children, and bad breath can not only lead to teasing and embarrassment… it can also be a sign of an underlying health problem. If you’ve noticed that your child or teen’s breath is frequently sour or has a strong unpleasant odor, it’s time to take action for the sake of their health and self-esteem.

The most important thing you can do to treat the problem is to identify the underlying cause of your bad breath. The most common culprits include the following:

Your child lacks a dental regimen: Kids eat more sugary foods and tend to have a lukewarm commitment to dental care… much more interested in other (ie fun) activities. If your son is still quite young, he may need to remind you of her dental regimen and even enforce or encourage it. Supervise flossing and brushing… have fun with cool products or games. For older kids and teens, communicate openly about it, but most importantly, don’t embarrass them. Instead, explain that bad breath can have health and social repercussions and that there are easy ways to avoid discomfort and embarrassment. The short and long term benefits are worth the short time commitment.

Your child needs to see the dentist: Your child should visit the dentist every 6 months to make sure the mouth is free of deeply lodged debris, cavities, gingivitis, and infections, all of which can lead to putrid odors.

Your child is dehydrated: Overactive children may forget to drink fluids after intense activity. The resulting dehydration can lead to a dry mouth that creates a very hospitable environment for the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath. If your child is involved in sports or is particularly active, make sure they have easy access to water. Water is obviously the best option, but non-dairy and sugar-free drinks are acceptable if your child is a particularly picky eater.

Your child is taking a prescription drug: Some popular children’s prescription drugs, such as Ritalin and Adderall, have been linked to chronic dry mouth, which often leads to bad breath. The best way to deal with this situation is to give your child plenty of low-sugar drinks and dry mouth products that stimulates the product of salvia. Dry mouth remedies come in spray, lozenge/lozenge, and gum…let your child try each type and see which one they like best. Children are surprisingly open to these products. In fact, I’ve found that some kids really like to “show off” their dry mouth spray.

Your child has an undiagnosed medical condition: In some cases, bad breath can be a sign of an underlying condition, such as a bacterial sinus infection or, in some rare cases, diabetes. It’s important to report unusual symptoms of bad breath to your child’s doctor or pediatrician, as it may be an indicator of a more serious problem.

Your teen has physiological causes: Although rare in young children, adolescents may have a physiological cause for bad breath, such as larger-than-normal taste buds or wisdom tooth infections. In most cases of adolescent bad breath, it is advisable to see a doctor or a bad breath specialist. A clinic specializing in the treatment of halitosis will be able to identify these types of problems and create a comprehensive treatment plan for your son or daughter.