Bad breath in toddlers

Introduction

One speaks of bad breath in infants if the child’s breath has a strong odor and this odor persists for a long time. Halitosis occurs significantly less frequently in children than in adults. Only about 10 to 15 percent of children suffer from this problem. The main causes include poor and irregular oral hygiene and pronounced dry mouth. Nevertheless, the occurrence of bad breath in small children should always be clarified in order to rule out serious infections or other diseases.

Causes of bad breath in small children

Bad breath in small children can be accompanied by many different symptoms.

  • If it occurs as a result of reduced saliva production, dry, brittle and cracked lips, as well as difficulty swallowing, can also occur.
  • If dental hygiene is inadequate, damage to the gums and periodontium occurs and can lead to serious inflammation or caries.
  • If the bad breath is the result of an infection of the upper respiratory tract or the tonsils, general symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue and lack of appetite often accompany it. It can also cause difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, loss of voice and swelling of the lymph nodes.
  • If there are also organic disorders, the accompanying symptoms can vary greatly.

    In the context of diabetes, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness and increased urination can occur.

  • Liver diseases can manifest themselves as increasing liver values, itching, a yellowish discoloration of the skin or upper abdominal complaints.

Bad breath in children in combination with fever is in most cases a sign of an inflammatory process. Fever can occur in the context of acute tonsillitis, gum inflammation or inflammation of the internal organs, such as the liver or kidney. Fever in itself is a relatively unspecific symptom and can indicate many different causes.

If you cannot find a visible, triggering source of infection in fever and bad breath or if the child is not teething, you should consult a doctor for further clarification. In the case of tonsillitis in children, a foul-smelling, somewhat putrid odor from the mouth is often found as an accompanying symptom. Tonsillitis is usually the result of a viral or bacterial infection.

The pathogens are deposited on the tonsils and lead to local swelling, infiltration, redness and severe sore throat. The metabolism that the pathogens operate produces waste products that cause the putrid, foul-smelling odor. Especially in children, tonsillitis is very painful and they often refuse to maintain oral hygiene and sufficient fluid intake.

This further promotes the increase of bad breath. Bad breath in children in connection with coughing may indicate an existing inflammatory reaction or infection of the upper respiratory tract. As a rule, this occurs relatively frequently in children.

One should make sure to drink sufficient quantities to counteract the dry mouth and to flush away any bacteria or viruses that may be causing it. Bad breath and coughing can also be an indication of the presence of gastric acid reflux. If the cough subsides quickly, a slight infection can be assumed for the time being.

If it lasts longer, further clarification should be considered. However, an acute cough in combination with bad breath should always make one think of a possible foreign body within the respiratory tract. Many children complain, especially in the morning hours after waking up, about a furry and coated tongue that is associated with changes in taste.

A coated tongue can occur as a result of recurring infections, acidosis or lack of hygiene. The coating on the tongue attracts the bacteria of the oral flora and provides a good nutrient medium for them to grow. The products produced by the metabolism reinforce and maintain bad breath.

Bad breath in children can be described as severe, foul-smelling, putrid or even acetone-like. If an acetone smell comes out of a child’s mouth, a more serious, underlying disease should always be considered. The acetone smell is often a sign of diabetes and is often one of the main symptoms in children, along with fatigue and nausea. It is described as putrid and sweetish, similar to the smell of fermenting apples.