Origin
The mechanism behind the development of bad breath in children is primarily dependent on the underlying cause. This also explains why halitosis in children has a different scent depending on the underlying problem. The American chemist Linus Paulinger (1901- 1994) examined in a study several hundred breath samples of patients, who suffer from bad breath.
He succeeded in detecting up to 200 different compounds in these samples, which mix with the exhaled air and lead to bad breath. Meanwhile one assumes even that up to 3000 different compounds, which can lead to bad breath, exist. These compounds are mainly chemical compounds containing sulfur and nitrogen (for example ketones and ammonia).
Depending on the eating habits of the child, bad breath also changes. Sweetish in this case means a smell of overripe fruit. This often occurs in connection with diabetes or tonsillitis.
However, the typical sweetish smell is also indicative for the diagnosis of the infectious disease diphtheria. Since this disease can cause life-threatening complications if not treated, a visit to the doctor should not be delayed too long. In the case of fishy bad breath in childhood, which persists despite brushing the teeth, an inflammation in the throat/pharynx area can often be detected.
An increase in pathogens then causes unpleasant breath. Some parents can even “smell” their child when another inflammation of the tonsils and throat is imminent. Then an examination can be carried out as quickly as possible and the right medication prescribed.
In rare cases, there is a metabolic disease behind it, which should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Dry mouth can cause bad breath to spread. Many children sleep with their mouths open at night, especially when breathing through the nose is difficult due to a cold or middle ear infection.
A dry mouth contains a lot of bacteria and can cause or increase bad breath. However, it can also be a systemic disease of the entire body. Especially liver diseases and diabetes should be considered and should be excluded if the foul odor persists.
If all teeth are healthy and despite regular dental hygiene after brushing, there is still an unpleasant odor coming from the mouth of a child, the cause must be sought elsewhere. Sometimes the origin lies in the breakthrough of a new tooth. The gums become more porous at this point and thus allow bacteria to penetrate the tissue more often.
Especially in the case of whiter teeth, a place almost inaccessible to hygiene, an extremely serious inflammation occurs, which causes unpleasant bad breath. Besides other very harmless reasons, which are often due to a bad or unbalanced diet with cola, onions or other caffeinated drinks, diseases of the head and neck area are also possible. These are mainly complaints of the paranasal sinuses, the throat and inflammations of the oral mucosa.
In all these cases, the number of bacteria in the upper respiratory tract is greatly increased and the odour is produced by metabolic products of the germs. But also various basic diseases, such as diabetes or inflammation of the liver, often affect the breath of the youngest children, the specialist must be consulted to avoid complications. In common parlance, an almond operation means that the palatine tonsils are removed in case of an active and recurrent (recurrent) inflammation.In this type of surgery the wound is not sutured, which means that secondary wound healing takes place.
After a few days, a whitish wound layer is formed, which is part of normal healing, but to which bacteria can attach and cause bad breath. If the symptoms persist for more than 10 days, a wound infection may be present. This must be examined and possibly treated by a doctor with antibiotic therapy.
