Treatment
There are many different ways to treat bad breath in small children. First the cause must be clarified. If there is an organic cause, further examinations must be made and a special treatment concept must be developed.
The basis of these therapies is always the elimination of the underlying disease. The most important measure to effectively treat bad breath is adequate oral hygiene.Children should brush their teeth three times a day to remove any food debris and keep their mouths fresh. They should also make sure that they drink sufficient quantities of water to prevent the mucous membranes in the mouth area from drying out and to reduce saliva production.
In addition, herbal mouthwashes with herbal additives can be used to clean the mouth and provide a fresh scent. A change in diet can also be helpful, as for example foods such as apples, nettle tea or sage can provide fresh breath and drive away the unpleasant smell. Homeopathic preparations can also be used to treat bad breath in children.
These include for example Sodium chloratum, Mercurius solubilis or Potassium phosphoricum. It is possible to administer globules to children twice a day. These preparations have a calming effect, relieve stress and thus the drying of the mucous membranes of the mouth and can be used especially well in children with severe dry mouth in the morning. The increased saliva production at rest counteracts the decomposition process of the bacteria.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of bad breath in a child is largely based on an extensive physical examination and above all a thorough inspection of the oral cavity. The physician tries to exclude or further narrow down possible triggers by asking many questions, for example when the bad breath first appeared, how long it has lasted and which accompanying symptoms have been noticed. If inflammatory areas are visible in the oral cavity, a smear can be taken. If a bacterial infection of the tonsils is suspected, a streptococcal rapid test can be performed. If no external causes can be found, a blood sample is taken for further diagnostics and, if necessary, further examinations for organic clarification are performed.
