Helping Your Children Avoid Childhood Halitosis

Bad breath can affect people of every age, including kids! Using minty gum, mouth spray, and mints will only cover up the problem, but won’t get rid of the smelly bacteria that causes the problem. Chronic bad breath can be embarrassing and cause self-consciousness. Luckily, there are a few simple ways for you to make sure your kids can avoid chronic bad breath issues.

Helping Your Child Avoid Bad Breath

Below are some tips for making sure your child’s breath is fresh and his teeth are healthy:

• Brush Daily – When brushing your child’s teeth each day, don’t forget to brush his or her gums as well. Bacteria can hide out under the gum line, causing bad breath and even gum disease. Make sure your child is brushing for at least two minutes, twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Tongue Scraper – Your child’s tongue is just the warm, moist environment that bacteria love! Using a tongue scraper to remove bacteria from the tongue will go a long way towards freshening the breath. Disposable tongue scrapers are used by scraping the tongue gently from the back to the front.
• Avoid Stinky Food – Obviously, the things we put in our mouth will contribute to the way our breath smells. It may surprise you to learn that overly sugary foods can also cause bad breath, just the same as garlic and onions. Help your child avoid eating too much sugar and opt for sugar-free gum instead.
• Visit the Dentist – Lastly, no matter how clean you get your child’s teeth at home, nothing compares to a professional dental cleaning here at our office. We know all the nooks and crannies in your child’s mouth that the germs, food debris, and bacteria love to hide out in. Making sure your child visits our office every six months for a dental cleaning and exam will help keep her teeth clean and her breath fresh.

Caring for your children’s teeth will not only help freshen their breath, but will also keep their teeth and mouth healthy! To visit our office for your child’s regular dental cleaning and exam, please contact Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry. We’re located here in Parker, Colorado.