Bad Breath Tips from a Dentistry for Kids

We are an experienced Dentistry for Kids and families. Parents trust us to take care of their children and to keep them in good oral health. This is something that we take very seriously and preventative care is the most important part of the equation. If we can help your child to stay healthy and avoid cavities, they will be happier and pain-free. We listen to the needs of our patients, no matter how small, and create treatment plans to help them feel their best.

Bad breath is something that many children, and adults, suffer from. Even teens can suffer from halitosis (extreme bad breath) which can be extremely embarrassing. Halitosis can make it uncomfortable to speak in a confined environment such as a small room or a car. As children are growing, their self-confidence is already rocky. Adding bad breath to the equation can hurt their self-esteem at this critical time.

As a Dentistry for Kids, we have several ways to help your children have better breath and improve their self-confidence.  It starts with at-home care and ends with a trip to our dentist office. Here are some tips you can start implementing immediately.

Buy your child an electronic toothbrush. They make cartoon character electronic toothbrushes and sell them at most grocery and drug stores. This will make it more fun for kids to brush their teeth, especially young ones. Let them pick out their own brush so that it becomes something to look forward to. Let them select their flavor of toothpaste as well, since a flavor aversion may lead to them avoiding teeth brushing.

Scrape their tongue. You can purchase a tooth scraper at the drug store. This tool may seem boring to adults, but kids will think it is goofy and fun to scrape their tongue. Make a game out of it by scraping the germs away.

Give them a water bottle. Buy a water bottle for each one of your kids. You can even buy them online with their names on it. Fill it up with water every morning so your child can carry it and drink throughout the day.  Staying hydrated is important for overall health and for improving bad breath.  When your mouth is moist your breath will smell fresher and saliva will wash the bacteria away.

Avoid sour foods. There are certain foods that can make your breath smell bad including onions and garlic. If your child is struggling from bad breath, avoid ingredients that will make it worst.

Visit the dentist.  It is important to take your children to the dentist twice a year so that they can have their teeth cleaned, and the lingering plaque and bacteria removed from their teeth and gum line. This is extremely important because as bacteria builds up it can lead to cavities and gum disease, even in children. These infections will also cause bad breath.

For more tips on how to keep your children in good oral health, give us a call. As a Dentistry for Kids, we are experts at keeping them healthy and making the entire process enjoyable. We look forward to treating you and your family.