The Bad Breath-Oral Health Connection

Posted January 20, 2016

There’s morning breath and there’s not-so-great breath after a meal full of garlic and onions – these go away – and then there’s bad breath that’s a bigger issue. Also known clinically as “halitosis” this is a problem that may point to an underlying issue with your child’s dental hygiene and oral health. Rather than becoming too concerned, we suggest you consider a couple easy ways to handle yucky breath. Fortunately, these tips can even help you if you notice your mouth isn’t its usual fresh-as-a-daisy self.

Review Home Care

Review your child’s brushing and flossing. Are you making sure your child is brushing twice a day? Are you sure your little one is flossing once a day? Neglecting to remove plaque and food particles daily on a consistent basis promotes the buildup of bacteria, which emit nasty odors. As a result, your child’s oral health may not be as good as it can be and breath may smell not so lovely. Hint: Make sure your child is also brushing his or her tongue, which can harbor a lot of bacteria and lead to bad breath.

Improve Professional Care

Another significant concern is whether you are making sure your child is seeing us according to the suggested intervals for dental cleanings and dental checkups. Your little one’s oral health depends in part on professional preventive care – in most cases, we suggest an appointment once every six months. If you have missed an appointment or two, plaque and tartar may lead to decay or infection, all of which may yield bad breath. Schedule an appointment immediately, so we can address any existing problems for restored oral health.