Ever wonder what causes bad breath in children? How can that little angel who brushed his teeth before bedtime wake up with breath so bad that it could literally melt the paint off the wall? Well, there are a number of causes of bad breath in children, some related to hygiene problems, others with a medical connection. But they all wind up causing bad breath.

Morning breath is one of the most frequent bad breath complaints for children. At night, saliva production drops and a child’s mouth tends to dry out. Without the presence of saliva, bacteria begins to grow unchecked. This bacteria gives off the sulfur scent so closely associated with bad breath. Another good brushing session in the morning, and the renewed production of saliva will usually be enough to knock out this cause of bad breath in children.

Sadly, one of the main causes of bad breath in children is the lack of good oral hygiene. Younger children may find it difficult to reach teeth in the back of their mouth with their toothbrush, missing pockets of plaque that will cause bad breath later. Parents can help by supervising their child’s brushing routine and assisting whenever necessary. Special attention should be paid to cleaning the tongue. Bacteria collects around and under the taste buds, leading to more bad breath.

Not so surprisingly, post nasal drip is often a cause behind bad breath in children. Very young children who attend school are exposed to many germs and viruses that result in the symptoms of the common cold. Infected mucous drips from the nasal passages and down the back of the throat where it tends to collect. This build up of bacteria causes the breath to smell bad.

Post sinus drip may also lead to tonsillitis, another cause of bad breath. Bacteria infected mucous builds up along with food particles trapped in the crevices on the tonsils. This toxic mix hardens into small “stones” of decaying debris, causing particularly bad breath that may be the first clue of the underlying condition. Though far less performed today, removal of infected tonsils was common place surgery a generation ago.

Finally, just like adults, certain foods such as onions and garlic will cause bad breath in children too. In addition to good tooth brushing techniques, chewing a little parsley may also help to neutralize the bad breath these foods cause.

There are many causes of bad breath in children, and while some may require medical attention to eliminate them, most of the causes of bad breath can be alleviated with good oral hygiene and regular trips to the dentist.