Bad Breath in Kids

How can a small child have such stinky breath??  A study from 2003 showed that 23% of kids have bad breath, so don’t feel like you are alone if you are dealing with this in your child!  There are several causes for bad breath in kids.  There are also options for preventing and treating it when it occurs.

The first question to ask is, “Is my child doing a adequate job of brushing and flossing?”  Poor dental hygiene can lead to bad breath.  Bacteria (which produce the foul odor) feed upon food particles that are left in the teeth.  Proper brushing and flossing can eliminate the food particles, thereby eliminating the presence of the bacteria.  As parents, we know that we need to help our young toddlers to brush their teeth, but even older children may require some help until they develop the dexterity to brush well.  Even if they have the dexterity, they may not understand the importance of brushing well, so they may need some coaching to ensure that their dental hygiene is great.  And don’t forget to teach your child to brush the tongue as well!

Bad breath can also be a symptom of tooth decay, so be sure to visit your pediatric dentist twice a year to make sure that any tooth decay is diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

Another cause of bad breath is postnasal drip due to allergies.  In this case, treating the allergies should help to alleviate the bad breath symptom.

Any sort of bacterial infection can cause bad breath.  This includes sinusitis and throat infections.  Normally there will be other symptoms associated with these conditions.  Treating the infection should work to eliminate the bad breath.

So, in all of these cases, bacteria is the cause of the bad breath.  There have been some studies that have shown that xylitol inhibits the growth of bacteria in the mouth.  Many sugarless chewing gums contain xylitol, you can certainly give this a try to combat bad breath.

If you feel as though you have tried everything and the bad breath is still an issue, be sure to consult your pediatric dentist and pediatrician for a more thorough analysis, as it can sometimes indicate a more serious underlying condition.  Most often though bad breath is not too difficult to deal with.

The Value of Second Opinions

In many health care fields, second opinions can be a valuable tool.  In the field of dentistry, second opinions can promote a greater understanding of the oral health in question, and also can promote a healthy relationship with the dentist.  This article will provide some tips on how to get the most out of the use of second opinions regarding pediatric dentistry.

When your child is diagnosed with the need for dental treatment, it is very important that the parents (1) understand why the treatment is needed and (2) have trust in the child’s dentist to best diagnose the treatment.  In most cases, when treatment is prescribed in children, time is of the essence.  Primary, or baby teeth are softer than permanent, or adult teeth.  Because of this, decay can often spread quickly in children.  This means that it’s important to get your child’s dental treatment completed in a timely manner.

As stated earlier, its important for parents to understand exactly what the child’s dentist is prescribing regarding treatment, and why they are taking this approach.  If you do not understand, make it a point to ask lots of questions, even if you plan to get a second opinion.  The information you receive by asking questions may help you to decide which approach you are most comfortable with regarding your child’s dental treatment.  Make sure that you get the second opinion quickly.  If you wait too long, your child’s need for treatment may worsen, which will mean that the dentists are not comparing the same situation, and therefore their diagnoses could differ.

After you have found a dentist whom you are comfortable with and trust to perform your child’s treatment, it is most important to schedule treatment in a timely manner.  If you wait too long, the decay may worsen, and the diagnosis may need to change.

Remember that every dentist gets a similar education in dental school and residency, but once they begin practicing, their experiences will build a knowledge base that can differentiate them.  Each dentist will have different treatment methods that they are most comfortable with and have seen provide the best results.  There are often different approaches to prescribing dental treatment, all within the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines.  All can lead to great oral health for your child.

Parents’ Habits That Can Effect Infant Oral Health Care

By Vishant Nath DMD

It’s never too early to begin considering your child’s oral health care. From birth, your baby’s oral health is being determined by a variety of factors. There are some easy guidelines to follow to put your baby on a pathway to good oral health.

As soon as your baby’s new teeth erupt from their gums, they are susceptible to cavities. Cavities are caused by an overabundance of the bacteria mutans streptococci (MS) in the mouth. Even before your baby has teeth, these bacteria can be present in their mouth. As a parent, there are two main ways to prevent the cavities from forming.

So the first goal is to prevent the bacteria from entering your baby’s mouth. It may seem like an impossible goal and in some ways it is. It’s inevitable that over time, the bacteria will make it into your baby’s mouth. The goal is to put off this “early colonization” of MS for as long as possible. There are some obvious ways in which the bacteria enter the mouth. Especially as babies grow, their natural curiosities encourage them to seek out situations where they will encounter these bacteria. Something as simple as a dropped pacifier, or other teething toy can present this situation. Forget the “five-second rule”. It’s best to take the necessary measure to clean these items before giving them back to your child. Keeping an extra clean pacifier handy and cleaning their teething toys on a regular basis are simple steps can help your baby’s oral health care.

There is another, less obvious way that the bacteria make their way into your baby’s mouth. If you share a spoon or drink cup with your baby, you are sharing the MS bacteria that are present in your mouth with them. Try to avoid this! You may think that your mouth is perfectly clean, but it isn’t as clean as your baby’s mouth and by sharing your spoon with them, you are sharing these bacteria with them.

The second goal is to take great care of your baby’s mouth. Even before they have teeth, you can help create a clean environment by gently wiping the gums with a clean, wet cloth before bedtime. The more you do it, the more your baby will get used to it. Once the primary teeth erupt, wipe them as well. There are a variety of soft, rubbery-bristled baby tooth brushes available that you can begin using to gently brush the baby teeth. Establishing these habits early will put your child on a pathway of a lifetime of great oral health!

http://kidshappyteeth.com/parents-habits-that-can-effect-infant-oral-health-care/

Printables!

Print out these pictures for your children to have fun learning about oral health!

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