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.

 

Dental Treatment Options

By Vishant Nath DMD

A visit to the pediatric dentist can sometimes result in a diagnosis for dental treatment for your child. This may not be what you were expecting as a parent. But it’s important to realize that there are many options available to you in getting your child’s dental health back on track.

In many cases, pediatric dental treatment can be performed rather quickly in the office. There are a couple of goals that the pediatric dentist has for a dental treatment appointment. First, the dentist wants to make sure that the treatment is done well to remove or repair the effected teeth. The other goal is to keep the patient comfortable and stable throughout the treatment process. These goals go hand in hand, as keeping the patient comfortable makes it easier for the dentist to treat the effected areas.

There are several different approaches to keeping the child comfortable. Keep in mind that all of the following options are accompanied by informed and written consents from parents.

Nitrous Oxide, or laughing gas, may be used to relax the child while the work is being done. For certain patients, a papoose may be used. The papoose offers an important option to parents who prefer that their child not be sedated. This option is reserved for quick procedures or emergencies.

For children who require an extensive amount of dental treatment, sedation can be a good option. One type of anesthesia available is oral sedation, which involves minimal to moderate levels of sedation. In this case the oral sedation medication is given to the child in the dental office under the direction of the pediatric dentist.

Another type of sedation available is General Anesthesia. This type of medication is usually administered under the direction of a medical anesthesiologist. Depending on your pediatric dentist, this option may be available in the dental office, or in a hospital setting.

Your pediatric dentist can suggest and explain the best option for your child’s individual oral health care needs. In all cases, the overall health of your child will be monitored closely throughout the treatment appointment. Also, no matter which option you choose, its important to closely follow all pre-op and post-op instructions to ensure that your child will have the best experience possible.

The goal for you and your pediatric dentist is to get your child’s oral health care at its best and do everything possible to keep it at its best. With consistent home hygiene and twice-yearly cleanings and check-ups, your child can have a healthy, beautiful smile!