| Bad breath cause
Question :
My one-year-old son has persistent bad breath. What is the cause of this
problem ?
Answer : Bad breath is usually caused by bacteria in the mouth
that feed on bits of food stuck to the teeth, tongue and gums after eating.
There may be other causes, such as infection or disease, medication your
child may be taking, his diet and tooth decay. Sometimes, tonsillitis may
also cause bad breath. You should bring your child to a paediatrician to
ascertain that his bad breath is not a symptom of a more serious medical
problem.
Oral hygiene is also very important, so make sure you brush your
child's teeth twice a day and do not allow him to eat or drink ( other than
plain water ) after the bedtime brushing.
Finally, his diet may be a factor in your child's bad breath. Some types
of food are strong-smelling in themselves, or are the cause of strong smells
when eaten. Apart from garlic and onions which are the usual suspects, cow's
milk can also cause this problem as it leaves a fine coating inside the
mouth and becomes food for the bacteria within. Try getting your child to
rinse with plain water after drinking milk and see if his breath improves.
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