Halitosis in Children
Body Odor In Young ChildrenPeople have all kinds of explanations for halitosis in children ranging from dehydration to a diet that contains too much sugar. Many of these things may indeed cause temporary odors on the breath. Most cases of bad breath, however, even in youngsters, are caused by exactly the same thing that causes bad breath in adults. Bacteria living in the mouth break down protein and produce bad smelling compounds knows as volatile sulfur compounds, or VSC.
Some halitosis in children is due to other underlying causes, and if there is anything at all unusual about the odor that is being noted, a visit to a physician or dentist may be in order. Some diseases cause an off-odor on the breath and when such a disease is involved, only treatment of the underlying problem will cure halitosis in children or anyone else. Some of the diseases involved are serious: diabetes, kidney disease, and malignancy are all potentially life threatening.
If the problem seems like a simple ordinary case of halitosis in children - a rotten egg smell on the breath that is associated with the mouth - the problem should still be dealt with promptly. Although bad breath is not life threatening in the same way that cancer or diabetes is, the social difficulties that are caused by really bad breath can severely affect a child's quality of life. A cure for halitosis in children could be the same as giving them back their friends.
The most effective remedies for bad breath contain antibacterial ingredients that kill off the bacteria that produce VSC. Halitosis in children, however, may be difficult to treat with these preparations because children cannot be exposed to drugs in the same concentrations as adults can. Any over the counter cure for halitosis in children should be carefully checked to be sure it's appropriate.
For treating children, natural remedies are popular because they do not contain drugs and chemicals. Natural remedies to cure halitosis in children have become commercially available in recent years and are gaining in popularity. If you have tried home remedies without success, and you don't want to use antibacterials like chlorhexidine, you might want to investigate natural products for halitosis in children.
R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to Halitosis in Children, a blog dedicated to the treatment of bad breath.