The dentist explains that there may be non-obvious reasons for this problem.
“My son is 9 years old and has bad breath. We go to the dentist regularly, there was caries, but they were treated, he brushes his teeth twice a day, as expected. What could be the cause of the problem and how to deal with it? “
Galina, Krasnodar
“Halitosis, as this problem is called in dentistry, does not always arise from dental problems. Often the reason is diseases of the gastrointestinal tract… In addition, odor may occur when chronic diseases of the nasopharynxthat provoke mouth breathing and dry mouth. Therefore, if no problems are identified at the dentist’s appointment, you need to contact a pediatrician who will refer patients to an ENT or gastroenterologist. “
By the way, pediatricians say that gastritis in children occurs quite often. By high school, it is already difficult to find a child who would not have problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
But this is not the only problem that can cause bad breath. Our expert explains: In rare cases, the smell can appear in diabetes, pulmonary pathologies or electrolyte disturbances. But most often the cause of halitosis is still dental problems. For example, poor oral hygiene or diseases of the salivary glands.
“After all, where does the unpleasant smell come from? – says Yulia Selyutina. – The bacteria living in our mouth break down carbohydrates that the child receives with food. This produces foul-smelling sulfur-containing compounds. Ideally, the odor is neutralized by a specific type of streptococcus that is found in saliva. But, if its viscosity and cleansing capabilities are reduced, or food debris accumulates in the mouth, the smell will remain. ”
In addition, an unpleasant odor can appear with stomatitis, as well as if there are untreated or decayed teeth in the mouth.
“For prevention, I advise you to monitor the oral hygiene, thoroughly brush your teeth and treat them on time,” says the dentist. “Acidic foods and drinks will help to increase salivation, and in order to improve nasal breathing, you need to regularly moisturize and ventilate the room, and, of course, treat chronic diseases.”
By the way
Some foods can also cause bad breath. Everyone knows about onions and garlic, and we will add milk and cheese, which contain a lot of protein.
“Protein is a space for aerobic bacteria in the mouth, which provoke the smell of sour milk,” says Yulia Selyutina. “The problem will be exacerbated by lactose intolerance.”