Although bad breath is more common in adults due to poor oral hygiene, it can also occur in infants, caused by several problems ranging from diet to dry mouth or respiratory infections, for example.
However, lack of hygiene is also a major cause of bad breath because, although they don’t yet have teeth, babies can develop the same bacteria as adults in their teeth, but on the tongue, cheeks and gums.
- Thus.
- The best way to eliminate bad breath in the baby is to have adequate oral hygiene and.
- If it does not improve.
- It is advisable to consult the pediatrician to identify if there are any health problems.
- Initiating the proper treatment if necessary.
- Know how to properly perform your baby’s oral hygiene.
Some of the most common causes of bad breath in infants include
Babies are more likely to sleep with their mouths slightly open, so they dry easily due to frequent airflow.
Thus, milk drops and food scraps can dry and leave sugars attached to the gums, allowing the development of bacteria and fungi, which in addition to causing sores in the mouth, cause bad breath.
What to do: Proper oral hygiene should be maintained, especially after breastfeeding or feeding the baby, thus avoiding the accumulation of milk drops that can dry out when the baby’s mouth is open. Another simple way to alleviate the problem is to provide the baby with water. the baby after milk.
Although the teeth do not begin to appear until around 6 or 8 months of age, the truth is that oral hygiene should be practiced from birth, because even in the absence of teeth, bacteria can settle in the baby’s mouth causing bad breath and oral problems.like canker sores or cavities.
What to do: Clean your baby’s mouth with a damp cloth or gauze, at least twice a day, until the first teeth come out.Once the teeth are born, it is recommended to use a soft brush and a paste suitable for your age.
In some cases, bad breath can occur even when good hygiene is being done and can occur because you are not using the right paste.
As a general rule of thumb, baby paste should not contain any type of chemicals, however some may contain sodium lauryl sulfate, a substance used to create lather that can cause dry mouth and the appearance of small wounds. . Thus, this type of paste can often facilitate the growth of bacteria and, consequently, bad breath.
What to do: Avoid using toothpaste that contains sodium lauryl sulfate in its composition, giving preference to neutral pastes that produce little foam.
Bad breath can also occur when you start introducing new foods to your baby, especially when you use garlic or onions to prepare your baby’s food, because, as in adults, these foods leave an intense odor in your mouth, making your breathing worse.
What to do: Avoid frequent use of this type of food in preparing your baby’s meals and always practice proper oral hygiene after meals.
Respiratory and throat infections, such as sinusitis or tonsillitis, although they are a rarer cause, can also cause the development of bad breath, which is usually associated with other symptoms such as runny nose, cough or fever, for example.
What to do: If an infection is suspected or bad breath does not go away after good hygiene of the baby’s mouth, it is recommended to go to the pediatrician to identify the cause and start appropriate treatment.
It is recommended to see your pediatrician when your baby has
In these cases, the baby can develop an infection, so the pediatrician can prescribe an antibiotic to clear the infection and other remedies to relieve symptoms.