How to Get Rid of Bad Breath in Young Children

Nearly every child wakes up with less-than-fresh breath, but if her breath continues to smell sour throughout the day, there may be a problem. Bad breath in adults may be a sign of a serious medical condition, but in children it's generally caused by poor dental hygiene. Bacteria form on food particles that are left in the mouth after eating, and children may not do a thorough job getting rid of these particles. Helping your child develop healthy dental habits will not only get rid of her bad breath, but keep her teeth strong and healthy.

Things You'll Need

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Floss
• Water
• Yogurt

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Instructions

• 1

  Let the child pick out a toothbrush and toothpaste that he likes. Enjoying the taste of his toothpaste and having a brush with bright colors or a cartoon character may make him more excited about brushing his teeth.

• 2

  Supervise the child while she brushes her teeth. She should brush at least twice a day, but encouraging her to brush after every meal is even better. Demonstrate how to brush all sides of all her teeth, as well as the tongue and roof of her mouth. Brush her teeth yourself if she's preschool age or younger.

• 3

  Teach the child how to floss. Any child whose teeth have grown in enough to be touching one another should floss between his teeth in order to remove food particles that can cause bad breath. Buy floss picks for him to use; these will be easier for a small child to maneuver than a long string of floss.

• 4

  Encourage her to drink more water. Drinking water can wash away bacteria and food particles on her teeth and prevent her mouth from getting dry, which can provide a breeding ground for bacteria to grow.

• 5

  Change his diet. Limit the amount of onions and garlic he eats, since these foods can continue to make his breath smell for hours after he's eaten them. Give him a cup of yogurt every day, because the active cultures can cut down on the smelly sulfites in his mouth. Choose a low-fat brand of yogurt with low sugar and included vitamin D.

• 6

  Take her to the dentist for a tooth cleaning and checkup every six months. Take her to the dentist immediately if her breath doesn't improve or she complains of tooth pain. The dentist may discover an infection or another dental problem that's causing her breath to smell.