Child's breath has an unpleasant smell

[SpideyMom]

Morning

A little bit of a strange one as my 5 year old DS is not complaining of pain or appears ill in any way.

On Christmas Eve he had his routine Dentist appointment and the Dentist was delighted with him teeth and said he clearly has a very good oral hygiene routine. I make sure he brushes his teeth twice a day. He has an electric toothbrush and I always go over them myself to make sure he has brushed them correctly. He then finishes with a swill of mouthwash.

Over the last 2 weeks I have noticed a bad smell coming from his mouth. It's started to worry me as I cannot understand why the smell is there. As I say he brushes twice a day. He isn't eating or drinking any different to how he normally does. The smell is coming back within 15 minutes of brushing. I'm worrying as I don't want his peers to pick up on it and start calling him names.

I have tried to get him in the doctors daily but never can and it isn't an emergency so need to keep trying.

I was just wondering if anyone has experienced this?

TIA x

[ZeroFuchsGiven]

What does it smell like? Does it smell like pear drops?

[DesLynamsMoustache]

Tonsil stones?

[INeedNewShoes]

If it smells sour then you would be correct to book an urgent on the day appointment with the GP in case he's diabetic.

[SpideyMom]

No. I cant describe it. Its not the obvious halitosis smell, but it's not pleasant at all.
I'm going to read up on tonsil stones. I've tried to look in the back of his mouth but he always puts his tongue in the way

[Seeline]

My DS had horrible breath when he had tonsillitis once.

Also has he got any wobbly teeth? sometimes they can get a bit wiffy.

[SpideyMom]

He didn't have any signs of loose teeth on Christmas Eve. The smell is telling me something isnt right in his mouth but he isn't complaining of any pain

[formerbabe]

Does it smell of pear drops or acetone? My dcs did and the doctor was very concerned about diabetes

[sippingcoffee]

If it's an Acetone or pear drops smell - unpleasant sweet chemical odour , get him in to a check as urgently as you can with suspected diabetes
Especially if he's been craving sweet or drinking / peeing more than usual ( but not always )

[SpideyMom]

No, it's neither sweet or chemically. It's not the worst but it's unpleasant enough for it to be noticed

[Cherylshaw]

my little boy can sometimes have really bad breath, he has enlarged tonsils and the doctor said sometimes bacteria can get trapped behind them and make it wiffy, it has nothing to do with oral hygiene. could be something similar?

[Redlocks28]

Tonsil stones?

What does it smell of? Something rotting? Poo? Metal?

[GetUpAgain]

Because it hasn't resolved in 2 weeks,
I would say it IS urgent and get a gp appointment, or if you have a walk in centre I would take him there.

[AmazingGreats]

Sometimes it's when they have blocked sinuses too. Even if there's no wobbly teeth quite yet he might have that teething smell they can get, which is a little bit vinegary. Is he drinking enough Water? I would get him screened for diabetes just in case

[SpideyMom]

I can't describe the smell. It definitely isn't like poo, chemically or metallic. It's just not pleasant like something is off.

When I didn't manage to get his tongue down on Sunday his tonsils looked very large and bumpy. But he isn't complaining on any pain. Believe me if he was in any he would have let me know

[SpideyMom]

I've got to call the doctors back at 4.30 to see if they have any available. I hope they do as I want to get this sorted

[Womenwotlunch]

What toothpaste are you using ?
If you are using child toothpaste it may not be strong enough .
Ensure that his tongue is brushed as well

[ThreeBlindNice]

Is the smell there throughout the day?

[peachgreen]

Almost certainly tonsil stones. They're a pain.

[SmellMySmellbow]

My DS (6) has this too. Not got to the bottom of it yet. Not acetone-y or like pear drops.

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

Sounds like it could be tonsil stones, teach him to gargle,it'll help.

[Toddlerteaplease]

Has he put something up his nose? Tissue left up there for a while absolutely stinks!

[BigusBumus]

Can he breathe properly though his nose? My DS had bad breath due to massively swollen adenoids that resolved as soon as they were removed and all the snot was able to drain away down his throat.

If he closed his mouth he literally couldn't breathe through his nose at all and ate with his mouth open etc. They took his tonsils out and gave him grommets at the same time too.

[SpideyMom]

My son was born with blocked tearducts. Whenever he would get a cold his snot would come through his eyes. He had an operation when it was found that his tubes as very very narrowed. He is using Colgate toothpaste

[INeedNewShoes]

In that case. I think you should take him to the GP. Could it possibly be linked to narrow tubes?

[SpideyMom]

Definitely needs a GP visit. I hope its nothing bad