4 year old with bad breath

[suzikettles]

I've recently noticed (in the last few days) that ds's breath is not great. His teeth are brushed twice a day and I've had a look - no evidence of anything obvious decay-wise in his mouth.

Anyone come across this?

Sore throat? Tonsils?

I've tried to get a look at his tonsils because I suffered badly from enlarged tonsils and adenoids when I was a child (finally had them removed at 13). There's no redness and he says nothing's sore.

I will take him to the doctor obv if it goes on.

1. Is the brushing thorough? Checking properly means using disclosing tablets as well as brushing the tongue. Flossing would be ideal, but probably not realistic in a 4 year old.

1. take him to a dentist to exclude tooth decay and gingivitis.

1. Recent respiratory infections can cause bad breath: coughs and colds, chest infections, sinus infections, and yes tonsillitis, especially if chronic.

1. digestive upset can cause halitosis too: reflux, frequent vomiting and even constipation. Obviously diet has an influence too as with adults.

1. a very dry mouth can also cause halitosis: if he's done lots of sport etc and not drunk enough, if he breathes through his mouth, if he is taking any medications that make his mouth dry.

HTH

Bad breath is the sure sign dd has a cold/throat infection. It could knock you flat sometimes!

Brushing is pretty thorough. I still do it for him and let him have a go himself either before or after I do it myself.

We've got a routine dentist appointment in 2 weeks so will ask her then.

No recent colds, but he has a tendency to breathe through his mouth (as did I until I had my tonsils/adenoids removed) which I guess would make his mouth dry. This is a new thing though.

Thanks for all the ideas. I guess it's got to be one of them.

my ds gets bad breath when he is not drinking enough. sometime I have to remind him or he would only drink very little.

Mouth breathing is a common cause of bad breath.

Hmm, thanks. He's not a massive drinker and as I'm not either I don't tend to push it. I'll try to get him to up the liquids for a few days and see if that make a difference.

Yes, DS (4) has this too and I ave been meaning to start a thread. On and off he's had it for a while but worse when he has a cold. He was at the dentist in June/July time, all fine.
he doesn't drink much either, esp if playing, I am constantly reminding him to drink water. Might try to up that.