6 year old bad breath

[clto2021]

My 6 old son's breath really smells. I've just had to send him to brush his teeth again because I couldn't stand the smell of him breathing next to me. Despite him being nearly 7 I still brush his teeth for him twice a day (after his own independent attempt) but his breath continually smells. We haven't managed to get to the dentist since this time last year due to the lockdown etc. I can't see any obvious decay and he isn't complaining of any pain. Previous dental appointments have always been fine. At first I thought it may be due to wobbly teeth but he now has all his front grown up teeth and it still stinks. He refuses mouth wash. Any clue what might be causing it? Or any ideas to prevent the smell? I don't want people to start picking on him for it.

DC had this problem too. It disappeared as soon as DC's adenoids were removed.

I have heard of children putting things in their noses and it gets stuck and stinks. Could this have happened?

Forgot to add that it will cause stinky breath.

Thanks everyone. He isn't showing any signs of diabetes but thank you for highlighting that and don't think that he has anything up his nose.

Look up his nose
www.tau.ac.il/~melros/faq/33.html

He may have stuck a toy or lego up his nose

I would say tonsil stones 💯 they smell awful

My DC also 6, get bad breath when he has a cold, in particular blocked and/or runny nose. Once cold clears up no more and breath

I would say teething. Have a look behind his last baby tooth (count 5 from the midline). The tooth behind that is the first permanent molar and is notoriously hard to keep clean.

I think it's teeth growing sometimes.

My DC have had random bouts of bad breath.

And so have kittens and puppies. When new teeth coming in that totally passed once they're fully in.

So I've sort of put it down to that when DC have been well i themselves and cleaned their teeth and are hydrated.

Thank you everyone for your replies. It doesn't seem as bad today. Have started brushing his tongue and encouraging him to drink. I think it is probably due to new teeth growing. Definitely nothing up his nose and can't see any signs of tonsil stones.