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Bad Breath in Children

11 replies

twelveyeargap · 24/11/2006 09:22

Hello. My DD (11) has really horrid breath most of the time. I badger her to brush teeth twice a day and use mouthwash and am now TRYING to get her to floss properly.

She often has this - even when she was younger. She doesn't seem to have any gastric problems and I remind her to drink lots so she's not dehydrated. Anyone else find this? I can smell her breath just when sitting NEAR her sometimes. Her peers are really going to start noticing this soon, given her age.

How can I fix this? I'm going to make an appt for her to see the dental hygienist, but have a feeling it's not teeth related anyway.

Any tips?

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 24/11/2006 21:10

Tongue brushing or scraping can help. So can mouthwash (get something with fluoride in, so it's doing some good), both rinsing and gargling.

twelvedaysofchristmas · 27/11/2006 09:54

I'll get her to try that as well. Thanks.

WeWishUAMerryXmasNANappyNewYr · 14/12/2006 02:24

make a mouthwash of 5 drops of grapefruit seed extract in water and get them to gargle it twice a day.

QuootiepiesChristmasName · 14/12/2006 02:25

argh! Every post in "the last hour" section is about grapefruits!

WeWishUAMerryXmasNANappyNewYr · 14/12/2006 02:33

i know its wonderful stuff. a mum at the baby clinic told me about it and i got it today. have been trying to convert everyone i know and what better way to do it than MN!

WeWishUAMerryXmasNANappyNewYr · 14/12/2006 02:34

oh and i cant sleep so i need something to do!

QuootiepiesChristmasName · 14/12/2006 02:38

...

jalopy · 14/12/2006 08:18

Does she have trouble with adenoids or tonsils? They can become infected. Any allergies? I believe chronic nasal drips can cause bad breath sometimes.

belgo · 14/12/2006 08:26

I assume you get her teeth regularly checked by the dentist?

nightcat · 15/12/2006 22:00

hi there
Look up tonsilloliths, aka tonsil stones. Has your DD had ear infections etc when younger? Or tonsilitis?

After a particularly nasty flu my ear got blocked for months (actually it was Eustachian tube). Because its ending comes out near the tonsils, the discharge congealed and set in the tube. Every few weeks (if lucky)I would get a little yellow blob come out in the throat, with that dreadful smell. Basically it's the same thing as plaque - remains of foodie bits and mouth bacteria and any ear discharge. Sometimes people say that they can see the white blobs attached to the tonsils and try to massage the throat from the outside to shift them.

This is what helped me:

Evening primrose oil (swallowed that is) and use of extra virgin olive oils - it helped to somehow "oil" the throat to let these blobs slide out.

Tissue salts (Holland & Barrets) - something on the lines of decongestants by New Era

Kali Bich (homeopatic pillules)

Blowing air into the ears, holding the nose closed

Putting saline drops (salt in water, like tears) down the nose

Cut out dairy as much as possible - for months

Cut out gluten when my son went gluten free - it helped to ease out more of these

Stretching the neck up - strangely these blobs sometimes come out when I am driving in a very upright position for a while, I have alos seen comments about some yoga position helping, cant remember which, but they were to do with stretching neck.

Well, with all this, my ear is now unblocked and the awful smell has gone. However, if I have a nasty cold it sometimes comes back - and I grab the tissue sals and most of the above again...

Hope it helps.

poppiesinalinewithtinsel · 15/12/2006 22:12

some food intolerances can show up this way.

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