4 year-old with bad breath

[Fionn]

I've noticed for a while that ds often has a bad smell on his breath. Not horrible like an adult's, but a bit unpleasant. I can't think why though - he brushes his teeth twice a day, had no problems when he visited the dentist last, drinks only water and milk, has an excellent diet and is in very good general heath. He's probably due to go to the dentist again soon so I can ask but just wondered id anyone else has had this problem. Thanks.

My dd had this once when she had a chest infection, apparently the 2 go together. The other thing that springs to mind is Gingivitis, are his gums redder than normal? Antibiotics can sort it out.

My daughter's breath gets quite 'heavy' and fishy smelling when she has an infection. I think snot smells so could be soemthing like that?

Inflamed tonsils or adenoids (a child won't necessarily complain of pain or discomfort) or catarrh in the nasal passges or sinus area can cause bad breath, too and I've read that mouth breathing can also do the same. Hope you manage to sort it out soon.

Thanks for all your comments. Ds rarely has a cold so it's not that, and he's had the breath problem for months. I would feel a bit of a fraud taking him to the doctor when he has no obvious signs of illness. I'll try the dentist first and then the GP I think.

How is his digestion, Fionn? Constipation can cause breath problems, I think (????)

Regular as clockwork!

There was an interesting article in James Le Fanu's column in the Telegraph yesterday about bad breath in children and apparently it can be caused by worms!
In studies of stool samples taken from children with bad breath it was discovered they had threadworm, and when treated their bad breath disappeared.!

Worth a thought

Dear Fionn

From my experience, unless there is gross decay/v.poor oral hygiene it is unlikely to be dental. ENT/GI problems often cause this and it has a certain quality of smell and can be long-term. I often worry I have this (sinuses causing grief) but people seem to be too polite to tell me.

Abubbles, the worm thing sounds horrific, bring on the quinine...

Sorry, forgot to say, mouthbreathers can get this and reddish gums in an otherwise good mouth.

ewwww, Alibubbles, too much information!

You squeamish lot! Most kids get threadworm at some point (so they say, but mine didn't!)
especially if they are nail biters as well.

I remember getting dosed with disgusting thick red fouls tasting stuff as a child because my sister had them and you have to treat the whole family. Fortunately the remedies these days are far nicer tasting.

Yes, they are...did I say that out loud?...I think we have had the family dosed 4 or 5 times, thick white stuff, not too bad really. (Only had one case of nits though!)

Alibubbles yeucchh, wish I hadn't asked! Seriously though, is it likely he could have had worms for ages but be in perfect health otherwise? Should I inspect his stools? What am I looking for? Hope no-one's reading this having their dinner...

Fionn, kids can have worms for ages and you have no idea, who inspects their offsprings poos after the age of doing it on a pot!! So therefore you are unlikely to know unless they complain of an itchy bottom.

You could inspect them, but it maybe a little worrying for your child, to have to poo somewhere you can inspect them or just dose them anyway, which is harmless and nothing lost but possibly something gained!

Don't mean to sound flippant, just been out for dinner, too much red wine, and now the southern comfort, must be careful have to be on ther road to a conference at 6.45 tomorrow morning!

Worth a shot Fionn!

Thanks Alibubbles I might try that if it persists!

I remember my youngest brother having bad breath when he was about this age. It turned out he had stuck a little bit of lego up his nose when one of the other brothers asked him too, couldn't get it out and then it got infrrcted anf tissued in. He was mouth breathing because of it and the two combined gave him awful breath. It was the dentist who noticed when he ws laid back in the big chair! He had it removed under anaethestic and my parents still have it in a wee tube (for his wedding, Dad says). Could be worth a wee look?