My 4 year old has bad breath, what can I do?

[famousfive]

I have noticed over the last few weeks that my DS has bad breath on some days. I clean his teeth twice a day and have spoken to our GP who said that it is common when they have a bug (he has not got one at present). I have booked a dentist appointment but it is not for a few weeks.

I am worried that other children won't want to play with him at nursey. Any suggestions about what may be causing this and what I can do would be appreciated.

Also how long should I be cleaning his teeth for?

Maybe he is about to come down with something. Ds always has bad breath just before he gets ill. I often find that ds's breath is a bit smelly when he is off his food.

You are supposed to be cleaning his teeth for 3 minutes but we rarely seem to manage that long.

I wouldn't worry about his friends not wanting to play with him, they don't seem to notice things like that at this age. I sometimes help out in a nursery and the children are quite happy to go into a toilet cubicle and chat whilst their friends are stinking the toilet out.

Thanks Forever that is reasuring about the other children.

He seems to have had it for a while so I'm not convinced that it is because he is about to be ill but there are loads of bugs around so prehaps!

DS has a flashing toothbrush and we normally brush until that has finished but I think it is only 1 minitue! I can't imagine DS co-opertaing for any longer.