Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

My 6 year old's DD smelly breath!

32 replies

Hattiecat · 21/10/2005 09:17

Can anyone help? My DD's breath is really smelly - she cleans her teeth but in the child toothpaste which is strawberry flavoured and very sweet so sure her breath is just not being refreshed. She detests mint (i gave her a piece of chewing gum this morning to try to help, but she gagged on it - cruel mum i know but i'm convinced that she's going to lose all her friends and will be scarred for life....) I'm 34 weeks pregnant with number 2 and want everything to be as smooth as poss as she's had loads to deal with recently (I'm on crutches with SPD and can do little for her). HELP! before i blow this ouot of all proportion!!!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

sassy · 21/10/2005 09:20

Is she constipated? I know that my dd1 always has grotty breath when its been a few days (she has a long-term poo problem and is medicated). When the blockage is gone, she's sweet and lovely again.
If its an internal problem, mint won't help anyway.
Also, brushing the tongue can help remove bacteria.

Original poster

Hattiecat · 21/10/2005 09:22

I don't think she's constipated, but i will check more thoroughly on when she's going. think i'm paranoid about it, but really feel the need to hold my breath when going up close to her....poor kid...

OP posts:

teeavee · 21/10/2005 09:23

get her to drink plenty of water?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Dental health Families General parenting

Original poster

Hattiecat · 21/10/2005 09:24

again, water is pretty much all she does drink, maybe need to up the amount of it to flush her out a bit....cheers!

OP posts:

katierocket · 21/10/2005 09:26

how long has she had it? it can be a sign of a bacterial infection but normally she'd have some soreness with that (like a sore throat or whatever).
Also, could you be more aware of it because you are pregnant do you think? i.e. with heightened senses.

teeavee · 21/10/2005 09:27

I thought that too katierocket - supersensitive pregnant nostrils!?

Original poster

Hattiecat · 21/10/2005 09:28

actually i was wondering about the heightened senses thing because i can smell it at 20 paces. DH doesn't seem to be bothered by it, but then he thinks that all fruit pastilles taste the same flavour so maybe he's not a great bench mark!!!! she has had this cold/sore throat/cough thing which has been going about so it may be that...mmm...

OP posts:

beep · 21/10/2005 09:34

my dd2 (6) complained to me yesterday that her breath smelt of dog food she too has just had a sore throat/cough so I'm hoping that is what caused it.

Original poster

Hattiecat · 21/10/2005 09:36

Oh indeed!!!!!!!!! How awful that she's aware of it as well. mine is blissfully unaware except now that i've put my size 11s in and said about it in front of her....why do i open my big mouth...

OP posts:

3PRINCESSES · 21/10/2005 09:43

My dd used to suffer with very frequent bouts of tonsillitis, and it was as if it never quite cleared up in between bouts as her breath was always fairly bleuuughh. I had all the same concerns as you, regarding friends/teachers etc! Fortunately she loves chewing gum and tic tacs (actually, they do the orange and green ones, which might be good to try, though it will only cover up the problem not solve it) so we got over it that way while it lasted.

Now she's 10 and is having lots of trouble with her teeth big ones not coming in the right place and overlapping little ones and sadly the problem seems to have come back. I bought her some Oraldene mouthwash last week, which has really done the trick, thank goodness. It's got a very strong mint flavour, so your dd probably wouldn't go near it, but I know there are other ones available in different flavours. I avoided using mouthwash for years because I know it can also kill good bacteria as well as bad, but when a child seems to have such an obvious problem I think it is justified, and certainly in our case it has worked.

Hope you find something to help. Silly though it seems, after a while it does start to affect your relationship with them, so if you need to go to the doctor/dentist or whatever to get a resolution I would do that!

Original poster

Hattiecat · 21/10/2005 09:51

3 princesses - thanks loads for that - i will def try the tic tacs thing - glad that you understand that don't want to affect the relationship - its such an important time for her at the moment - i don't want her to feel left out, esp with the baby on its way soon...

OP posts:

katierocket · 21/10/2005 10:08

yes I asked about the sore throat thing because I remember a health visitor telling me that bad breath in children is very often a sign of a bacterial infection.

Kidstrack2 · 21/10/2005 10:22

My ds has this problem, so much so I took him to the doctor about six months ago and we use mint toothpaste, and we found out he has enlarged tonsils that are collecting bacteria at the back of his throat, this the doctor has said is causing the smell, he will need them taken out at some point but as he has only had a few throat infections the doctor said its not a priority now.

Mojomummy · 21/10/2005 11:09

I'd be wary of tic tacs because of the sugar. You don't want to increase bacteria. Have you taken her to the dentist ? does she drink enough water, sometimes a dry mouth can cause this.

if she has pongy breath ( sorry about the description) it may be she has some plaque, a piece of food stuck or tooth problem. The dentist will be able to put your mind at rest.

I had a throat infection in May & I had the WORST breath ever. But I was also laid up in bed,. Went to the docs who gave me anti-biotics & felt better in a day ! Confirmed it was a bacterial throat infection & if she has what I had, she'd be feeling REALLY poorly.

jambuttie · 21/10/2005 11:22

I have this problem with my 3 yrs old. Dentist says to stop milk at night- my son loves milk this was hard for him to cut out.

Also as he sleep with his mouth open plaque becomes hardened onto teeth even though we brush them it wont remove it.

Thirdly it may be related to the stomach

Mojomummy · 21/10/2005 11:35

do you clean his teeth before he goes to bed though ? DD has milk before she goes to bed with lactoluse & foul medicine in it ( she has constipation problems) BUT I do scrub her teeth well - giving her a drink of water before this. Concerned that the teeth cleaning won't make a difference though ?

(I'm paranoid about her teeth. We're seeing a paedatrition on Tuesday, so hopeing we won't need to do this for much longer)

Kidstrack2 · 21/10/2005 12:04

Sorry I think the dentist who said to stop milk at night time is talking crap! Both my kids have milk an hour before bedtime and then their teeth are brushed, only 1 of my children has a problem with thier breath, due to throat problem, if it were to do with milk every child in the world would have horrible breath! What a load of crap.

jambuttie · 21/10/2005 13:09

yes i do brush his teeth before bed he also uses listerine. I know he's only 3- well will be 4 next month but is is awful the smell from him.

Kidstrack it's to do with the amount of milk i think he drinks. apparantly the acids in the milk are what causes it - dentist advises this as did our peadiatric doctor

Kidstrack2 · 21/10/2005 13:17

Oh right I see, Isn't Listerine full of alcohol, my sis was told by detist her teeth were so discouloured that he took a guess and said she used either Listerine or Dentnyl, she was sent to hygeneist and told to use only mouthwash that didn't contain any alcohol.

Mojomummy · 21/10/2005 13:58

isn't that young to be using mouthwash ?

Recommend the RETARDEX range if the teeth are all ok - there is a toothpaste, mouthwash & spray.

Cost is £7.95 for the first. It really does work though.

So milk, then clean teeth, then bed is ok ?

melissasmummy · 22/10/2005 13:16

Boots do a great apple mint toothpaste (own brand). My 6 yr old god-daughter used to hate mint too, but this was a mild enough flavour that she liked it.

Does she had problems with her tonsils? Or on going stomach problems? If she has a cold or is poorly in any these things can cause breath to smell too. Try & brush her tounge as bacteria can build up on the surface & make the breath smell.

If you are not able to resolve the problem I would take her to the dentist & the doctor, as the problem may not just be her mouth.

melissasmummy · 22/10/2005 13:21

children of 3 should not be using listerine (come to that neither should we adults) It is too strong for their gums and had too much alcohol in, in young children it can do more damage than good!

melissasmummy · 22/10/2005 13:26

Children can have anything before bed as long as their teeth are brushed after.

Anything we eat subjects our teeth to a 20 minute acid attack. Each bite we have, each sip of drink we have. Therefore always brush 30 minutes after they have eaten so the acids in their mouth are neutralized, so they will not cause further damage.

Milk acids cause a bad smell, but they can also erode the teeth if too much is given.

jambuttie · 22/10/2005 15:33

i give him the fruity listerine. his breath really mings poor wee lad but this is helping. Have also informed dentist this is what I am using was on h/v recommendation too

Mojomummy · 22/10/2005 19:44

jambuttie, how much milk does he drink ? if that is the source of the problem, would you better cutting back the volume he drinks ? or diluting it so he doesn't drink as much ?

I wouldn't use listerine, or anything with alcohol, let alone offer it to a 3 year old !

Flip

1 2