15mo has bad breath

[AbitOfaCrummyMummy]

Not sure what I am expecting people to say (!) But my 15mo has really bad breath. We try and brush his teeth although atm he pretty much just sucks the toothpaste. But I am holding him now as he's just woken and his breath is horrid and foul smelling. He isn't ill at all so no signs of sore throat/cold. Any idea whats causing it?

He typically wakes maybe 2 x a night although we are having a bad run atm

What’s his diet like x

His diet is normal I think! Porridge for breakfast, usually pasta or something for lunch as he doesn't like bread and whatever we have for tea (tonight beef stew). Its been like it for maybe 2 weeks now

Severe constipation can cause bad breath. Is he going to the toilet regularly?

When DD was little and had very bad breath it was because she had a respiratory infection and needed antibiotics to clear it up.

Definitely not tonsillitis? Especially if he is waking more than usual. Or constipation as Thesunrising suggests.

Make sure nothing stuck up his nose.

No hes not constipated at all and I have no reason to think he's ill in any way. He has been fine in himself all day minus the sleep. I have just put him down and 5min later he's crying again 👿 but he always has been a terrible sleeper although I thought we were improving...

We had to take his sleepyhead out last week as he was waking in some god awful positions so I assume hes still getting used to sleeping without it may be

When my eldest was about 2 she had a really bad smell from her mouth when her back teeth came in. It's the only time she ever had teething pain and the smell was so strong it lasted a few days until her teeth came through. I never got to the bottom of what caused it but I assume it was to do with the teeth coming in she had a terrible time with them and was unwell for those few days.

He has had one new tooth through in the past couple of weeks which is randomly a first/second (cant quite tell!) molar. May be the other side is coming through

My youngest's came through in random order and always 2-4 at a time . Luckily for me she's had no problems with teething either but I'm a bit anxious about the big molars coming in incase she has the same bother.

I can't even think how to describe the smell. 5 years later I can still remember it.

First thought I had was that bad breath my be a symptom of diabetes. Get him checked by your GP.

Reflux?

Bad breath can be caused by something being stuck up their nose. I understand it can cause an absolutely awful smell.

I also thought teething

Is your gp any good?

Yeah one of my GPs is good although almost impossible to get an appointment. I took DS into bed with me at midnight in the end. Hes literally tossed and turned all night. Not screaming or crying but clearly unsettled. I for one am knackered!

Teething can cause it

My daughter was around the same age when some of her teeth were coming through, she occasionally had very questionable breath! It was definitely teething that caused it and she wasn't unwell with it at all either.
However, the best thing you can do is get him checked with your GP.

Give him some breakfast and see if it goes - mine started getting quite strong ‘morning breath’ at this age. If it’s gone after breakfast and teeth I think I’d be less inclined to think up other causes.

Dim question but how do you feel for teeth coming through at the back? My sons teeth are like razors

I would never willingly put my hands in my toddlers mouth! I might lose a finger. Can you play a silly game and get him tipping his head back laughing/roaring like a lion/whatever and have a look?

I only noticed my youngest's back teeth had came through when she was lying on the couch laughing with me tickling her! I also see them when she has a tantrum

OP, do you see any white spots on his tongue or inside his mouth? Does the inside of his mouth look raw or sore? It could be oral thrush causing the odor. It's very common and can be caused by chronic dry mouth, a weakened immune system, mouth breathing during sleep, previous antibiotic usage, or a sugar/yeast heavy diet. If it's thrush, your MD can prescribe an anti fungal mouthwash to clear it up. Even if you don't suspect thrush, you might consider giving your child a probiotic to see if repopulating the good bacteria in her mouth helps control the bad breath.

Mine had bad breath amd it turned out he had really large adenoids. They almost obstructed the airflow. They lasered them down, he slept waaaay better and bad breath cleared up. Another clue was he snored cute toddler snores. They xrayed him to tell