There are times when a baby has an intoxicating aroma even after a fresh bath. During such times, you will notice that even the powders, lotions and creams are not enough to keep the smell away. There are some infants whose scent is spoiled by bad breath. An infant with bad breath should be checked by his/her pediatrician so that the possibility of a serious illness can be ruled out.

Most infants have bad breath and it is not unusual to see a baby with severe bad breath. Even so, having a baby with bad breath is quite embarrassing because people will not want to get close to your baby. Although most people tend to think baby bad breath is not a big deal, yet sometimes serious problems lie behind it. This piece will show you the causes and treatments of baby bad breath.

What Causes Baby Bad Breath?

Baby bad breath is not always the result of being unhygienic. The most likely causes include:

Causes	Descriptions
A condition or illness	Some conditions or illnesses that may cause bad breath include seasonal allergies, tonsillitis or even sinus infection. Also, some children who have gastroesophageal reflux disease have fetid breath.
Consuming pungent foods	If you have a child that enjoys eating foods that have a pungent taste such as onions and garlic, his/her breath will be temporarily affected.
Dental abscess, tartar buildup or cavities	Dental abscess, tartar buildup or cavitiesnot only affect a baby’s teeth but also their breath.
Poor hygiene	There are bacteria that live in a person’s mouth and they interact with leftover particles after eating. This causes bad breath especially if the food has been left in the mouth for long.
Foreign objects	A toy, bean, pea or any other small object in the mouth or nose can also be a cause of bad breath.
Dry mouth	If your baby breathes through the mouth, she/he might have bad breath. The bacteria that are in the baby’s mouth most likely grow undisturbed.

How to Treat Baby Bad Breath?

1. For a Baby

In many cases, the answer to treating baby bad breath is practicing good oral hygiene. If the person in question is a baby, you should brush or wipe their gums before bedtime and every time after a feeding. You can also try to gently brush the baby’s tongue. However, there is no need for toothpaste on a baby.

2. For a Toddler

• Brush the toddler’s teeth regularly

Once the child is past the baby-stage, you can brush his/her teeth and ultimately teach him/her to do it by himself/herself at least twice each day. As for toothpaste, you can use a dot (rice grain size) of it on your child teeth until he is two years old. After that, you can use pea-size amount until the child is 5 years old.

• Go for dental checkups

You should also go for dental checkups just to be sure that your baby’s teeth are growing clean and healthy. If the dentist says the teeth are okay and you notice that the baby bad breath is still present, consult your pediatrician.

• Wash the toddler’s hands

Also, ensure that your child frequently uses soap when washing their hands, more so if your child sucks his finger (s) or thumb (s).

• Sanitize items the toddler uses

If the baby uses a pacifier, frequently run it through your dishwasher and dip it in boiling-hot water. Lastly, try not to make the baby conscious about his/her bad breath.

• Do not use mouthwash

When a child has bad breath, using mouthwash usually masks the bad breath and does not solve the issue. Besides, if the child is yet to attend pre-school, she/he will probably find it hard to spit or swish the mouthwash and will end up swallowing it.

Watch this video on the prevention and causes of baby bad breath: http://www.kidsinthehouse.com/video/causes-and-prevention-bad-breath-kids

More Tips on Keeping Babies Away from Bad Breath

Tips	Descriptions
Regular brushing of teeth	Brushing your baby’s teeth on a regular basis prevents the leftover or trapped food in the teeth from being broken down by bacteria thus causing a smelly breath. Brushing your baby’s teeth also keeps the build-up of bacteria at bay thereby protecting your child against tooth decay.
Using fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush	Go for a soft-bristled toothbrush with a round end and a small head. Smear a little fluoride toothpaste on the toothbrush and brush with circular, small motions. Do not saw the brush side to side because this might damage your child’s gums and it does not scrub the teeth well. When brushing, concentrate on each section of the teeth, and do not forget the teeth at the back. Change the brush after every three months or when you notice that the bristles are spreading out.
Infections causing bad breath	If your baby’s bad breath is caused by infections such as tonsillitis, the bad breath will clear once the infections are gone. Other symptoms include coughing and sore throat.