What Is Halitosis Disease? | Causes of Bad Breath

Halitosis disease is another name for bad breath and can be caused by poor dental hygiene, poor diet, mouth breathing, or an underlying illness or infection.

How can the symptoms of bad breath odor be cured in children? The following article explains everything parents need to know.

Causes of Bad Breath

It doesn’t always take a disease to cause halitosis. Here are some causes that commonly lead to bad breath:

• Poor oral hygiene—It is always important to brush and floss properly. Food, bacteria and other organic material can build up on and between teeth or on the tongue, causing smelly breath. Children especially should be taught to brush after every meal and to floss at least twice a day.
• Mouth breathing—A dry mouth usually causes bacteria growth and a bad odor. Children commonly breathe with open mouths as opposed to through their noses when they have colds or bad sleep habits.
• Mouth infection—Cavities, mouth sores or oral injuries can become infected and create odor. If any of these are possible causes, it is important to schedule a dentist appointment, as an infection can become dangerous if left untreated.
• Food and spices—Certain foods like onions, garlic and dairy can cause a distinct unpleasant breath smell. Food particles can also get stuck in the teeth and gums, causing odor if not properly cleaned. Some spices such as curry can also cause distinct foul odors for some people.
• Illness—Though uncommon, halitosis is sometimes caused by disease or illness. These include allergies, sinus infections, tonsillitis or other conditions.

What Is the Cure for Halitosis Symptoms? 

Bad breath can usually be taken care of without serious medical care. Halitosis treatment options include:

• Brush and floss teeth regularly
• Clean the tongue when brushing teeth
• Drink plenty of water to eliminate dry mouth
• Chew sugar-free gum between meals

It is wise to seek the care of a dental professional when there are more intense oral health symptoms, such as visible sores in the mouth, swollen tonsils, a fever or dry mouth that lasts a long time.

Kool Smiles Dental Professionals Help Treat Halitosis Disease

If your child suffers from halitosis, the compassionate dental care professionals at Kool Smiles can provide a checkup. Our offices are designed with children in mind.

We are proud to offer large, colorful waiting rooms, and we also give parents the opportunity to accompany their children into the treatment area. Many of our offices even include an indoor playground.

Kool Smiles is affordable and accessible. We accept Medicare, Tricare and most major dental insurance providers. We have more than 120 locations nationwide, so more than likely there is a Kool Smiles in your community.

Let the compassionate professionals at Kool Smiles help treat your child’s halitosis. Call us today to learn more!

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Sources:

NCBI: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles

WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/bad-breath

Colgate: http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/life-stages/childrens-oral-care/article/9-causes-of-bad-breath-in-children

Mouth Healthy: http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/h/halitosis

EMedicineHealth: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bad_breath_halitosis/article_em.htm