You lean over to whisper something to your friend and you can
tell by the look on your friend's face that something is up.
Could it be your breath? Maybe you shouldn't have put extra
onions on your hamburger at lunch. What's a kid with smelly
breath to do?
The good news is that bad breath happens to everyone once in a
while. Let's find out how to detect it, prevent it, and even
treat it.
What's That Smell?
Bad breath is the common name for the medical condition known as
halitosis
(say: hal-uh-
toe
-sis). Many different things can cause halitosis - from not
brushing your
teeth
to certain medical conditions.
Sometimes, a person's bad breath can blow you away - and he
or she may not realize there's a problem. There are tactful
(nice) ways of letting someone know about bad breath. You could
offer mints or sugarless gum without having to say anything.
If you need to tell a friend he or she has bad breath, you could
say that you understand foods can cause bad breath because
you've had it before yourself. By letting someone know that bad
breath isn't something unusual, you'll make the person feel
more comfortable and less embarrassed about accepting your piece of
chewing gum.
If you suspect your own breath is foul, ask someone who will
give you an honest answer without making fun of you. (Just
don't ask your brother or sister - they just might tell you
your breath stinks even when it doesn't!) Although everyone
gets bad breath sometimes, if you have bad breath a lot, you may
need to visit your
dentist
or
doctor
.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Here are three common causes of bad breath:
- foods and drinks, such as garlic, onions, cheese, orange
juice, and soda
- poor dental
hygiene
(say:
hi
-jeen), meaning you don't brush and floss as you should
- smoking and other tobacco use
Poor oral hygiene leads to bad breath because when you leave
food particles in your mouth, these pieces of food can rot and
start to smell. The food particles may begin to collect bacteria,
which can be smelly, too. Plus, by not brushing your teeth
regularly, plaque (a sticky, colorless film) builds up on your
teeth. Plaque is a great place for bacteria to live and yet another
reason why breath can turn foul.
Preventing Smelly Breath
So what's a kid to do? Don't smoke or use tobacco
products, of course. And take care of your mouth by brushing your
teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day. Brush your
tongue
, too, because bacteria can grow there. Flossing once a day helps
get rid of particles wedged between your teeth. Also, visit your
dentist twice a year for regular checkups and cleanings.
Not only will you get a thorough cleaning, the dentist will look
around your mouth for any potential problems, including those that
can affect breath. For example, gum disease, also known as
periodontal
(say: per-ee-uh-
don
-tul)
disease
, can cause bad breath and damage your teeth.
If you're concerned about bad breath, tell your doctor or
dentist. But don't be surprised if he or she leans in and take
a big whiff! Smell is one way doctors and dentists can help figure
out what's causing the problem. The way a person's breath
smells can be a clue to what's wrong. For instance, if someone
has uncontrolled
diabetes
, his or her breath might smell like acetone (the same stuff
that's in nail polish remover).
If you have bad breath all the time and the reason can't be
determined by your dentist, he or she may refer you to a doctor to
make sure there is no other medical condition that could be causing
it. Sometimes
sinus problems
, and rarely liver or
kidney
problems, can cause bad breath.
Usually, there's a less complicated reason for a kid's
bad breath - like what you had for lunch. So keep up with your
brushing and flossing and you should be breathing easy - and odor
free!
Reviewed by:
Lisa A. Goss, RDH, BS, and Charlie J. Inga, DDS
Date reviewed: September 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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