The baby's mouth smells like sour milk. How to get rid of bad breath in a child. Strange smell from the mouth during an orvi

Any adult remembers how nice it smells from small children. Milk. It is lactic acid bacteria that work hard, which do not allow any microbes to develop in the baby's mouth. However, such an idyll does not always happen, the smell from the mouth of a child can be unpleasant. What is the reason for this, how to identify and eliminate the cause, we will try to figure it out. In general, caries is often considered the main cause of bad breath. But after all, such a nuisance also happens with babies (babies), who have no teeth yet. This means that there are many sources of bad smell, and today we will talk about the most common ones.

Causes of an unpleasant odor

It should be said right away that any person - an adult or a child - has a huge amount of bacteria in his mouth, most of which are not pathogenic. Pathogenic, or pathogenic, microorganisms, in the presence of favorable conditions for their development, multiply very quickly and cause various diseases in humans. As a result of a slight weakening of the immune system (as a result of medication, overwork or stress), pathogenic microbes are activated, causing the appearance of a bad smell.

Morning bad breath is also associated with bacteria. At night, saliva production is significantly reduced, which is an excellent opportunity for the reproduction of these microorganisms. Hence the unpleasant morning smell.

• Food

Some types of food can spoil the freshness of breath for a long time. Eating foods with a strong and unpleasant odor invariably contributes to the appearance of bad breath in a child. These can definitely include:

1. carbohydrate food, which causes the smell of decay due to its slow processing by the body.
2. all kinds of fruits and vegetables that cause the fermentation process.
3. onion and garlic.
4. sugary foods that help pathogens multiply.
5. foods that emit a specific odor when digested (corn or cheese, for example).

• Insufficient hygiene

There is no need to prove anything here. Improper or insufficient oral hygiene will invariably cause bad breath.

Note that children need to brush not only their teeth, but also their tongues. In "toothy" kids, this can be done with a brush in the process of brushing your teeth, in infants - wipe with damp gauze or clean with a teaspoon.

Teach your child to properly brush their teeth, cleaning all the gaps between them, and rinse their mouth after eating.

• Breathing through the mouth

For some reason, some babies are used to breathing through their mouths. Because of this, the oral mucosa dries out, which also causes an unpleasant odor. The fact is that saliva is able to destroy microbes, and its absence is a very favorable factor for the reproduction of bacteria. Insufficient production of saliva can be a pathological condition of the body, and may also occur as a result of dehydration or taking certain medications.

• Stress

Constant worries or being under stress can spoil the freshness of breath, because in such situations, saliva production decreases.

• Not drinking enough

Oddly enough, this is one of the reasons for the appearance of a strong smell from the mouth of a child. By drinking enough liquid, your baby will rinse the mouth of food debris and improve the digestion process. Therefore, children older than one and a half years should drink about 1.5 liters of water per day. Note - it is pure, spring water, and not juices or compotes!

• foreign body

Little explorers can stick anything up their noses. Before looking for the cause of a foul-smelling mouth in something else, check the baby's nose. It is possible that you will find a foreign body there, which caused the smell.

• Disruption of the digestive system

Indigestion and increased gas formation can cause a peculiar smell in the child's mouth, because. gastric juice accumulates in the body and the level of acidity changes. In children, these problems most often occur during periods of growth: in girls it is 6-7 years old and 10-12 years old, in boys it is 4-6 years old and 13-16 years old.

• Respiratory diseases

Tonsillitis (inflamed tonsils, tonsils) leads to the accumulation of actively multiplying pathogens, suppuration, mucus formation, and can often be accompanied by a very unpleasant odor.

Bronchitis. In the bronchi and bronchioles accumulates a large amount of sputum that comes out when coughing, which has an unpleasant odor.

A runny nose of an infectious or allergic nature is always accompanied by an abundant formation of purulent masses that decompose under the action of bacteria and have an extremely unpleasant odor.

Bad smell as a symptom of the disease

Bad breath can indicate the presence of certain diseases that have not yet manifested themselves in another way.

• Rotten smell

Inflammation of the stomach in most cases accompanies a rotten smell that appears in the mouth. The same smell can occur due to gastritis, problems with the esophagus, increased gas formation, dehydration in case of intestinal upset.

The smell of rotten eggs accompanies various liver diseases.

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• Sour smell

If your stomach is too acid, your baby will exude a sour smell from his or her mouth. An acidic smell may also indicate such a nuisance as the release of gastric juice into the esophagus.

• The smell of rot

First on the list, of course, is caries. But bad breath can appear as a result of such diseases as: periodontal disease, stomatitis, tonsillitis, periodontitis, herpes, pharyngitis and others.

This smell is caused by the accumulation of bacteria in the oral cavity or mucus in the nasopharynx. A plaque on the tongue can also exude a bad smell, the cause of which can only be found out by a specialist.

The child may smell of rot and during a runny nose. The reason is simple - the same overdried mouth (after all, the nose is stuffed up, we breathe incorrectly) and the mucus that has accumulated in the nose.

Inflammation of the adenoids often accompanies the smell of pus. Tonsils (tonsils) can accumulate food debris in their folds, which also invariably leads to a bad smell.

A rotten smell comes from the baby and with low acidity of the stomach.

• Sweet smell

Starch-rich foods, antibiotics, radiation therapy, and a temporary decrease in immunity can cause a fungal infection (candidiasis or), which manifests itself as white spots in the mouth. The smell in this case will be sweetish.

The sweet smell of raw liver is a sign of hepatitis or cirrhosis. The liver in a child smells from the mouth and in other pathological conditions of this organ.

• Ammonia smell

The smell of urine is an absolutely unpleasant phenomenon, but it can indicate existing problems with the kidneys. The stronger the smell, the more problems have accumulated in the body of the baby. There is such a smell because the function of the kidneys is impaired, and they are unable to remove waste products in full.

• The smell of iodine

The smell of iodine from the mouth is observed in those babies whose body is oversaturated with this trace element. This may be due to a long stay by the sea, for example. Sometimes iodine odors in the mouth are caused by the high sensitivity of the child's body to this substance or its intolerance. In any case, your child's breathing should be the main reason for a complete thyroid exam.

• Acetone smell

Often, colds are accompanied by the smell of acetone from the mouth in children. The same smell occurs with diabetes mellitus, acetone syndrome and thyroid problems. You need to see a doctor.

• Other scents

Various "inhabitants" inhabiting the child's body can also cause bad breath. Here we mean pinworms, roundworms and Giardia.
Even a metabolic disorder in the body can ruin a child's breathing. With such disorders from the mouth, the crumbs will winnow boiled cabbage or even manure.

Ways to get rid of bad odor

First of all, the child needs to be examined (visit an ENT doctor, dentist, pediatrician) in order to exclude or confirm the presence of any of the diseases listed above. In this case, measures to eliminate bad breath will be reduced to treating the disease.

If foul-smelling breath is not associated with a disease, then you must first eliminate the irritant and teach the baby the rules of oral care.

• We follow the rules of hygiene

From an early age, teach your little one to brush their teeth twice a day. Rinsing the mouth after eating should also become a habit for the baby. For more pleasure, you can buy a “delicious” rinse for your child at the pharmacy or use decoctions of chamomile or sage. ( see article links above)

• Limiting sweets

We understand that for some this is almost impossible, but you need to try. After all, the “pleasantness” of your child’s breath depends on your perseverance, and there will be little chance for caries. This does not mean that the child should forget about sweets forever. Not at all. You just need to try to replace them with natural products.

For example, any candy can be replaced with honey (in the absence of a child, of course). Also, instead of sweets, you can offer the child fruits. Ordinary apples have excellent qualities for cleaning the oral cavity. In our case, any other sour fruits are also suitable, which increase the salivation process and help eliminate the nasty smell.

• Drinking regime

It must be observed, and this is not discussed. Only here it is necessary to approach the choice of drinks with all responsibility. The diet of the child should be dominated by natural products - compotes, juices and tea. But it is best to use ordinary drinking water. Any carbonated drinks should be banned - they cause fermentation in the body and, accordingly, bad breath.

• Psychological attitude

The problem of bad breath is very delicate and even painful for many children. It is important to create a positive attitude and focus on a good result. Explain to the baby that it is not he who is to blame for the problems, but the state of his body, and do not forget to mention the importance of brushing his teeth.

Try not to voice the problem in public, the child may have a complex or resentment towards you.

Now you know that the cause of bad breath in a child can be both a serious illness and completely harmless factors of a temporary nature. In any case, it is necessary to identify the "culprit" of the bad smell without delay and take timely measures to eliminate it. Remember that any problems in the baby's body, left unattended, will bring you and your baby a lot of problems in the future.

Video

Talks about the causes of the smell of a pediatrician, candidate of medical sciences, mother of three children Tatyana Prokofieva

Komarovsky tells

Well, for everyone, both children and adults, how to get rid of bad breath?

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Bad breath in a newborn baby is a common phenomenon, most often talking about improper oral hygiene, and the symptom is also associated with problems in the gastrointestinal tract. The symptom tends to recur after some time, so it is important not to hesitate to consult a doctor.

A baby may experience a smell in the oral cavity of a different nature, and it depends on several reasons:

• • sweet indicates the presence of problems with the liver and stomach. It may have a sugary and tart taste. This situation requires consultation with a gastroenterologist.
  • sour is associated with stomach problems. This happens when milk stagnates, even the presence of a similar symptom can cause it to enter the child's body;
  • if a newborn smells of "chemistry" or medicines from the mouth, problems with the gallbladder may begin, usually this is accompanied by fever and nausea.
  • the strange smell of rot in the oral cavity in children under one year old indicates untimely hygiene, it is especially characteristic if teeth have already appeared;

• the smell of pus in the mouth of a baby appears if sinusitis in a newborn progresses after tonsillitis or pharyngitis. Sometimes this indicates the appearance of stomatitis, if after some time they appear;
• the smell of iron and iodine from the mouth of an infant is associated with a possible dysfunction of the thyroid gland, as well as anemia. With such signs, for an accurate diagnosis, blood is taken for hemoglobin;
• when a baby smells like hydrogen sulfide or urine from the mouth, this may be a symptom of a latent pathology in the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys. If such amber is accompanied by sour belching, children are often diagnosed with gastritis with high acidity;
• with thrush in a newborn, it smells like yeast from the mouth, in such cases, antifungal agents and vitamin B12 may be prescribed.
• the aroma of acetone indicates an increased amount in the urine, in such cases, medical treatment with antibiotics is needed.

Note! Halitosis (or bad breath) in a newborn requires careful diagnosis, since this symptom can contain both harmless causes and dangerous to health. Komarovsky advises to immediately consult a pediatrician and an endocrinologist.

How to treat? Effective Therapy

The doctor decides on the method of treating strange breath in newborns, but you can try to eliminate this phenomenon after consultation and with the permission of the pediatrician at home, based on the advice of E. Komarovsky.

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1. 1. Start practicing oral hygiene for your baby. If the baby does not yet have teeth, purchase a special silicone nozzle on your finger and remove plaque from milk or mixtures from the palate, tongue and gums by wetting the brush in boiled water.
   2. Remember that the baby must eat right. His food should be enriched with a sufficient number of vitamins. If complementary foods have already been introduced, be sure to give fruits, vegetables, cereals with milk and water, and from 8 months you can give boiled fish and lean meat.

1. Limit the use of sweets in the newborn period, they upset the balance of vitamins in the body and harm the normal growth of teeth, provoking the development of caries.
2. Let your baby drink more. Non-carbonated mineral water or special children's water will do. You can give boiled and natural juices from vegetables and fruits.
3. Visit the dentist regularly since the baby's milk teeth began to appear.

Moms take note! If a newborn has a smell of blood duringteething time is normal. During such a period, it is worthwhile to carefully monitor the baby so that the infection does not get through the wounds in the gums, so observe thorough oral hygiene.

We eliminate the smell in the mouth of a child with folk remedies

Grandmothers have long used decoctions of various medicinal herbs to combat odor in the oral cavity in children of different ages. All these remedies do not harm the baby.

Chamomile tincture

Take 1 tbsp. l. dried chamomile flowers and pour 1 liter of boiling water. Leave until completely cool. Wet gauze or bandage in decoction and treat the oral cavity.

Weak saline solution

Take a 0.5 l glass jar, pour a small pinch of salt into it and fill it with warm boiled water to the brim. Then take gauze, moisten it in the solution and several times a day wipe the palate, the surface of the tongue, cheeks and gums from plaque.

Preventive measures so that the child does not have amber

It is not difficult to prevent bad breath in a baby if you monitor his health by visiting a local pediatrician every month. You should show your child to the dentist twice a year, as well as:

• observe regular oral hygiene;
• feed the baby correctly, choosing foods with a sufficient number of vitamins;
• protect the newborn from infections, which then turn into tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis.

Bad breath in a baby can occur for a number of different reasons - these are stressful situations and problems with the digestive system. Halitosis also appears when hygiene rules are violated (untimely brushing of teeth, dryness in the oral cavity). After timely cleansing and moisturizing, the symptoms may disappear.

What to do if an unpleasant smell appears constantly? There is only one answer to this question - you need to urgently consult a specialist, because halitosis is often a precursor to more serious diseases. A visit to the dentist to check the gums and teeth of the child is desirable. If everything remains unchanged, you will need the help of a pediatrician.

Types of odors and their causes

The smell of vinegar or acetone

If the child's mouth smells like a chemical solvent, plus there is a fever, you should call an ambulance as soon as possible. Acetone smell may indicate acetonomic syndrome, which affects babies of different age categories. Before the visit of doctors, the child should be given boiled water in a small amount, but often.

A faint smell of acetone from the mouth indicates the following problems:

• possible disease of the renal system;
• improper functioning of the pancreas;
• the appearance of worms;
• the occurrence of dysbacteriosis;
• first signs of diabetes.

Whatever it is, you need to consult a specialist as soon as possible.

The smell of rot

It occurs as a result of a lack of hygienic measures of the oral cavity or in the presence of tonsillitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis. Along with an unpleasant odor, one can observe the presence of a white coating on the tongue, nasal congestion, and coughing.

Often a putrid odor occurs with diseases of the digestive system, the appearance of stomatitis, and also if the acidity of the stomach is reduced.

To eliminate the cause, it is necessary to contact specialists, carry out a systematic cleansing of the oral cavity, and ensure a drinking regimen.

The smell of pus

The appearance of this type of odor indicates chronic inflammation, an increase in the amount of lymph in the nasopharyngeal cavity. When the tonsils are covered with a coating of pus, plugs appear, which serve as a source of bad smell. The process is accompanied by an increase in temperature, the throat is covered with plaque, a runny nose, furrowed tongue occur.

Parents need to take the child, especially if he is a newborn, to a pediatrician for examination. He might be prescribed antibiotics. When the disease passes, the unpleasant smell will disappear with it.

Sour

Increased acidity or the beginning of the process of inflammation in the stomach is often accompanied by the appearance of a sour smell from the mouth in infants. In this situation, you will need the help of a gastroenterologist - perhaps the baby has gastritis.
A sour and sour-milk smell can also occur due to the penetration of gastric juices into the esophagus. Accompanied by heartburn and pain in the hypochondrium.

Sweet

The occurrence of liver diseases is very often accompanied by a sugary, sweet smell from the mouth. If such a symptom occurs, you need to contact a gastroenterologist - he will help determine the disease.

Chemical

The presence of a chemical component indicates problems with the digestive system, gallbladder.

Most often, the symptom occurs with biliary dyskinesia.

Chlorine

Increased bleeding gums, the occurrence of periodontal disease leads to the appearance of a chlorine smell with a metallic impurity. To get rid of the disease will help contacting the dentist, checking the gums and teeth.

iodide

Often occurs with an increased content of iodine in the body - which means that you need to be examined by an endocrinologist. Many days of rest in a maritime climate, taking iodine preparations, and developing thyroid disease can cause malaise.

In infants, it can occur with Klebsiella. The bacterium is able to enter the body with poorly washed fruits, which leads to diseases of the stomach and intestines.

biliary

Poor bile flow leads to a bile odor from the mouth. It is necessary to consult a doctor for an ultrasound scan of the organs located in the abdominal cavity, and pass the necessary tests.

Gland

An iron deficiency that causes anemia results in a metallic taste and iron breath. It is necessary to take a blood test and determine the level of hemoglobin.

If the diagnosis is confirmed, then a vitamin complex containing a sufficient amount of iron is prescribed.

There are other reasons leading to its appearance: gastritis, hyperacidity, dysbacteriosis, disease of the gastric system.

Urine

An unpleasant ammonia odor indicates problems with the kidneys or the onset of diabetes. Violation of carbohydrate metabolism, low insulin levels are the main causes of diabetes.

Cala

A baby smelling of feces is an extremely rare phenomenon and is associated with heredity. It can occur when metabolism is disturbed, and in acute intestinal dysbacteriosis.

The correct diagnosis can be made by an endocrinologist or gastroenterologist.

The smell of hydrogen sulfide

Belching, accompanied by a hydrogen sulfide smell, the appearance of a white coating - all this indicates a possible gastritis, ulcer, liver disease, and disruption of the bile ducts.

If such symptoms are found, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a gastroenterologist.

Yeast

Candidiasis is accompanied by just such a smell. Diseases of the stomach is another reason for the appearance of a yeast aroma. Only a specialist can install it, he will also prescribe the necessary examination.

Troubleshooting

In most cases, no special measures are required. It is necessary to periodically perform a thorough cleaning of the teeth and gums, balance the diet, reduce the consumption of sweets, and provide the baby with a sufficient amount of drink. If everything is done correctly, then the symptoms disappear on their own.

If the disease continues, you need to go for help to specialists.

Prevention measures

To prevent unpleasant odors, the following steps should be taken.

1. Observe oral hygiene, brush your baby's teeth 2 times a day, as soon as the first tooth erupts. When the child learns to rinse his mouth, you can do it with herbs - for example, with chamomile.
2. Stick to a healthy diet. An infant should eat vegetables and fruits containing phosphorus and calcium in the required amount.
3. You can't eat sweets. Instead, you can give honey if the baby is not allergic to it.
4. Provide the child with drink in the right amount.
5. Visit the dentist periodically.

Bad breath in a child cannot but worry his parents. After all, this phenomenon does not always have relatively harmless causes associated with lack of hygiene or food eaten the day before. Sometimes such a baby needs a full medical examination, which will help identify the cause and eliminate it. About why a child may have an unpleasant smell from the mouth, we will tell in this article.

Origin

A strong unpleasant fetid odor from the mouth in medicine is called "halitosis". This concept does not imply any one specific disease. This is a whole complex of problems with the human body, which can cause the rapid growth of anaerobic microbes, which create this "aroma".

If a child has bad breath, this is not always a signal that the problem lies in the unhealthy oral cavity. "Problems" can be caused by "failures" in the ENT organs, and in the digestive system, and in the kidneys. Thus, the root causes of bad breath can be quite diverse, but the mechanism is always the same. Aerobic microbes live and develop in the mouth of a healthy child. Their task is to prevent the development of anaerobic "brothers", which include streptococci, E. coli and a number of other microorganisms.

If the balance of microflora in the mouth is disturbed for some reason, and anaerobic bacteria begin to quantitatively and qualitatively prevail over aerobic ones, a fetid odor appears.

Anaerobic (malodorous) bacteria feed on protein deposits on the tongue, teeth, gums, and during reproduction, they emit volatile sulfur and non-sulfur compounds. Depending on which connection will be formed, what will smell from the mouth depends:

• methyl mercaptan- the simplest gas, giving the smell of rotten cabbage and feces;
• allylmercaptan- a colorless gas that forms the smell of garlic;
• hydrogen sulfide- gas with a sweet smell, giving the smell of rotten eggs, feces;

• dimethyl sulfide- a gas compound that gives a pronounced chemical smell of sulfur or gasoline;
• putrescine- an organic compound that gives off the smell of rotting meat;
• dimethylamine- a compound that causes the smell of fish and ammonia;
• isovaleric acid- a compound that explains the appearance of the smell of sweat, spoiled milk.

There are about two dozen more such compounds, and their chemical compositions and features have no practical application for parents. After all, the main task is to find the source of the spread of anaerobic microbes.

Halitosis is eliminated only when its true cause is eliminated.

Common Factors

The reasons why a child has bad breath can be physiological and pathological. In the first case, we can talk about:

• violation of hygiene rules- insufficiently thorough cleaning of teeth and gums, rinsing the mouth;
• nutritional features- fetid breath becomes due to the foods that the child eats (garlic can spoil the exhaled air even a day after eating it, and the onion smell lasts up to 8 hours);
• small sores and sores in the mouth due to natural causes (teething, for example).

The list of pathological causes is more extensive, it includes various ENT ailments, diseases of the dental plan and problems with the digestive organs:

• caries, stomatitis, periodontal disease, etc.
• pathologies of the upper respiratory tract (chronic or prolonged runny nose, adenoiditis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, tonsillitis);
• diseases of the lower respiratory tract (bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia);

• diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, gastric ulcer, enzyme deficiency, which leads to violations of the digestive processes);
• diabetes;
• kidney disease, kidney failure;
• malignant tumors and neoplasms of internal organs.

Non-specific causes deserve special attention. Often children have bad breath, not only because there is a certain disease. The smell can have psychosomatic causes - severe stress, fear, fright, prolonged psychological experiences. Another reason that parents should be aware of is disturbances in the surrounding microclimate. If the child breathes too dry air, the mucous membranes of the nose and oropharynx dry up, as a result of which aerobic microbes cannot effectively resist anaerobic microbes, and bad breath appears.

If the child eats irregularly, skips meals, the smell may be the smell of food that is not fully digested in the stomach, and moves up the esophagus. This does not mean that the child has digestive disorders, in this case, the smell is a signal for parents to establish proper and rational nutrition. Most often, in children, bad breath is the result of gastroesophageal reflux, which is very common in childhood. With them, part of the food is thrown back into the esophagus. This problem is age-related, and in most cases it successfully “outgrows” babies.

At the same time, children with helminthic infestations often do not suffer from bad breath, and their parents bring them to the doctor's office due to completely different symptoms.

The nature of the smell

Some pathologies in their symptoms have unpleasant and characteristic symptoms of halitosis. So, there are smells that should definitely alert parents, and make them immediately pay a visit to the pediatrician:

• Acetone. Acetone from the mouth of a child may smell due to the development of diabetes. And if a child has an unpleasant acetone odor against a high temperature, then this may indicate the development of acetone syndrome. A faint smell of acetone may accompany periods of fasting.
• Rotting. A putrid smell appears with complicated caries, with serious dental problems. If there are none, then the child should definitely be examined by a pediatric gastroenterologist, since the smell of rotting meat often accompanies diseases of the stomach, duodenum, and pancreas. It is characteristic that it appears at the very initial stage of ailments.

• Sweet smell. A pronounced sweet smell with sugary undertones may indicate a purulent process. It usually develops in the nasopharynx, oral cavity, and throat. Such a smell can be observed in a child with tonsillitis, bacterial rhinitis, adenoids. If the ENT doctor does not find pathologies, it is imperative to show the child to a gastroenterologist who examines the baby's liver. Some pathologies of the liver are accompanied by the appearance of a sharp sweet smell from the mouth.
• Sour smell. The appearance of a pronounced sour smell may indicate the presence of reflux in the child. In infants, such a smell can occur often, as a reaction of the body to the introduction of complementary foods, to a change in the mixture. In this case, the smell has a certain shade of sour milk. A sour smell in children at 2-3 years old always indicates problems with the stomach. An examination is required.

• Smell of ammonia. Such a smell appears during periods of severe illness associated with intoxication of the body. If the appearance of a smell was not preceded by a disease, this should be especially alert - an ammonia smell with a sharp manifestation often accompanies kidney disease, the development of kidney failure. A faint ammonia smell may indicate the development of diabetes.
• Yeast smell. Fresh yeast from the child's mouth may smell due to candidiasis. Fungi of this family, multiplying, emit a specific smell.

• The smell of rotten eggs. This smell usually appears in diseases of the stomach and intestines. Sometimes it resembles the smell of feces. The symptom requires a mandatory examination by a gastroenterologist.
• Smell of iodine. The aroma characteristic of this antiseptic in children usually appears due to an oversaturation of the body with iodine. This substance tends to accumulate, and therefore if a nursing mother takes iodine preparations, and the same substance is contained in complementary foods (in a mixture, for example), then a corresponding smell may appear from the mouth of a small child. In children older than 10 years, the appearance of an iodized odor may indicate iodine intolerance.
• Metallic smell. The smell of metal from the mouth of a child may indicate the presence of ailments associated with the occurrence and development of anemia.

Diagnostics

Parents need to observe carefully to understand what else, besides the smell from the mouth, has changed in the child. All internal diseases usually have additional symptoms and signs:

• With a sour smell, it is important to make sure that the child does not have heartburn, his stomach does not bother him, everything is in order with his stool. And with a hydrogen sulfide “aroma”, it is imperative to monitor whether the child has belching, nausea, and whether vomiting often occurs.
• With a bitter smell you need to examine the tongue and oral cavity of the baby for the presence of yellow or grayish plaque, which are characteristic of many pathologies of the liver and gallbladder. When an acetone or ammonia smell appears, you need to measure the baby's temperature, collect urine for analysis, and after that go to the clinic.

Sometimes the smell from the mouth is a far-fetched problem. Excessively impressionable mothers and grandmothers find him where he really is not.

After all, if a child has an unpleasant smell from the mouth in the morning, before he had time to wash and brush his teeth, this does not yet speak of the pathological causes of the phenomenon.

There are home tests for halitosis. The first is carried out with a spoon. With the handle of the cutlery, they carefully take a little plaque from the tongue of the child and evaluate it for smell. The second refers to the ability of saliva to “absorb” odors. The child is asked to lick the wrist and wait until the saliva dries, after which they evaluate its smell. Both methods are quite subjective.

A doctor can tell you more about the presence of an odor and its likely causes after an accurate medical test for halitosis. The study is called halimetry. It includes a simple procedure - the child will be asked to exhale into a special device, and the analysis of the exhaled air will show if it contains hydrogen sulfide, sulfur and non-sulphur compounds. The entire study takes no more than fifteen minutes. When establishing bad breath, the doctor may take samples of plaque from the tongue and the inner surface of the cheeks for bacteriological examination. Samples of the child's saliva will also be sent to the laboratory in a sterile container.

Parents will be given referrals to visit such specialists as a pediatric dentist (dentist), otolaryngologist, gastroenterologist, nephrologist. The dentist will examine and sanitize the oral cavity. If diseased teeth or gums are found, the baby will immediately receive the necessary treatment. ENT will assess the condition of the tonsils, nasopharynx, larynx. In case of detection of diseases, he will prescribe adequate therapy. The gastroenterologist will do an ultrasound of the abdominal organs, if necessary, an endoscopy with a mandatory sampling for the analysis of gastric juice for acidity (especially with sour breath). The nephrologist, on the basis of a urine test, will make a conclusion about the state of the child's excretory system.

To get the most reliable result, the day before visiting a doctor, the child does not need to be given foods containing sulfur compounds - garlic and onions, as well as spicy foods.

If possible, you should stop taking all medications. In the morning before going to the clinic, the child should not brush his teeth, rinse his mouth, use a freshener or chewing gum.

How to get rid of?

Treatment of halitosis should be based on the treatment of the cause that caused bad breath, since there is absolutely no point in fighting the effect without eliminating the cause. Usually, the treatment of bad breath includes general and specific recommendations. The general ones apply to all causes without exception. Private - relevant when the underlying disease is identified.

• The child must brush their teeth properly. This should not be done immediately after the baby woke up, but after breakfast, and then in the evening after dinner, just before bedtime. The brush should be comfortable, moderately hard, having a special “platform” for cleaning the tongue and cheeks. Show your child how to use it correctly. Children from 6-7 years old during the evening brushing their teeth may well use a special device - dental floss, since brushing alone is not enough to fully clean the oral cavity from small particles of food and protein plaque.
• Upon reaching the age of one year, the child can begin to use children's toothpaste. They are created taking into account the fact that the little one can swallow them and do not cause any harm to the health of the child.

• All dental problems should be identified and treated promptly., so the child needs to be taken to the dentist at least once a year, and preferably two, for examination and sanitation of the oral cavity.
• Proper nutrition will help keep your breath fresh. Sugar, sweets and pastries contribute to the formation of protein plaque on the tongue, gums and teeth. But fresh fruits and vegetables, on the contrary, help to cleanse the mouth and promote normal digestion. Sour-milk products must be present in the child's diet - they contribute to the formation of proper digestive function.

It is not necessary to give large quantities of food that promotes the formation of molecules of organic compounds of sulfurous and non-sulphurous nature. These foods include onions and garlic, corn, cabbage, carbonated drinks, especially sweet soda.

Bad breath in children, which is not eliminated after hygiene procedures, may indicate various diseases or malfunctions in the body. This phenomenon is called "ozostomy" or "halitosis". The smell from the mouth is varied - sour, sweetish, putrid, yeast, acetone. If the smell in a child is persistent, this is a good reason to see a doctor.

Causes and elimination of sour breath in a child under 1 year old

In infants, the digestive system is still not sufficiently formed, and the basis of their diet is milk, therefore, in children under the age of 1 year, a slight pleasant milky smell from the oral cavity is considered the norm.

If the smell begins to be more pronounced and the smell becomes unpleasant, this may indicate that the child has increased acidity or reflux. These are far from the only reasons for the appearance of an unpleasant odor in children, so you should definitely show the child to the doctors.

If the baby is breastfed

Most often it smells sour in infants. The diet of children of this age usually consists of breast milk. The imperfect digestive system of the baby can sometimes provoke the appearance of a fetid sour smell. This can happen after spitting up and belching. Sometimes such a smell can appear in the morning, but this is already a feature of the human body. If the sour breath of the baby does not go away, then this problem should not be ignored. The child should be examined immediately and the cause of the bad breath should be found.

The sour smell appears due to the multiplication of microorganisms in the oral cavity, which inhabit the body of every living being.

The microflora consists of both "good" and "bad" bacteria. There are many more “good” microorganisms than “bad” ones, and when this balance is disturbed and the “bad” ones begin to dominate, then an unpleasant odor appears. The reproduction of pathogenic bacteria can be caused by the following reasons:

• weakness of the immune system;
• a consequence of hypothermia;
• starvation;
• overeating;
• overwork and fatigue;
• ARI and colds.

Dairy (“good”) bacteria begin to actively fight for survival, as a result of which the breath becomes stale, with a pronounced sourness. The pleasant and unique smell of a baby can spoil the pungent smell from his mouth, which can be caused by:

All these reasons are easily eliminated, it is enough just to adjust the mother's diet, rinse and moisten the nose, give the child a drink and the smell will go away. In case of dysbacteriosis or other diseases, you should contact a pediatrician who will refer the child to specialized specialists.

If the baby is "artificial"

Babies who are deprived of mother's milk and are fed with special mixtures may have problems with bad breath due to fluid deficiency in a small body or problems with ENT organs. Often the cause of a sour smell is a runny nose and inflammation in the maxillary sinuses (sinusitis). Bad breath can also be caused by sour food in a child's mouth if parents do not properly monitor oral hygiene.

"Artists", as well as those babies who are breastfed, often spit up, especially in the first months of their lives. It can also cause bad breath. It is important to ensure that the child receives the required amount of formula and does not overeat.

Poor hygiene as a factor in bad breath

Every person has been taught from early childhood that the morning should begin with brushing his teeth and rinsing his mouth. Daily hygiene helps keep teeth healthy and breath fresh and pleasant. You can teach a child to take this procedure seriously if you start teaching him from infancy.

If you do not monitor the cleanliness of the oral cavity of babies, then the remains of food in the mouth create an ideal environment for the growth and reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms. It is necessary to follow the rules of hygiene from birth, even for those children who do not yet have teeth. For this, special silicone brushes have been developed, specially designed for this purpose. If such a device is not at hand, after each feeding, give the baby a drink of clean water, which will wash away the remnants of milk or formula.

From the moment the first tooth erupts, the child's oral hygiene becomes even more thorough, since it is already a question of the state of dental health. It is a mistake to believe that if the milk teeth are damaged by caries, then they will fall out, and the molars will be healthy. Everything in the body is interconnected, and it depends on the condition of the milk teeth how healthy the permanent teeth will be.

Diseases that cause bad breath

If a child has bad breath, this can be not only the result of improper or insufficient hygiene of the oral cavity and teeth, but also a symptom of various diseases.

To begin with, it is important to find out the reason why it smells so bad from the mouth in order to start treatment in a timely manner and eliminate this defect. Diseases of both the oral cavity and the gastrointestinal tract can provoke an unpleasant odor.

Caries and other dental problems

Bad breath in any case is a consequence of the multiplication of pathogenic bacteria. Often the focus of stench is in the child's mouth. One of the most common causes of halitosis is caries. In this case, bacteria multiply in the diseased areas of the teeth. Tooth decay in young children can occur due to poor oral care or the abuse of sweets and soda.

This category of diseases should also include thrush (candidiasis) and stomatitis, which are also often found in children up to a year and a little older. You can eliminate these unpleasant and painful diseases that cause an unpleasant sour smell by contacting a pediatric dentist and following all his recommendations and prescriptions.