Ask a Nurse

What do I do if my baby has bad breath?

Halitosis (bad breath) is not a problem we expect to find in our little ones. Thankfully, it is usually not an indication of a serious medical condition. In kids, bad breath is most often caused by bacteria in the mouth or in the nasal cavity. Poor dental hygiene causes bacteria to feed on stagnant saliva and food particles in the mouth.

Many parents are unaware that good dental hygiene actually begins before your child's first tooth ever comes in. Even before your baby’s teeth come, in you should start cleaning his/her gums twice a day using a clean, soft cloth. Good times to do this are after a morning feeding and before bedtime. When the child’s first teeth come in, you should continue cleaning with a cloth or use a baby’s toothbrush and water.

For age-appropriate tips on how to take of your child's smile (and breath), check out our post on oral hygiene.

If you have a question you would like Nurse Brittany to answer, e-mail it to healthyhappychildren@gmail.com.