Flossing? - Corpus Christi,TX

HI H., I don't floss my two year old. However, I just bought this new packet of non-fluoride toddler toothpaste at Target this weekend... I'm going to try it as soon as we finish the current tube. Orajel has this 2-step toothpaste that, in the first step, coats the teeth with blue stuff (which tells you where you need to focus brushing) and the second step you brush it off. Of course I can barely get her to keep her mouth open to do regular brushing! Oh, what fun we'll have with this-?!

I recall reading that toddler bad breath is often remedied with more water in the diet because it results in more saliva production. Let me see if I can find some info on it... Oh, here's some links:
http://blog.worldvillage.com/family/treating_babies_and_t...
http://babyparenting.about.com/od/healthandsafety/a/badbr...
http://ezinearticles.com/?Toddler-Bad-Breath&id=255281

When toddler bad breath is not caused by an underlying condition, the most common cause is probably dehydration. Dehydration can occur easily in a child, and can result from a number of factors: insufficient fluid intake during hot dry weather, strenuous exertion without taking regular drinks, diarrhea and vomiting, consumption of diuretic beverages such as drinks containing caffeine, respiratory infection, and other things. Bad breath in child dehydration is often initiated by a drying out of the mouth tissues - when saliva production is decreased, the bacteria responsible for halitosis are able to proliferate. The more of them there are, the more severe the toddler bad breath will be.

We sometimes notice bad breath in child diseases. The most common of these is probably childhood diabetes - ketoacidosis is characterized by a high blood sugar, dehydration, and a sweetish bad breath. Sweet smelling bad breath in a child could be a sign of serious illness and should be dealt with very promptly. Another common cause of adolescent and toddler bad breath is throat infection: bacteria and viruses frequently cause pharyngitis and tonsillitis in the young, and strept throat can lead to debilitating complications. Any red sore throat accompanied by a fever that doesn't resolve on its own in a couple of days should be assessed by a physician. Other diseases that can change the odor of the breath include kidney and liver diseases, and some cancers, but these condition are relatively rare in children.

Do you brush her tounge? I know not doing so can be a cause of bad breath in people of all ages.

Hi H., I have 3 boys (8, 5, 1) and when I take the older two to their dentist check ups, he always stresses that flossing is just as important as brushing and advised me to continue to do both on my youngest. He is on big people food now, and getting more and more teeth. There have been several times that I have pulled gook out when flossing him. I buy the kids dinoflossers.

Gosh i havent heard of that! i hadnt started my kid regularly brushing till he was 3 yrs old. and now that hes 5 he brushes every morning and every night. i still havent had him floss though... although hes teeth are very well spread apart.. i dont know if that has anyhting to do with it.

Agreed with the hydration idea. I know kids also have bad breath when they are sick - so make sure to rule that out. Another suggestion, I know you say she doesn't eat "spicy foods" but diet can definitely influence her breath. Do you feed her a lot of meat? Up the fruit and veggies & the water intake. And I mean water - not juice or any other drink that might have sugar in it. I'm not a diet freak or anything - but I do know that more fruit and veggies are good, too much meat and sugar is bad and can definitely affect her breath. Good Luck.