Preschooler with Horrible Breath!!!

Updated on January 11, 2010
S.B. asks from Woodland, CA
19 answers

My daughter is 3 years old and has the worst breath. We brush in the mornings and at night. And floss at night too! I even started using the Colgate junior with the mint flavor hoping that would help and it does a little, but not enough. We brush her teeth and tongue and within an hour she stinks already. Anyone have any suggestions??

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V.B.

answers from San Francisco on

My daughter actually lodged something up her nose and it was growing in her sinuses. The doctor had to pull it out. My son also has chronic sinuses and has horrible breath. Good luck, it sounds like you need to make a visit to the doctor and dentist.

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D.Z.

answers from Yuba City on

When my niece was 4 this happened, then her mother took her to the doctor, she had stuffed a piece of sponge up her nose and that was the stink. Worth a look anyway, good luck.

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G.M.

answers from Modesto on

It can come from the stomach as well, too much acid due to stress can cause bad breath. Have her checked for all of the suggestions here.

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R.W.

answers from New York on

My nephew also had this problem with the bad breath and it turned out that he needed his tonsils out. The doctor said they were filled with "gunk" and infection. So have her checked by an ENT doctor. Hope this helps.

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C.S.

answers from San Francisco on

hi there,

While of course I don't know what this is, I want to tell you that it sounds exactly like what happened to my older daughter--it was awful and scary, but not dire, only unpleasant. It turned out to be something related to sinus drip (and I suppose some bacteria collecting in the throa passages and causing the bad odor) and occasionally she would actually cough up a little white and very hard ball of something that smelled truly foul (and exactly like her breath had been smelling, just more intense...)..basically she seemed to simply "outgrow" this stage, although every once in a while it would briefly recur throughout her young childhood...I highly doubt this is a teeth cleaning issue. BY the way, we did not treat it in any way, and it resolved itself...good luck, i know how distressing this is.

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G.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I have read a zinc deficiency can cause bad breath.

It could also be caused by being backed up and constipated.
Magnesium malate can help with that.

Fulvic acid might help- it has 60 trace minerals that can rebalance the body. I would try anything else before I opted for surgery on anything.

Go to wrongdiagnosis.com...you might get some ideas there.

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T.H.

answers from San Francisco on

Probably time to consult a dentist.

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S.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Have you tried probiotics orally (or just more plain yogurt w/ probiotics?). I would also recommend eating mint or gingery things to help. Sounds like it's coming from the stomach and not her mouth.

Or ask your dentist. Not sure about how to treat halitosis in a small child.

Good luck!

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K.G.

answers from Redding on

Hi S.,

One thing comes right to mind. Have you looked at her throat/tonsils? (Redness, swollen)She could have strept throat. It gives off a gnarly odor. In the past I remember strept was easily identified by white patches. Now it can be strept without them. That is how it was for my (step)son. It came as a surprise.Hope this helps.

Take care,
K.

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N.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi S.,

It could be that she is not digesting her food and it is coming from her gut. She is young so I would not say it is her teeth.

I have some suggestions on how to get her body healthy. If you want to learn more email me and I will help you.

I am a wellness consultant and work with a panel of medical doctors that address wellness especially for children. This is where it starts.

Happy New Year.

N. Marie
____@____.com

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B.R.

answers from Sacramento on

Have her nasal passages checked. She may have sinus problems. Or... she may have put something up her nose that is blocking her passages and rotting in there. This happened with my youngest brother many years ago and I recall the stink was terrible. The Dr removed the material that was blocking his passages and the stink cleared up within a couple of days, as soon as the sinuses had a chance to drain.

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L.D.

answers from Modesto on

I suggest seeing her dr. Even preschoolers can have acid reflux or digestive problems that can cause bad breath (not to mention tooth erosion over time etc). Maybe she could have a trial of acid reflux medicine. The other suggestions regarding sinuses should be looked into as well. If she can gargle, try having her gargle with salt water 2-3 times a day to see if it will reduce her symptoms temporarily.

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C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Take her to the dentist and have her teeth cleaned and see if that helps.

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P.W.

answers from San Francisco on

My daughter had the same problem. When she was about 9, I was looking in her mouth and discovered a gross, white cyst of repulsive-smelling stuff that had built up in one tonsil. It's called cryptic tonsils. There is a slit in the tonsils that fills up with smegma, essentially. Or, smaller white cysts can just build up ON the tonsils. I spent months pushing the goo out of her tonsils with a long q-tip, and as she has matured her tonsils have shrunk and don't fill up much anymore.

By the way, the hard, white ball that Camille's daughter coughed up (below) was actually one of the things that builds up on the tonsil. It's called a tonsil stone or tonsiloth.

When I discovered this, I checked my other family members, and one son had the slits while the other did not.

If your daughter will let you, take a good look at her tonsils and I bet you will find she has it. If you have a strong constitution, you can put 'cryptic tonsils' on YouTube and watch someone getting theirs professionally cleaned.

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C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

It sounds like she may have some post nasal drip going on- make an appt. with her pediatrician and have it checked out.

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R.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Have you taken her to the dentist? She may just need a teeth cleaning. Apple slices and parsley are great natural ways to help rid bad breath too.

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T.V.

answers from San Francisco on

Talk with ear/nose/throat specialist....something is wrong...
A friend of mine learned that her child had stuffed something up his nose and he just reeked until it was removed.

Blessings....

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A.F.

answers from San Francisco on

It sounds like it is time to take your pre-schooler to the dentist. It is possible your child has tooth decay and you can not see it.

N.P.

answers from San Francisco on

I suffered from this when I was young and it was because of my allergies. All that post nasal drip was causing stink breath. Clear up the drip, everything else went away too.

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