Bad Breathe?

[JoshuasMommy]

My ds has never had bad breathe. I have actually wondered how it is possible that babies and toddlers don't? But that's not why I am writing this. Lastnight my son woke up for a few minutes crying and when I comforted him he about blew me over with his breathe! I swear his mouth smelled like he had just ate an entire salami...Could something be wrong? We brushed his teeth before bed. He woke up with the bad breathe and has had a milder version of it all day. Even after brushing his teeth and tongue! I think what bothers me is the way it smells...very strong and distinct. Any thoughts? Tina

[stafl]

does he have a stuffy nose? sinus drainage will cause really stinky breath.
could he possibly have dental cavities? they really smell bad too.
indigestion? sore throat? It could be anything, really, or nothing at all!

[Embee]

Indeed, stuffy nose, cold coming on or going, or stomach distress can all cause bad breath. As for teeth, sometimes food products can lodge between teeth (hard to get with brushing) and cause bad breath until the item is removed or washes away on it's own.

Other than that, DS has the worst breath when he's been eating chives out of the garden. PHEW! You can smell him when he walks in the back door... and I'm in the living room!

[LoveBeads]

It can also be a sign of infection - my DD gets bad breath when she has strep throat or a sinus infection.

[JoshuasMommy]

He is definately not sick. No stuffy nose or anything like that. I did think about a cavity. But I brush his teeth every night and there is not even a discolored tooth in his mouth. Wouldn't I be able to see if he had a bad tooth? My friend asked me if he could be getting ready for new molars? I am going to take a close look and see if something is trying to poke out of the gums tonight when we brush. Maybe it is nothing and just a little reaction to something he ate? Thanks for the all the help everyone. Tina

[LoveBeads]

I just wanted to add that my DD has had strep throat 2 times with absolutely no symptoms! Honestly, I didn't think it was possible but it has happened. The first time, I literally took her to the doctor because her breath was so bad and my DH was insisting that she probably had strep throat. At the time that I did this, she was very verbal and told me her throat didn't hurt. I knew she didn't have a fever either.

I know it is probably the exception but just wanted to give you a heads up just in case....

[Scoodlebug]

My daughter has had chronic ear infections, strep throat, and sinus infections. She's had tubes, adnoidectomy and a tonsilectomy.

Everytime she had one of these infections she had horrendous breath. Over half of the time she had no other symptoms. No fever, no drainage, no stuffiness, nothing just awful breath. Like LoveBeads I took her in several times based on just her breath. Everytime it was either a sinus infection of strep throat.

Not trying to be an alarmist by any means, but it is something to think about and keep an eye on.

[JoshuasMommy]

Update...His breathe was bad for a couple days and now it is back to normal. I have to assume it was something he ate? Maybe it didn't agree with his body. Or maybe he was ridding himself of toxins? Thank you all for responding. Tina

[pb&j_mommy]

Just beware if it comes back. My DSS had this horendous breathe (gag) and sever fevers at other times that would come and go. Took him to the doctor and didn't find anything. Then the dentist, and it turned out to be an absest (sp?) tooth. It was leaking fluid from his tooth, and we finally found the problem and got it taken care of. Now snuggles and hugs are a joy again!