Hi
My baby is 15 months and he has 12 teeth. he can eat almost everything. I haven´t started brushing his teeth. But there comes smell from his mouth. Should I brush his teeth or let him do this? Please suggest something. Thanks. Shelly replied. Healthy children (and adults, too!) do sometimes have bad breath. If the smell disappears after brushing his teeth or rinsing his mouth, it's normal. Also, keep in mind that what seems like bad breath to you may not be offensive to others.

That said, normal bacteria living in the mouth and interacting with leftover food particles could cause true breath odor in a healthy child. The food particles can be between the teeth, at the gum line, on the tongue, or on the surface of the tonsils at the back of your child's throat. Bacteria that react to saliva also can cause bad breath, especially if left undisturbed in the mouth for a period of time. This is one reason we all have \";morning breath.\"; After a long night's sleep, the reaction between the substances in our mouth has caused an odor, which remains until we brush or rinse it away. Eating and drinking can help cleanse the offending substances from the mouth, so it may help to give your toddler more frequent drinks of water and snacks such as fruit and crackers.

You mentioned that you brush your son's teeth without toothpaste. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends waiting until your child is at least 2 to use flouridated toothpaste, and then no more than a pea-size amount, That's because ingesting fluoride can cause white spots on your child's teeth when he gets older. Also, most children who live in areas with fluoridated water will get more than enough fluoride from drinking tap water or from eating food cooked in tap water. If you want to use toothpaste, you can try a mild-tasting children's formula without fluoride, or even baking soda. (Have a glass of water handy in case he doesn't like the taste.)

Poor dental hygiene with tartar buildup, gingivitis, or a dental abscess could also cause bad breath. Ask his pediatrician to inspect his teeth and gums. If the pediatrician finds any problems, I would recommend an evaluation by a pediatric dentist.

If your son sucks his thumb, uses a pacifier, or sucks or chews on a blanket, this may be why he has bad breath. The object may have an odor from repeated exposure to saliva and oral bacteria. It also may have other residue on it, such as old food. Make sure he washes his hands frequently with soap if he's a thumb-sucker. If he uses a pacifier, sterilize it frequently, either by running it through the dishwasher or dropping it in boiling water. Likewise, wash security blankets frequently. Of course, you can also encourage him to stop the sucking habit, but this is easier said than done.

If the bad breath persists, mention your concerns to his pediatrician, who can rule out other causes.

The first thing the doctor will probably check is your toddler's nose, to see whether your child has a foreign body, such as a piece of food or small toy, lodged in one of his nostrils. The only symptom may be breath odor or persistent nasal discharge. A sinus infection or respiratory infection such as bronchitis can also cause bad breath.

Less commonly, an infection of the back of the throat can also cause foul-smelling breath. The odor may be caused by inflammation of the pharynx (pharyngitis) or of the tonsils (tonsillitis). Even if the tonsils aren't inflamed, they may have food and debris trapped in their many crevices. Your child's doctor can check for this debris, which is usually white, during a throat exam. If this is the problem, it will resolve itself once the debris is removed.

Lastly, some children with gastroesophageal reflux, or regurgitation of their food, have a foul breath odor. However, if this were the culprit your toddler would almost certainly be experiencing other symptoms, such as discomfort after eating.
ved's mom replied. Hi Poonam,
You said your baby is cutting your finger when you try to brush him without a brush..so in US you will get a Gerber baby brush (for infants)which you can wear for your finger and brush the gums and teeth..Gerber even manufactures a Toothpaste which has no fluoride,which is safe for the baby to swallow...
ved's mom replied. Hi Poonam,
You said your baby is cutting your finger when you try to brush him without a brush..so in US you will get a Gerber baby brush (for infants)which you can wear for your finger and brush the gums and teeth..Gerber even manufactures a Toothpaste which has no fluoride,which is safe for the baby to swallow...
Vidya replied. Yes, you should be brushing your babies teeth. Here in US pediatrician recommend brushing teeth twice a day when the babies start teething. If you are in US you can buy the soft tooth brush and Oraljel toothpaste which is safe for the kids to swallow. The tooth brush you put on you finger and brush your babies teeth.

Thanks!