Ever lean down to kiss your little angel and it’s like ‘woah, pass the breath mints?’
It’s shocking.
After all, baby’s breath is typically so fragrant there’s even a flower named after it.
Last year after our trip to France, my toddler returned with a mystery illness and a case of halitosis.
I mean, seriously toxic.
Brushing his teeth turned into a battle and he got stinkier by the day.
As he became increasingly tight-lipped, I had to take action.
Step 1: Investigate
It turns out there are several factors that cause toddler bad breath. I discovered Jed could have anything from a bad case of teething troubles, to childhood tooth decay (affects up to 50% of UK under fives), to a throat infection, to a viral illness known as Coxsackie (aka hand, foot and mouth disease).
Even something like a pea stuck up the nose can make a little piggy pong.
A couple of days later, I noticed Jed seemed to have severe mouth pain and was refusing his food. On closer inspection, I spotted what looked like a tiny blister on his tongue.
Since he also had an unexplained, recurrent fever (the GP had diagnosed a viral infection) Coxsackie became suspect number one. But Jed never developed any rash.
He just continued to reek.
Step 2: Call in the professionals
Concerned that he might have gum rot, I took him to the dentist.
Despite Jed pulling his ‘my mouth is Fort Knox’ act, the dentist managed to identify several teeth coming through at once. He said this would account for my baby’s misery, fever and swollen gums.
And yes, even the chronic breath.
His only recommendation was that I continued to brush Jed’s teeth twice a day and come back in 6 months for a follow-up.
Step 3: Brush Baby!
So was it teething or illness that caused the doggy breath? I can’t say for sure. Happily, within a week, it was gone.
Still, I was more determined than ever to take better care of Jed’s teeth.
Until that point, Jed’s version of oral hygiene consisted of sucking the toothpaste off his brush and then demanding to rinse.
Sometimes I would ‘persuade’ him to brush more thoroughly – a scenario usually resulting in one or both of us on the bathroom floor (he’s a strong boy!).
I’d heard about a product called Brush Baby made specifically for babies aged 0 to 2. Designed by a dentist, it’s a cross between a teether and a toothbrush.
However, after I’d shelled out £4.99 for this contraption, Jed refused to touch it. I think it freaked him out a little. I almost binned it in frustration.
But when Jed finally gave it a go, it was love at first bite.
Mama loves it too. Brush Baby is just so easy to use.
Simply pop toothpaste on it and let bubba gnaw away. The soft silicone bristles help to soothe gums and scrub little gnashers at the same time. And thanks to the canny design, I can tell Jed is getting a whole mouth clean.
Plus if he ever gets bad teething pain again, I can put Brush Baby in the fridge for instant, cooling relief.
Nowadays Jed’s fresh as a daisy and we can all breathe easy.
Phew!
Visit Brush Baby for product info and stockists
Useful Resources
NHS Dental Care for Babies and Children
Toddler Bad Breath info on Mamapedia
Images via Google and Brush Baby
3 Reasons to Be Cheerful
I am far past those baby days but I do remember a few days of bad breath. That device looks ingenious!
Hi Debbie, you’re right, it’s a very clever little gizmo. I recommend it to any new parent struggling with their baby’s dental care. Thanks for popping by!
Glad to read that bad breath can be a symptom of hand, foot & mouth disease. I was worried my daughter might have something more serious than HFMD. She’s been having fever, sore mouth, yucky breath and now a couple of blisters in the mouth.
Thanks, you’ve reassured me that this diagnosis is correct.
Hi Ligger, glad to have helped out with the article. Of course I’m not a medical professional and I do recommend consulting with a doctor if you have ongoing concerns about your little one. But it does sound like the same type of symptoms. Hoping your daughter’s on the mend now!
Ujunwa, thank you so mush for solving the problem here. I wonder what makes my baby kpuff breath. He is teaching right now with bad breath.
Dike, very glad I could be of help, I spent ages researching when my little one had this problem. Hope your baby’s breath improves soon!
Thank you so much for this piece. It’s really reassuring. My 33 months old toddler is going through same thing, exactly how you described Jed’s. His breath started stinking badly, I noticed a tiny blister on his tongue and his gums were swollen. He refuses to eat and would prefer liquid or semi solid foods.I was so worried till I discovered he has almost six molars breaking out same time. We’re really working hard on oral hygiene and he’s getting better. I will look up brush baby.
Hope it helps! This is an old post written when my boys were younger but I’m sure Brush Baby or its equivalent will be available still. Thanks for reading Ijeoma.
13 years later and a first time mum finds this post really helpful😆
Thanks
So glad :-)