FIG. 06.03 · TONGUE ATLAS
Morning breath is usually ordinary. We have written, calmly, about the times it is worth asking a professional.
It is no surprise to notice that your child's breath is different in the morning. Saliva flow drops at night and the mouth dries; this is as ordinary in children as it is in adults. It usually passes on its own with breakfast, water and brushing.
What helps day to day
- Brushing morning and evening, with an age-appropriate amount of toothpaste.
- Enough water through the day.
- From age 6, gentle tongue cleaning with you beside them.
- Regular dental check-ups.
A tongue cleaner is not a treatment. It is a step that completes oral care; it does not remove the cause of a complaint and does not replace an examination.
When to ask a professional
If any of the following apply, we suggest speaking to your dentist or your child's doctor:
- The smell lasts all day and has not gone after several weeks.
- There is toothache, bleeding from the gums or swelling.
- It comes with a fever, a sore throat or a blocked nose that lasts a long time.
- You notice a sore, a change in colour or tenderness on the tongue or inside the mouth that does not go away.
- Your child mentions a dry mouth or discomfort when swallowing.
What we know, and what we don't
For information only. If you have a concern, please speak to your dentist or doctor.