What to do if your child has bad breath and dry stools

Bad breath and dry stools are common problems among children. There are many reasons for children's bad breath, such as bad breath caused by corruption, bad breath caused by poor digestion, bad breath caused by insufficient gastrointestinal function, food residues or improper feeding. Different types of bad breath require different treatments. Below, I will introduce to you some relevant knowledge about children's bad breath.

1. Causes of bad breath in children

1. Putrefactive bad breath: mostly caused by unclean oral cavity, inflammation of oral mucosa, gums, guard, indigestion or oral granuloma, leukemia. It is caused by the decomposition of food by bacteria, which leads to necrosis of oral tissue.

2. If the baby is sick, it will lead to poor digestion function and cause bad breath. For example, oral ulcers and thick tongue coating may cause bad breath in the baby.

3. The most common reason why babies have bad breath is because their gastrointestinal function is poor and they have indigestion problems. Secondly, bad breath in babies is also related to what they eat. If the baby's diet contains more meat (mainly provides fat) and dairy products (mainly provides protein) which are difficult to digest, it is also easy to have bad breath.

4. If there is food residue in the baby's mouth, it will also cause an unpleasant odor in the mouth.

5. Children’s digestive organs are not fully developed yet. If they are not fed properly, they will not be able to digest food, causing gastrointestinal disorders and bad breath.

6. The abuse of antibiotics causes the imbalance of gastrointestinal flora, normal bacteria are suppressed, and miscellaneous bacteria grow and multiply in large numbers, leading to bad breath.

7. Due to weather reasons, the temperature drops, the body's resistance decreases, the stomach gets cold, causing indigestion and may also cause bad breath.

2. Normal treatment for bad breath in children

1. Digestive aids and astringent drugs can be used, such as pepsin, multi-enzyme tablets, lactase, tannic acid protein, etc. Severe cases can be treated with antibiotics.

2. Traditional Chinese medicine and massage and spinal manipulation therapy have certain effects on indigestion.

3. Those with severe vomiting and diarrhea should fast for 12 hours, and then gradually transition to a normal diet starting with sugar water or rice soup. People with severe dehydration should be given fluids promptly.

3. TCM treatment for bad breath in children

Children's bad breath can generally be treated with Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine divides children's bad breath into two categories: damp-heat in the stomach meridian and food accumulation.

Children with damp-heat in the stomach meridian will have a red tongue, yellow tongue coating, bad breath, irritability, and restless sleep. Many children also have dry stools. You can take some heat-clearing and dampness-drying medicine under the guidance of a Chinese medicine practitioner. Such as 6 grams of Gardenia, 10 grams of Erhua, 6 grams of Perilla frutescens, 6 grams of Patchouli, and 2 grams of Rhubarb for dry stool. When decocting, soak it in water for 20 minutes. After decocting for 15 minutes, pour out the juice and add appropriate amount of sugar before taking. This recipe is for a daily dose for children around 3 years old, and should be taken twice a day, morning and evening.

Food accumulation type bad breath is more common in urban children aged 1 to 6 years old, and is related to irregular diet and improper feeding. This type of children have long-term loss of appetite, pale face and thinness, but their spirits are normal. The medication is mainly for digestion and stomach. For children around 3 years old, 10 grams each of roasted malt, Shenqu, and charred hawthorn, and 6 grams of Patchouli can be used, and the method of use is the same as above. Chinese patent medicine can be used in conjunction with Baohe Pills, which help digestion and eliminate accumulation.