both my dd and ds have awful; bad breath

[candyfluff]

what can i do ?
they brush twice a day and only drink water,what could be causing it and are they old enough for mouthwash?
they are 11 and 8

[ISureDoSmellLikeFlowers]

FGS (and I'm sure you haven't) DON'T say anything to them. My mum used to go on about it to me, to the point of (I went to boarding school) calling our matron and making her make me wash my mouth out morning and night with TCP (which STANK!). Consequently as and adult I am ABSOLUTELY PARANOID about my breath and hate being in close proximity with anyone's face (like leaning over a magazine together to look at an article), just in case! BTW dh says my breath is absolutely fine (post curry breath excepted

Sorry, no help with the problem but felt the need to share there....

[ISureDoSmellLikeFlowers]

LOL just realised that sounded like she sent me to boarding school because of my breath. It wasn't that bad...

[KnickersandVests]

Are they drinking enough water?

What sort of bad breath is it, is it that sort of empty belly, dry mouth bad breath or is it bad breath that smells like rotten teeth?

Do you watch them clean their teeth, are you sure they are doing a good and not messing around in there?

You can get kids mouthwash but I don't think they're too young anyway.

Maybe make an appt with the dentist to make sure they have no cavities.

[candyfluff]

we have just all been to the dentist and all is ok health wise - i think they dont drink enough and its really really bad in the morning it almost makes me gag.
we have recently swicthed from squash to water and they go a long time before thirst catches up with them and they forced to have water for a lack of an alternitive.

[KnickersandVests]

Not drinking enough can really make a huge difference.

Why did you switch from squash? IMO I think it's better that they stay hydrated and then just brush their teeth well and I know that DD will drink double the amount of squash compared to the amount of plain water she would drink.

We have high juice, which is 50% juice, rather squash and the stuff with sugar rather than lots of artificial sweetners.

Would you consider swapping back or maybe over to high juice if you thought it would encourage them to drink more?

[candyfluff]

no i think im gonna stcik to water dd has had some dental problems and im told it was all down to juice so i believe im doing the right thing by them its just such hard work getting them to drink ,id say at the momnet they are only having 2 cups a day which im well aware is not enough ,but what can i do .
little ds is so good and although not happy about it knows that water is all he's gonna get .

[carriedababi]

how about putting ice in their water, makes it taste so much nicer imo

[moosemama]

Have they had colds recently? My GP told me that ds2's bad breath was most likely down to postnasal drip.

[candyfluff]

they have been sneezing but no full on cold iyswim - yes im doing ice cubes and straws