Halitosis is the medical word for bad breath.

In kid words

Halitosis is just a big word for breath that does not smell fresh, and it happens to everybody once in a while, even grown-ups. It is nothing to feel embarrassed about, and telling a grown-up about it is never silly. Brushing your teeth and your tongue is the best way to help it go away.

The parent version

Halitosis is the medical term for bad breath, and it is very common at every age. It is not a sign that anything is wrong with your child or with how you are parenting. In children, it most often traces back to one everyday source: bacteria on the teeth, gums and tongue breaking down leftover food and plaque. A dry mouth overnight, a strong-smelling snack, or a stretch of hurried brushing during a busy week can all play a part, and it usually eases once brushing and flossing catch back up.

Persistent bad breath, the kind normal brushing does not clear up, is best mentioned at your child's next checkup instead of turned into a puzzle to solve at home. It can simply mean plaque has built up somewhere a toothbrush keeps missing, so ask your pediatric dentist to take a look.

Where you might hear it at our office

Bad breath rarely needs an appointment of its own, but it often comes up naturally at a cleaning and exam, especially if it has been sticking around longer than a day or two. Clearing away the plaque buildup a toothbrush cannot reach is part of every visit, and for a lot of children that alone makes a real difference. Mentioning it when you book is a completely normal thing to do, never an awkward one.

If another word from a visit still needs translating, the rest of the Kids' Dental Dictionary is right here.

Related words

Words that often come up alongside halitosis: plaque, saliva, tongue.