Question
Does bad breath affect infants?
Answer
Bad breath has little impact on infants. Bad breath itself is not a disease; it is caused by various factors. These include systemic diseases (such as stomach, liver, and diabetes) or deficiencies in vitamins B6 and trace elements like zinc; most cases of bad breath are due to regional oral diseases, most commonly seen in adolescent girls. This is because female ovarian function is closely related to the oral mucosal epithelium. When ovarian hormones are secreted normally, the oral mucosal epithelium becomes healthy and firm; the secretion function of salivary glands is vigorous, and the activity of saliva solubilizing enzymes increases, providing strong antibacterial effects, enhancing the mucosal resistance to disease. If the secretion of ovarian hormones decreases, the secretion function of salivary glands declines, saliva output decreases, the activity of saliva solubilizing enzymes weakens, and pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity increase. This leads to sticky and smelly saliva, weakened self-cleaning function of the oral cavity; coupled with the reduced resistance of the oral mucosal epithelium, periodontal tissues are easily attacked and infected by pathogenic bacteria such as anaerobes, Staphylococcus aureus, Helicobacter pylori, etc., causing gingival swelling, abscesses in gingival pockets, widening of periodontal spaces, loose teeth, and ulcers in the oral mucosa, which can result in bad breath. Adolescent girls often experience periodic instability in sexual gland activity due to fluctuating levels of sex hormones. Combined with a fondness for snacks and neglecting oral hygiene, if the level of sex hormone secretion is low, it is easy to develop infections in the oral mucosa and periodontal tissues, leading to bad breath. However, this type of bad breath is usually transient and there is no need to worry about it.