Patient's question:
Medical Description: My baby is 5 months old. Since he was born, we have hired a full-time postpartum nurse to take care of him. He has always been in good health and has never been sick. When he was four months old, for some reason, we switched to a 21-year-old girl to take care of his daily needs, just like the postpartum nurse, and she also shared the same room with him for meals and rest. This girl has very bad halitosis, but we never paid attention to it. Recently, the baby suddenly developed a high fever for no apparent reason. The doctor diagnosed it as a viral oral herpes, and he has absolutely no contact with anyone or anything that could be infected with the virus. He is still undergoing treatment. Today, while browsing through the magazine "Mom & Baby," I accidentally came across an article about halitosis, which explained that halitosis is caused by viruses attaching to the liver.Doctor's answer:
Hello: Halitosis has little impact on infants.Halitosis itself is not a disease; it is caused by various factors. These include systemic diseases (such as stomach problems, liver disease, diabetes, etc.) or deficiencies in vitamin B6 and trace elements like zinc. Most cases of halitosis are due to local oral diseases, with adolescent girls being the most affected. This is because the ovarian function of women is closely related to the oral mucosal epithelium. When ovarian hormones are secreted normally, the oral mucosal epithelium becomes healthy and strong. The salivary glands secrete more, and the activity of salivary lysozyme increases, enhancing antibacterial effects and boosting the mucosa's disease resistance. If ovarian hormone secretion decreases, salivary gland function declines, saliva production reduces, and the activity of salivary lysozyme weakens. This leads to an increase in pathogenic bacteria in the mouth, making saliva sticky and foul-smelling, and the mouth's self-cleaning ability diminishes. Additionally, the resistance of the oral mucosal epithelium decreases, making periodontal tissues more susceptible to infections by pathogenic bacteria such as anaerobes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Helicobacter pylori. This can result in symptoms like red and swollen gums, purulent gingival pockets, widened periodontal gaps, loose teeth, and oral mucosal ulcers, all of which contribute to halitosis. Adolescent girls often experience halitosis due to the cyclical instability of their gonadal activity, significant fluctuations in sex hormone levels, a tendency to snack frequently, and poor oral hygiene. When sex hormone secretion is low, it can easily lead to infections in the oral mucosa and periodontal tissues, causing halitosis. However, this type of halitosis is usually temporary and does not require excessive concern.