My 14-year-old son has been sleeping more than usual lately and sometimes dozing off in school when school was in session. During the winter break he's been going to bed about 9:30-10:00 and sleeping until anywhere between 9 and 11. He goes to bed voluntarily and says, "I'm tired." (Bedtime was earlier when school was in session.) This is not typical for him. Over break I've noticed that he has very bad breath, even after brushing and using mouthwash. He does have braces. Last night I watched him brush and then inspected his mouth afterwards. All looked fine and clean. I assumed the sleeping was a growth spurt and just part of being a teenager until I noticed the bad breath. Just this morning I wondered if there could be a connection between the two. Anyone heard of symptoms like this and know if they could be connected? He has an orthodontist appointment a week from Monday and we have a dental check-up in three weeks. Does this sound like something that can wait until then or does it warrant a call to his doctor or dentist? Oh, no other symptoms or problems. He did have a cold shortly before Christmas and my older son has an upper respiratory virus right now with a cough and low grade fever. And, I thought this was funny at first, but now I'm wondering if it's the sign of a problem--his breath was so bad this morning that one of our dogs noticed and kept smelling his mouth!
No issues with substance abuse, grades, social life, etc. He had a physical in October, but this has developed since then. I do wonder about gum disease. I have to keep an eye on his brushing. I also wondered if sinusitis, tonsils, or a virus could cause this.
Sounds like I should at least call the doctor. It's hard to describe, but it's more of a gross, rotten smell and not like he ate garlic or onions.
The doctor's office seemed somewhat surprisingly unconcerned and treated it as two different issues. Regarding the bad breath, they want us to start with the dentist to rule out oral hygiene issues or any kind of oral infection. They also want him to drink more water to rule out dry mouth or hydration issues. Regarding the sleeping, they told me to keep an eye on it and call back if it gets worse or he develops additional symptoms. I will post again here if it turns out to be anything significant. Thanks!
It's possible he has sleep apnea or at least that he's sleeping with his mouth open - it would both cut down on the quality of his sleep and give him bad breath.
It could be mono...when I had it in high school all I did was sleep. I didn't have a sore throat or any other symptoms. Take him to the doc for a check up.
I think he needs a physical. Talk to the doctor about this. Some bloodwork is possibly needed.
wondered mono or strep - has he been to the doc yet?
He is at the age where it could be type I diabetes. Causes fatigue, weight loss AND... an unpleasant ketone breath
Could be strep throat.
My daughter's breath smelled like a small animal crawled into her mouth and died for almost a week before she came home with a sore throat. Her brother had a well child visit that day she came home. The doc was nice and squeezed her in, and it was the early stages of strep. Her tonsils were swollen and red, but no white spots. Doc gave us an Rx for antibiotic, just in case she got worse over the weekend. She got worse over the weekend. She wound up missing Mon and Tues the following week.
Can you determine WHAT the bad breath smells like? If it is like garlic or something then perhaps switch mouthwash. If you are more suspicious and think he has a problem with perhaps alcohol (doesn't sound like it), then get some direction through A counselor of sorts. I have sons and my husband has the ability to sleep more than any human on earth. I clocked him at about fourteen hours the other day. Sheeeesh, i am so jealous.
I have had gum disease in the past and that causes very bad breath (so could be caused by some backsliding dental care and the braces). If he isn't complaining about his mouth hurting, then he might just be lacking in some vitamins (try to up the vitamin C) and don't worry about the sleeping. If there is more to this than is not mentioned (how are the grades, social life, etc?) then back to a counselor. Poor Mama, we worry don't we? And your dog seems very supportive!
My daughter had this issue for over a year before we figured it out. She has battled strep over the years and her dr said strep can colonize in the body. He gave her a specific antibiotic I had never heard of before to decolonize her. It finally solved the problem. We went to dr Tim johanson at metropolitan pediatrics.
He could have strep.
Bad breath comes from the stomach not always the mouth. Call the pediatrician and have the nurse give you a call back. Ask her if he perhaps needs to take some powder laxative in water or something.
Does he snore? Is he a restless sleeper?
It could be tonsils.
My son's tonsils are HUGE. I noticed his bad breath, but hubby made the connection that it was caused by his tonsils. We took him to an ENT and he asked how DS slept - if he was well rested or more restless/tired even after a full nights sleep. He said MANY kids have behavior problems or trouble in school because their sleep is disrupted and something that can cause that is tonsils/adnoids or other sleep issue like apnea.
Do what your dr. says and follow up with dentist, but then don't be afraid to look further beyond your primary care physician for answers! Good luck!!
Google "tonsil stones". Could be cause of bad breath.
id get him in for check up asap..my 14 yr old never had this issue..good luck
Could be a sinus infection. A sinus infection can cause bad breath and sleepness.
Growth spurt could also be the cause of the tiredness. My son, now 22, started 8th grade with the top of his head just under my chin, by the end of the school year the top of my head was just under his chin. That poor kid ate everything that wasn't nailed down, slept constantly and had growing pains all the time.
Tonsils? Heard recently (maybe Dr. Oz show?) that bad breath can be a sign of a tonsil infection. You don't necessarily have to have a sore throat to have an infection. Worth checking out. I don't have tonsils, but I understand that those infections can be pretty bad.
