Why does my 5 year old have such bad breath after her tonsills are out?

Things to check: Bad breath can be caused by a number of things. The most common is the plaque build up on the tongue. Look at her tongue. Is it coated, white? Get a tongue scraper at any drug store and clean it daily.(. Much better than a tooth brush.) does she drink enough h2o? Any meds. ? Acid reflux? How about brushing & flossing, does she do it?

Deviated septum?: Nasal septum deviation is a common physical disorder of the nose, involving a displacement of the nasal septum.Symptoms of a deviated septum include infections of the sinus and sleep apnea, snoring, repetitive sneezing, facial pain, nosebleeds, difficulty with breathing, and mild to severe loss of the ability to smell and postnasal drip, all those symtoms may cause bad breath.

Healing process: After having your tonsils removed, there is a raw surface that needs to heal. That raw surface typically is coated with a fibrous layer along with bacteria, making the back of the throat appear white. The bad breath comes from this healing surface and lasts the 1-2 weeks of the recovery from surgery. Bad breath is expected. Bleeding, poor pain control are complications that need care asap.