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The child's mouth frequently emits an offensive odor, which is caused by deficiency heat or insufficient Heart Qi (Heart Qi). Ancient methods advocate cooking fennel into a soup for consumption, eating it raw, or constantly holding salted plums in the mouth, all of which are effective.

[Chen Shouzhen notes] For children with foul breath, there was originally a method of rinsing the mouth with lead monoxide (Mituoseng) mixed with vinegar, but this is not applicable to children. Upon careful examination, if it is indeed due to insufficient Heart Qi, simply use three qian of Alpinia oxyphylla fruit (Yizhiren) and three fen of Licorice root (Gancao), decocted into a concentrated soup for administration. If it belongs to deficiency heat, then use Ophiopogon tuber (Maidong), Rehmannia root (Shengdi), Artemisia capillaris herb (Yinchen), Aurantium fruit (Zhike), and Licorice root (Gancao), decocted and taken orally, which is very effective.

Ulcers covering the entire mouth in children are all due to strong congenital endowment, excessive warmth during upbringing, leading to accumulated heat in the Heart and Spleen, steaming upwards, resulting in mouth ulcers. Ancient methods advocate using Hangxie Dan (composed of Ligusticum chuanxiong rhizome [Chuanxiong], Rhubarb rhizome [Dahuang], Scutellaria baicalensis root [Huangqin], Phellodendron bark [Huangbai], Black Morning Glory seed [Heiqianniu], Mint leaf [Bohoye], Talcum [Huashi], Areca seed [Binglang], Aurantium fruit [Zhike], Forsythia fruit [Lianqiao], Red Peony root [Chishao], refined honey made into pills), dissolved in boiling water for oral administration; externally, grind live earthworms (Diji) into water and apply to the ulcers. Earthworms are bucket worms found under bricks in households.

[Chen Shouzhen notes] For internal medication treating mouth ulcers, simply use equal parts of Asparagus cochinchinensis root (Tiandong), Ophiopogon tuber (Maidong), and Scrophularia root (Xuanshen). For external blowing powder, simply use equal parts of Juncus effusus pith ash (Dengcao Hui), Borneol (Dabingpian), Mint leaf (Boheye), and Gypsum fibrosum (Shengshigao). Alternatively, burn old white snail shells to ash, mix with a small amount of Myrobalan (Ercha), grind into powder, and blow onto the affected area; all are invariably effective.

Full-mouth erosion in children is caused by Heat transferring from the Bladder to the Small Intestine, pressing upwards to generate mouth erosion (Koumi). Ancient methods advocate combining Daochi San (Coptis Decoction) and Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria). Daochi San can clear Heat from the Small Intestine, while Wuling San can clear Heat from the Bladder; they must be used together to be effective.

[Chen Shouzhen notes] Mouth erosion often results from neglected long-term illness and cannot be generally categorized as excess Heat. If it truly belongs to Heat syndrome, internally one may take both Daochi San and Wuling San; externally, use Mint leaf (Boheye), Indigo naturalis (Qingdai), Phellodendron bark (Huangbai), Human teeth ash (Renzhongbai), Myrobalan (Ercha), Borneol (Bingpian), Green Olive pit ash (Qingguo Hehui), and Watermelon rind after frost, all ground into powder and blown onto the affected area for cure. However, there are also cases due to insufficiency of Liver and Spleen Qi, where deficient fire floats upward without restraint; in such cases, it is appropriate to use Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) to gather the floating fire, and externally blow Cinnamon twig ash (Guixin Mo) upon the site to achieve effectiveness. The boundary between Cold and Heat is separated by mere millimeters yet leads to vastly different outcomes; thus, differentiation is indispensable.