A young mother tries to notice the first signs of any disease in her baby, so she closely looks at every fold and spot on the baby’s skin. Many parents have encountered such a phenomenon as a white coating on the tongue of a baby. In most cases, this is considered normal, but there are exceptions in which you need to consult a doctor. What factors need to be considered? Why does my baby have a white coating on his tongue? First of all, it is important to understand the baby’s nutrition: whether he drinks breast milk or is fed a special baby formula.
White coating on the tongue of a baby during breastfeeding
Mother's milk is not as rich as formula, so in the first months the baby may nurse almost every 30 minutes. Due to the constant presence of milk in the mouth, a baby may have a coating on his tongue throughout the day, and this is absolutely normal. Until approximately 3-4 months of life, the baby's salivary glands are underdeveloped and do not produce enough saliva. This is why a white coating forms on the baby’s tongue.
There is no need to clean off such a coating on a baby’s tongue; it does not bother the baby at all and does not cause discomfort, because it is ordinary mother’s milk, which does not have time to be washed off the tongue. When the baby’s condition is normal, he is cheerful, cheerful and actively suckles at the breast - there is no reason to worry.
How is plaque formed?
Epithelial cells on the surface of the tongue are constantly exposed to fairly aggressive factors: acidic foods, temperature changes, bacteria. That is why their lifespan is not long and after they are exfoliated, young cells appear. If the processes of changing cellular layers are excessively active, then the upper layers do not have time to peel off and remain on the surface of the mucosa in the form of plaque.
Another factor in the formation of plaque can be microorganisms. Children often do not pay enough attention to oral hygiene, as a result of which microscopic particles of food can remain between the lingual papillae, which become a place for active reproduction of bacteria. Taking antibacterial drugs often provokes the growth of pathogenic microflora in the mouth (fungi), some varieties of which are quite brightly colored.
White coating on the tongue of a bottle-fed baby
Formula-fed babies, like infants, eat very often in the first months of life and are thus constantly in contact with milk. Residues from such food may remain on the baby's tongue and cause plaque to form. However, in such children, the plaque should disappear 1-2 hours after feeding, since the intervals between meals are slightly longer than when breastfeeding.
The deposits from milk or formula are easily washed off with water, so you can do a little experiment. Invite your baby to drink water from a bottle or spoon (it should wash away most of the plaque), but if this does not happen, then you better contact your pediatrician. The doctor will be able to find out the cause of the white plaque in the baby and prescribe appropriate treatment. What else can cause deposits in a baby's mouth?
Causes of white plaque on a child’s tongue
Let's find out the opinions of professionals. What does Dr. Komarovsky say about plaque on the tongue in infants? Like most doctors, he identifies the following reasons:
- dysbacteriosis and gastritis;
- stomatitis;
- intestinal dysfunction;
- other pathologies.
Every mother should arm herself with recommendations that will help her prevent a similar condition in her child. After plaque has already appeared, be sure to consult a doctor who can determine the exact cause of its appearance and prescribe the necessary treatment.
Maybe it's thrush?
Thrush, or candidiasis, is an infectious disease caused by fungi (Candida). Doctors often use the term “candidiasis” and claim that most children under one year of age suffer from this disease. The appearance of thrush most often manifests itself in the first 3 months of a child’s life, since during this period of life his oral cavity is not yet populated by healthy microorganisms, and the immune system, alas, is not strong enough.
What is the cause of plaque on the tongue of a baby at an older age? It happens that the immune system does not work properly and a fungal infection appears in the child's mouth or cheeks. Against the background of reduced immunity, for example after a respiratory viral infection, the risk of developing thrush increases.
Fungal infection
The development of thrush in the child’s mouth occurs as a result of the growth of Candida fungi. Intensive reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms occurs as a result of the influence of various factors.
Often babies become infected with thrush during childbirth, crossing the birth canal
These include:
- Weakened immune system.
- Dysfunctions of the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Hormonal disorders.
- Conducting antibacterial therapy.
- Excessive dryness of the oral mucosa.
Infection with Candida fungi occurs under the following conditions:
- In utero. Infection can occur through the placenta, umbilical cord and amniotic fluid.
- During childbirth. Often babies become infected with thrush during childbirth, crossing the birth canal. Therefore, it is important for women to exclude the development of thrush, especially in the last stages of pregnancy.
- Finding a child in a hospital and maternity hospital. Inappropriate and non-sterile care of the child contributes to the child becoming infected from health care workers.
- Poor sanitary conditions at home. Babies are born with a weakened immune system. Therefore, keeping a child in an unsterile home environment promotes the penetration of various microorganisms and bacteria into his body.
Diagnosis of candidal glossitis involves a complete collection of anamnesis data and conducting various types of comprehensive research.
Important! In most cases, when diagnosing thrush in a child, an instrumental examination is not performed.
For these purposes the following is carried out:
- Microscopic examination of the oral mucosa by taking a scraping from plaque and then examining it under a microscope. This allows you to determine the presence of Candida mycelium threads and yeast-like cells.
- Bacteriological research. Allows you to identify the type of Candida fungus and the number of its colonies. Sowing mushrooms on a nutrient medium helps install the most effective antifungal drug. This is necessary, since many medications have different effects on grown fungal colonies.
- Serological study. It is carried out if necessary to study antibodies that are concentrated in the blood serum.
The difference between thrush and milk plaque
How to determine the cause of plaque on the tongue of a baby? If a person does not have the opportunity to see a doctor or a frightened mother cannot wait to determine the nature of the plaque, then simply try to wash it off with water. If the situation has not cleared up, perhaps the child does not want to drink water (this happens to children in the first weeks of life), do not worry, there is another simple way to determine the cause of plaque. Try to gently remove the plaque from your baby's tongue with clean hands or a cloth. The fact is that plaque from thrush cannot be removed so easily, and in those places where you still manage to clean the child’s tongue, you may notice a bleeding surface. This sign is considered an undeniable symptom of thrush, and your child needs urgent treatment.
The influence of thrush on the child’s condition
With candidiasis, the baby’s general condition worsens, he becomes capricious, lethargic and refuses to eat. Candida spots in the mouth cause severe discomfort to the baby; sucking the breast or bottle becomes painful for him, and because of this he constantly cries. In rare cases, there is an increase in body temperature, as with a cold, sometimes it reaches 39 degrees.
Candidiasis rarely affects only the tongue. Usually the entire oral cavity becomes covered with white spots, even the area around the mouth can be affected by the fungus. When the baby eats, the plaque peels off and disappears for a while, and the inflamed mucous membrane of the mouth is visible.
What does a normal tongue look like?
Photo: tongue of a healthy child
To an experienced therapist, the color of the tongue, the shape and nature of the spots and plaque covering it tell a lot about the health status of the little patient. Normally, the surface of the tongue should meet the following characteristics:
- rich pink color of the mucous membrane;
- smooth surface structure;
- absence of stains, plaque and other formations;
- pronounced papillae: the surface should be slightly rough.
How to treat candidiasis in a baby?
Typically, your pediatrician should prescribe antifungal medications to treat oral thrush. Infants are given convenient dosage forms (syrup or solution) that should be used to lubricate the tongue and oral mucosa. The duration of treatment for plaque on the tongue of an infant depends on the degree of the disease, but is usually within 7-10 days. Feeling better occurs within 3-4 days.
The oral cavity is cleansed, and the child can begin to eat milk with renewed vigor, and then sleep peacefully. If it seems to you that the baby’s condition has returned to normal, this does not mean that you need to stop treatment. Candidiasis is a very persistent disease, and if you stop taking medications, the plaque and spots will definitely return. In this case, the fungus will become resistant to previously used drugs, and a new, most likely aggressive, treatment will have to be prescribed.
Treatment of candidiasis
The main method of treating the disease is the use of local antifungal and antibacterial agents, as well as antibiotics. Antimycotic (antifungal) drugs can not only eliminate the symptoms of the disease, but also destroy the fungus in the oral cavity, as well as in other organs and tissues. For this purpose, antibiotics of the polyene series (levorin, nystatin, etc.), as well as clotrimazole, econazole and other imidazoles, are used. Fluconazole, Diflucan, and Nizoral also have a pronounced antifungal effect.
A significant part of antibiotics has a number of side effects and has a negative impact on the immune system. Therefore, when treating children, antibiotics are used only in the most severe cases, as well as in cases where there is a risk of complications and generalization of the process. At the initial stages of the disease and with a mild course of the disease, preference is given to local remedies. We recommend using ASEPTA series rinses, which contain chlorhexidine and other active ingredients that have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. To remove plaque, you can use special ASEPTA Baby wipes. The individually packaged finger wipe is made of hypoallergenic materials and allows you to carefully clean the mucous membranes without the risk of damaging them or causing additional infection. It is also recommended to regularly treat the oral cavity with Lugol or silver solution. This procedure must be repeated every three hours.
For the prevention and treatment of candidiasis in children, diet and oral hygiene are also of great importance. It is recommended to exclude or strictly limit the amount of food containing simple carbohydrates - these are, first of all, confectionery and flour products. Make sure your child brushes his teeth regularly - it is best to use a special toothpaste for this, for example - ASEPTA Baby, Kids, Teens. The components contained in these pastes help prevent caries and, as a result, reduce the infectious load on the child’s immunity.
Prevention of tongue thrush in infants
Do not forget about preventive measures to prevent the formation of candidiasis in the baby’s mouth. It is important to regularly ventilate and humidify the air in the room. Do not forget about the importance of walks in the fresh air, after them the baby’s sleep normalizes and the immune system is strengthened.
If a child is fed artificially, then you need to thoroughly wash all the items necessary for feeding (bottle, pacifier), and even the pacifier. When breastfeeding, it is important for the mother to monitor her health and not eat a lot of sweets, which can provoke active reproduction of the Candida fungus. There is no need to wash or wipe your breasts with antiseptic agents. The Candida fungus is present in the body of every person, and the further development of the infection depends only on the state of immunity.
Frequent washing of the mother's breasts can dry out the skin, resulting in the formation of microcracks, which are the main factor contributing to the appearance of thrush in the baby. If you are not sure about the cause of thrush in your child, consult your doctor for help. A competent pediatrician will prescribe the optimal treatment specifically for your case. If you determine the cause of the white coating on your baby’s tongue in time and complete the prescribed course of treatment, the likelihood of complications will be minimized.
Causes of yellow coating on a child’s tongue
The appearance of a yellow coating on a baby's tongue can seriously frighten parents. If such plaque lasts for a long time and looks like a thick dense mass, and at the same time a sharp, unpleasant odor is felt from the baby’s mouth, then this is a sign of a serious illness. Do not forget that the tongue is one of the organs of the digestive system, and changes in its color may indicate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, hepatitis, colitis, cholecystitis, gastritis).
Pathological changes in the digestive system are accompanied by a decrease in the child’s appetite, stool disturbances, and the baby’s crying (due to abdominal pain). There are other reasons for the appearance of a yellow coating on the tongue in an older child:
- overeating (the child may have eaten too much fatty food, resulting in nausea, dry mouth and a yellow coating on the tongue);
- infectious disease (infection is accompanied by high temperature, which provokes the formation of a yellow-brown coating, you can also notice bleeding wounds on the tongue);
- poisoning (in this case, liver function is disrupted, the body becomes intoxicated and dehydrated, which leads to the appearance of plaque);
- jaundice (the tongue itself and the mucous membranes of the mouth become stained);
- local inflammatory processes in the child’s mouth (caries, sore throat, gingivitis, stomatitis, glossitis);
- somatic diseases (autoimmune processes, diabetes mellitus and kidney disease).
How to clean your tongue
Do not use regular toothbrushes for cleaning - they will not be able to remove plaque. It is better to pay attention to special tongue cleaning products.
Scrapers
The most common devices are scrapers. The tips of the scrapers are made in the shape of a spoon. They are usually made of plastic, sometimes with stiff bristles. The flat shape prevents the gag reflex that may occur when brushing the root of the tongue. This scraper needs to be changed every six months.
Irrigator attachments
Tongue attachments are also made in the form of a spoon. The irrigator, unlike a conventional scraper, delivers a stream of water, which additionally washes the surface of the tongue.
Attachments for electric brushes
Most brush manufacturers offer special attachments for their products to clean tongue deposits. As a rule, they have a flat, textured rubber surface.
Tongue gels
You should not clean your tongue with toothpaste - it is intended for teeth. Pastes contain abrasives and menthol, they can irritate the mucous membrane. Special gels that gently dissolve plaque and also disinfect the oral cavity are better suited for the tongue.
