White plaque in the tongue of a newborn: causes and treatment

A white tongue in a newborn after feeding is a frequent occurrence. These are milk residues; removing them from the surface is not difficult. But the appearance of a dense, cheesy plaque in the mouth, anxiety, poor appetite in a child speak of more impressive reasons and require the help of a pediatrician. The doctor will determine why the baby has a white coating on the tongue, and will develop an effective treatment regimen.

How to distinguish a "bad" raid from a "good"

Photo: it looks like a “milky” white coating on the tongue of a baby

The appearance of a white coating on the tongue in an infant is not always a signal for concern. Take a closer look at the baby, let him take 1-2 sips of boiled water. If there are no negative changes in behavior, the baby is calm, eats well, and after drinking the amount of plaque decreases, then this is milk residues.

In the first weeks of life, the main food of the baby is mother's milk, and it is not surprising that its residues are present on the tongue.

If the white coating on the tongue of a month-old baby has a dense consistency in the form of cheesy flakes, urgently need to take the baby to the doctor. Similar symptoms indicate the development of thrush and other disorders in the body of the child.

Pathological plaque does not appear “alone”, and changes in the behavior and well-being of the baby should be observed: the baby is naughty, cries, refuses to eat, body temperature rises, and a bad dream is possible.

Why does the baby have a white coating on the tongue

Pediatricians distinguish the following factors that provoke the appearance of white plaque on the tongue in infants:

• weak, immature immunity;
• violation of the digestive tract: constipation, dysbiosis, early feeding, gastritis;
• antibiotic treatment, allergy to them;
• low hemoglobin in the blood, vitamin deficiency;
• diabetes;
• hormonal changes, disruptions;
• infection through the birth canal of the mother, through dirty toys, a pacifier;
• dry mouth.

Attention! Why a newborn has a white coating on the tongue, what measures to take to eliminate it, the specialist determines after a detailed examination of the child. Self-medication harms the baby’s health, do not give in to advice from TVs, the Internet, even if they are from Dr. Komarovsky himself.

Whitish tongue as a sign of thrush

A white tongue in a newborn with a thick, dense coating often indicates a fungal infection of the oral cavity, which is accompanied by the development of candidiasis (thrush).

Thrush is a disease that develops due to the active life of Candida yeast. They can be located in the human body without causing discomfort, pain. If the environment becomes favorable for microorganisms, they actively multiply, affecting the mucous membranes of the oral cavity.

Children in the first month of life are more susceptible to the disease, they could get an infection at birth. If Candida is found in the mother, infection is inevitable.

Photo: it looks like a white coating on the tongue of a baby with a yeast infection

There are mild and severe stages of fungal infection. Mild treatment lasts 7 days without the formation of wounds, the development of complications. To get rid of a severe form of candidiasis, pediatrician assistance and drug therapy will be required.It is important to constantly monitor changes in the color of the tongue and the mucous membrane of the baby’s mouth, and his well-being. Possible complications, fever.

White tongue is a frequent guest in newborns with artificial feeding. Breastfeeding helps prepare the baby's immune system for attacks of viruses, harmful bacteria. In addition, the warmth of the mother calms the nervous system of the baby. "Artists" need more time to strengthen the immune system, which is why the chances of developing an ailment increase.

A newborn has a white coating on the tongue - what to do

A method for the treatment of white plaque on the tongue in infants depends on the reason for its occurrence. If the whitish spots are the remnants of breast milk, milk formula, it is necessary to clean the baby's tongue. Use boiled water, rinsing the baby’s mouth after feeding.

If the defect is caused by disorders of the nervous system, consult a pediatric neurologist to identify the cause of the neurosis, take care of the baby’s peace. There is no need to clean the tongue; the defect will pass on its own.

The appearance of whitish spots on the tongue may mean that the baby has digestive problems. Pay attention to baby nutrition. The primary task is to eliminate dysbiosis by selecting a different mixture during artificial feeding or by adjusting the mother’s nutrition during breastfeeding. These actions are enough to eliminate the symptoms.

White plaque on the tongue in a newborn child can appear with infectious diseases of the oral mucosa: herpes, scarlet fever, chickenpox. The disease occurs with fever. You can’t do without medical treatment. In order to avoid complications, the transition of the disease into a chronic form, the doctor can send the crumbs to inpatient treatment.

We treat thrush

Treatment for mild thrush involves rubbing the tongue with soda solution. With it, you can easily clean whitish accumulations and prevent the growth of bacteria.

Pay more attention to personal hygiene:

• For "artificial" be sure to feed the nipple, a bottle of boiling water before feeding.
• Clean, boil rubber toys regularly.
• Replace obsolete nipples with new ones in a timely manner, taking into account the manufacturer's recommendations.
• When breastfeeding, monitor the cleanliness of the nipples. Before applying the baby, do not forget to wash your chest with warm water. During the treatment of the disease, additionally treat it with soda solution.
• When lactating, try to avoid taking antibiotics, normalize the diet, fill it with vitamin products.
• After feeding, remove milk residues.

An important point! Do not kiss the sick baby on the lips, do not lick the nipple - you run the risk of getting infected and adding a bunch of harmful bacteria, viruses with your saliva. Even after recovery, refrain from such actions.

A dense, cheesy coating on the tongue, sky and gums of the baby, the appearance of whitish acne indicate a complex stage of thrush. Drug treatment is carried out with the strictest compliance with the doctor's prescriptions, without violation of the regime. Immunomodulating, antifungal drugs are prescribed.

How to clean the tongue from plaque to a newborn

The most important factor affecting the rate of cure for thrush is oral hygiene. Parents can do the cleaning of the surface of the tongue in the baby at home. Procedure Procedure:

• Make a weak 2% soda solution: 1 tsp. Dissolve baking soda in a glass of boiled water.
• Wash your hands with soap without additives before cleaning the tongue of the newborn. Wrap a little sterile bandage around the index finger.
• Moisten a bandaged finger in a soda solution, massage it with the problem surface. You need to clean the tongue as carefully as possible, without pressing.
• Repeat the procedure after each feeding, 4–5 times a day.

In addition to soda solution, you can clean the damaged mucous membranes of the child with medicinal gruel. To prepare it, mix 1/2 tablet of Nystatin (125 thousand units) with 1 ml of liquid vitamin B12. The resulting mixture is applied to the gums, the sky, the surface of the tongue, covered with plaque. Repeat treatment after each feeding.

To remove unpleasant plaque, traditional medicine advises using honey, lemon juice. Be careful, such components can cause an allergic reaction in infants, complicate treatment.

Parting words from doctors

A white tongue in a newborn as a symptom of thrush worries many parents. Timely elimination of the infection will relieve complications and the chronic form of the disease.

There are preventive measures, the observance of which will prevent the appearance of an unpleasant white coating in a monthly child:

• Maximum hygiene, sanitation, especially in the first months after birth, until the baby’s immune system is stronger.
• After feeding, give the baby 1-2 tsp. boiled water, it removes the remnants of milk.
• Strictly adhere to the recommendations of the pediatrician when drawing up your own diet (when breastfeeding), follow the rules for introducing complementary foods to the baby, in order to maintain the intestinal microflora in the norm and prevent dysbiosis.
• You can’t lick the baby’s nipple, eat with one spoon, kiss it on the lips so that harmful bacteria and viruses are not transmitted with saliva.
• Get your child a separate dish, cup.
• At the first symptoms of thrush, with the slightest change in the color of the tongue, contact a pediatrician.
• The child sleeps with an open mouth, so if the room is hot, take measures to moisten the microclimate, often ventilate the room and spend more time with the baby in the fresh air.

If you want your baby to be healthy, be attentive to such trifles as changing skin color and tongue. Do not think about how to remove the white coating, direct your efforts to prevent its occurrence.

The opinion of Dr. Komarovsky about white plaque in the language of infants: