A few days or weeks after the birth, you may notice that your baby’s tongue is white – nothing to worry about. The white stuff can be oral thrush or milk residue.
White tongue in babies is a common occurrence. Newborns get their nourishment from breast milk or formula. So, the most common cause of your baby’s white tongue can be the last feed.
Sometimes these tiny beings can develop oral thrush. This is a common yeast infection that is easy for a doctor to cure.
Keep reading to learn about why a baby may have a white tongue. We will also explore symptoms and treatment options.
Possible Causes Of Your Baby’s White Tongue
Oral thrush
Thrush is a yeast infection that occurs when the fungus Candida overgrows. This same fungus causes diaper rashes and yeast infections in the vagina.
When it’s oral thrush, the infection can spread on the parts of the mouth that your baby uses during sucking, including the tongue, lips, and inner cheeks.
In addition, thrush can also develop on your nipples and pass on to your baby’s mouth, giving him or her white tongue.
Symptoms of thrush
The symptoms of oral thrush don’t just end with a white tongue. If you open your baby’s mouth, you may see white coatings all over the mouth, including the inner side of the cheeks.
You shouldn’t panic due to these symptoms. But you shouldn’t ignore oral thrush, even if it’s minor. It can always spread and get worse. So visit your child’s doctor and have them look at their condition.
What causes thrush?
Babies have weak immune systems which can’t effectively fight bacteria and infections. Due to which it’s easy for the yeast to attack different parts of a child’s body.
But a weak immune system isn’t always the cause. If your baby is taking antibiotics for another infection, it can kill the good bacteria and stimulate yeast growth.
Treatment for oral thrush
Your baby’s physician may prescribe antifungal medication in the form of an oral gel. Make sure to apply gel to all mouth areas, including the tongue, gums, cheeks, and the mouth’s roof. Repeat it multiple times a day.
Milk residue
A baby’s mouth is different from the mouth of a grown-up. Babies produce very little saliva until they are 4 months old. Less saliva means that it’s really hard for them to get rid of the milk residue naturally.
Tongue-tie is a condition the restricts tongue movement leading to the accumulation of milk residue. It can also occur if your baby’s palate is high and their tongue can’t reach the mouth’s roof.
Getting rid of milk residue
No matter what the cause is, milk residue is temporary and isn’t a cause of concern. Your baby’s white tongue will return back to it’s normal color once your baby starts making more saliva and eats a solid diet.
Meanwhile, you can remove the white residue with a damp cloth.
But if you’re unable to wipe off the white stuff and see lesions in the mouth, contact a pediatrician. Contact our Houston location today at (281) 655 1500.
