Attentive parents always pay attention to how their child is feeling. But what if his health is in order, and meanwhile his tongue has turned from pink to white? After all, pediatricians always draw the attention of mothers to the baby's tongue: if it has changed color, it means that not everything is in order with health. Why does a child have a white tongue, is it dangerous, and which doctors should be consulted in this case?
Plaque on the tongue occurs not only in children, but also in adults. Sometimes the reasons for it are completely harmless and consist, for example, in the abuse of tea or coffee by adults, but everything is a little different with babies.
White tongue in an infant
While the baby is very small, it is clear that the parents are more worried about him - after all, the baby cannot tell how he feels and whether he has any pain. Therefore, it is necessary to make it a rule to carefully examine the baby every day - whether he has skin rashes, diaper rash, how the chair is shaped, in what condition the eyes, nose and mouth. If you notice a white tongue in an infant, first check the localization of the plaque. Is it located only on the tongue, or does it also extend to the inner surface of the cheeks and the upper palate? How does plaque look like a thin translucent film or is it more like plaque? Does it look like curdled curd?
The main thing in relation to the baby is not to try to remove this plaque on your own, mechanically. The skin of the tongue is so thin and delicate that it can be easily damaged, and this, in turn, is a direct path to infection. Therefore, never use your fingernail or spoon to scrape off plaque.
Most often, white spots on the tongue of a baby who is feeding on breast milk or formula means simply food leftovers. The fact is that in the first months after birth, newborns produce very little saliva, and it cannot properly wash the oral cavity. After breastfeeding or bottle feed, a thin, whitish film remains on the tongue.
The second reason for such plaque may be regurgitation after feeding. If the parents did not notice that the baby has burped, traces of the mixture or milk also fall on the tongue. It is very simple to check what is the cause of the white bloom - you need to give the crumbs a few sips of clean boiled water from a bottle or from a teaspoon. If the plaque is the remains of the mixture, then the water will easily wash it off. There is nothing to worry about. If plaque is a consequence of any disease, then it will not be possible to remove it with plain water.
When to see a doctor
Why does the child have a white tongue? Pediatricians advising to follow him closely are completely right: a person's tongue is a barometer of the state of internal organs, so you should not turn a blind eye to suspicious symptoms.
First of all, the tongue is an important indicator of the health of a child's digestive system. White bloom may indicate certain violations of it, first of all, about dysbiosis or gastritis. If, along with the appearance of white plaque, the baby has problems with stool - diarrhea or, conversely, constipation, then it's time to contact a specialist. Older children may complain of nausea or abdominal pain, weakness, and loss of appetite. A gastroenterologist will help identify the cause of this phenomenon, make up a dietary ration and prescribe treatment. It must be remembered that very often plaque in children appears with viral diseases and after antibiotic treatment.
White spots on the child's tongue can also appear with bronchitis or asthma, so if no other reason is found, it is worth checking the baby's respiratory system.
A common reason why a child has a white tongue is candidiasis or thrush. Moreover, it can appear literally after birth. The reasons for the appearance of thrush, i.e. fungal infections can be different:
- Infection when passing through the birth canal;
- Insufficient hygiene of the mother's mammary glands during feeding;
- Non-sterile bottle nipple or pacifier
- Parents kiss the baby in the mouth;
- The child pulls various objects into his mouth.
In this case, a white tongue in a child is accompanied by plaques on the puppies and the palate. It is impossible to remove such plaque on your own, since wounds form under it that can bleed. Treatment consists in wiping the affected areas with special solutions. A popular folk method is to use a solution of soda or honey, but pediatricians prefer more effective and efficient means, such as Candide solution. It needs to be applied to a gauze swab and gently wipe the tongue and other areas of the mouth where plaques are localized. The course of treatment is about 5 days.
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