Why does the child have a white coating on the tongue?

Noticing external changes in a child, it is possible to timely identify violations in the work of his internal organs and systems. Indicative is the presence of plaque in the language, which may be the norm, but may also indicate the presence of various problems in the baby.

Normally, the child's tongue is pale pink, soft and mobile. Infants may have a thin layer of whitish plaque from milk or formula feeding in the morning and throughout the day. Usually, by the evening, the baby's tongue becomes clear. Morning white plaque on the tongue of a child also occurs in older children, but if it lies in a thin layer and at the same time the surface of the tongue itself is visible, there is no pathology. You can brush your tongue.

Why does the child have a white coating on the tongue

Probable reasons:

• inflammatory processes on the mucous membranes inside the oral cavity;
• dental disease;
• digestive problems;
• infectious diseases;
• colds;
• respiratory system diseases;
• psoriasis;
• allergic reaction;
• dehydration.

The tongue should be examined, paying attention to the thickness of the plaque layer, its density, shade (yellowish, grayish, bright white), location (in the center, along the edges, closer to the root of the tongue). Depending on these factors, a specific disease can be suspected. In newborns and babies, the most common cause is oral candidiasis (thrush). Manifestations:

• redness of the mucous membranes of the entire oral cavity;
• the formation of cheesy lumps, plaques on the tongue, the inner surface of the lips and cheeks;
• anxiety of the child due to pain, burning, itching in the mouth.

Stomatitis

Stomatitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. More often it occurs due to the fact that the child "pulls" hands, toys, various objects into his mouth. Manifestations:

• the formation of "lumps" and "grains" on the tongue, palate, inner surface of the cheeks;
• anxiety of the child due to painful sensations;
• change in habitual behavior (moods, lethargy, poor sleep, frequent crying);
• wounds and ulcers in the oral cavity, especially on its inner surface, formed as a result of the separation of pieces of plaque;
• the appearance of an unpleasant specific odor from the mouth.

If symptoms of stomatitis or thrush are detected, the child should be shown to the dentist, who will prescribe the necessary treatment. Usually, pain relievers, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial solutions are used, as well as decoctions of herbs for rinsing the mouth and lotions. Often, for thrush, irrigation of the mucous membrane with a solution of soda is used. In a one-year-old child, you can use lotions of a mixture of water and honey. It is not recommended to give honey to children of an earlier age due to the possibility of an allergic reaction.

Diseases of the teeth: caries

This disease is characterized by the appearance of a dense white bloom. Tooth decay is a site of infection in the oral cavity that must be removed. Treatment is carried out by a dentist. Prevention - regular brushing of teeth, keeping the oral cavity clean, removing white plaque that appears in the morning.

Respiratory system diseases

With colds, acute respiratory viral infections and flu, the child's tongue is often coated. Bronchitis is characterized by the formation of plaque along the edges of the tongue and on its front. In chronic bronchitis, the consistency of the plaque will be foamy. With the development of the severity of the disease, the plaque darkens and thickens. A white tip of the tongue is a sign of bronchial asthma.

Infectious diseases

For many infections, the tongue is lined, but in any case, only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

• With scarlet fever, a bright white bloom with red "islets" (lingual papillae) appears on the tongue. The child's throat turns red and sore, the tonsils acquire a white-yellow color, a rash appears on the entire surface of the skin, the lymph nodes increase, and the body temperature rises.
• With diphtheria, the plaque is white-gray. Depending on the localization of the infectious process (pharynx, nose, larynx), there are white-gray films-plaques on the mucous membranes, white "plugs" form on the tonsils. This disease is very dangerous for its course and complications, therefore, requires immediate medical attention.

Disorders of the digestive system

With the normal functioning of the digestive system, the tongue should be clean and pink, its surface should be matte, not smoothed, moderately moist. Slippery thick plaque may indicate a disease or malfunctioning of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

With gastritis, the tongue is coated in the center with a thick white bloom, often with cracks and grooves. If the inflammation in the stomach intensifies, the color of the plaque may turn brown. With enterocolitis, white plaque is located closer to the root of the tongue, with dysbiosis, it is evenly distributed over the entire surface.

If the thickness of the plaque increases, this means the development of the disease, aggravation of the severity of the child's condition. A change in the color of the plaque to yellow and the appearance of bitterness in the mouth are evidence of a malfunction of the liver and gallbladder. All diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are accompanied by characteristic symptoms that you should pay attention to and seek treatment from a pediatrician or gastroenterologist.

Psoriasis

With this systemic disease, both the skin and mucous membranes (including the tongue) are affected. The appearance of grayish-white rounded plaques is characteristic. A lesion in the form of a "geographical" tongue is also possible, when plaques of various shapes and colors rise above the surface of the tongue.

Allergic reactions

A manifestation of allergies can be the formation of a white-gray plaque on the outside and inside of the tongue.

Dehydration

If the tongue is white and its papillae are enlarged, this may be one of the symptoms of dehydration - a condition that is threatening for the child's life. Dehydration can occur with diarrhea, vomiting, or intoxication. Other signs:

• darkening of urine, its absence within 5 - 6 hours;
• crying without tears;
• retraction of the fontanelle;
• dry mucous membranes;
• retraction of the eyeballs;
• lethargy.

This condition requires immediate medical attention.