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Thrush and Other Causes, Plus Treatment

The fragility of a newborn can be one of the most intimidating things in the world. And naturally, you’ll do everything in your power to protect this tiny human from anything that brings worry.

You ever-so-gently lay them down, support their head, dress them lightly, and check every square inch of their body for any unusual signs. And then you notice it: Instead of being perfectly pink, your baby’s tongue looks like it has a white coating on it.

This coating can seem to appear out of nowhere. But here’s the good news — a white tongue in babies isn’t unusual. It’s typically caused by either an overgrowth of yeast — very treatable — or by something as simple as milk residue.

Thrush is a yeast infection caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida — yes, the very same type that causes vaginal yeast infections and diaper rashes.

In the case of oral thrush, though, the infection forms on parts of the mouth involved in sucking. This includes your baby’s lips, tongue, and inner cheeks.

And though we know you put baby first, and you second, you should also know that thrush can spread to the object of your baby’s sucking if you’re breastfeeding: your nipples. Conversely, yeast on your nipples (that you may not even know you have) can contribute to thrush in your baby’s mouth.

The tell-tale signs and symptoms of thrush

Not every white tongue is caused by thrush. So here’s a good rule of thumb: If you’re able to wipe or brush off a white coating, thrush isn’t the culprit. Yeast hangs on for dear life.

Also, if your baby has thrush, it’s unlikely for the white to only appear on their tongue. If you open their mouth, you’ll see a cottage-cheese coating over other areas, too, like inside their cheeks.

If you notice these symptoms, don’t panic. But thrush isn’t something to ignore, even if it’s mild and doesn’t seem to cause any problems. There’s always the chance of the infection getting worse, and if it does, your baby may have pain or discomfort that makes it harder for them to feed or latch onto your breast — and if baby’s not happy, no one’s happy.

Causes of thrush

You might wonder why many babies get oral thrush while it’s rarely a problem for adults. The answer is simple: A baby’s young immune system isn’t always strong enough to fight off germs and infections. And because of their weaker immune system, it’s much easier for yeast to grow on some parts of their little body.

But a weak immune system isn’t the only culprit. If your baby takes an antibiotic to treat another infection — say, one of those pesky ear infections — this drug can kill off good bacteria, also encouraging the growth of yeast.

Treatment for thrush

Hearing that your baby has any type of infection can cause a range of emotions. But there’s no need to worry with this one — thrush is very common and easily treatable.

Your baby’s doctor will likely prescribe a liquid antifungal that you’ll apply directly to white patches. For the medicine to work, you’ll want it to sit on their tongue or inside their mouth for as long as possible. So give your baby treatments at least 30 minutes before feedings.

Once the medicine is in their system, you can expect the infection to clear in a few days.

Additional considerations if you’re breastfeeding

To be clear, thrush happens in babies who are bottle-fed and breastfed. If you breastfeed, though, know that it’s possible for you and your baby to spread yeast to each other.

This might be a lesser known problem, but it does happen and it’s called nipple thrush. Signs include:

• sore, painful nipples after pain-free breastfeeding
• cracked, itchy, or blistered nipples
• achy breasts after feedings

If you also have thrush, it isn’t enough to treat your baby. Sure, medicine will clear their infection. But if you don’t clear your own infection, you’ll continue to spread thrush back and forth. There are a lot of things you and baby will share over a lifetime — this shouldn’t be one of them.

Applying a topical antifungal cream — available over the- counter in the form of yeast infection creams and others — on and around your nipples after each feeding is usually enough to kill the fungus.

It’s possible that you might need a prescription antifungal for a particularly stubborn infection. Since yeast likes warm, moist areas, let the skin of your breasts air dry as much as possible before putting your bra back on.

Don’t forget to wash off any leftover residue of the cream before nursing. Your symptoms will also clear up in a few days.

It’s completely normal to worry about your baby. And, honestly, you should never let anyone tell you that your worries are foolish. If you see a white coating on your baby’s tongue, you might immediately think it’s thrush and call the pediatrician — and there’s nothing wrong with that.

But there’s also a chance that what you believe to be yeast is only milk residue.

Distinguishing between the two can be tricky, as they have similar appearances. One of the easiest ways to tell the difference is to try and wipe off the residue with a warm, damp cloth.

If the residue comes off or becomes less noticeable, you’re dealing with milk residue and not thrush. Keep in mind that milk residue is more noticeable after feedings and only appears on the tongue.

What causes this buildup of milk? Simply put, a lack of saliva.

A newborn’s mouth is different from an adult’s mouth in that babies don’t produce a lot of saliva during the first few months after birth. (That is, until they are about 4 months. Then it’s time for a months-long vacay in droolville.) The less saliva, the harder it is for their mouths to wash away milk.

Milk residue may be more likely to occur if your baby has tongue tie, a condition that restricts movement of their tongue. Your baby’s tongue might be unable to touch the roof of their mouth, in which case the lack of friction causes a buildup of milk residue.

This can also happen if your baby has a high palate, and their tongue can’t reach the roof of their mouth.

Regardless of cause, though, milk residue isn’t permanent, nor a reason for concern. A white tongue goes away once your baby’s mouth produces more saliva, or when they start to eat solid foods.

In the meantime, you can consider gently wipe off the residue using a soft, damp cloth after feedings, though this may not be necessary.

Just because thrush is common in babies doesn’t mean you should ignore the problem. Untreated thrush can cause pain and discomfort, and if so, you’ll have a fussy baby on your hands.

See a doctor if your baby develops any creamy, white lesions in their mouth, especially if you can’t remove the whiteness with a damp cloth. It’s likely thrush, but a pediatrician can run tests if they suspect something else.

If your baby has thrush, see your own doctor if your nipples or breasts become sore. It’s important that you’re treated at the same time to stop the spread of the infection.

Gently wiping or brushing your baby’s tongue after each feeding can help prevent a white tongue caused by milk.

As far as thrush goes, your best weapon is to sterilize all equipment used for feedings. This includes bottles, nipples, and your breast pump. You can take it a step further and sterilize pacifiers and any toys your baby puts in their mouth.

If you have thrush on your nipples, prevent recurrent infections by frequently changing your breast pads, and washing your breastfeeding bras in hot water.

Also, if you express or freeze your breast milk with thrush, consider giving this milk to your baby while you’re both being treated. If you give this milk to your baby after the infection clears, there could be a greater chance that the thrush could return.

If you see a white coating on your baby’s tongue, know that it happens and it’s not because you’re doing something wrong. It could be thrush, or it may be something as simple as milk residue.

In the event of thrush, these yeast infections are easily treatable, so see your pediatrician. Your sweet baby will be sticking their perfectly pink tongue out at you before you know it!

Causes of spots on the child's tongue

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The tongue is a kind of indicator that can tell about various changes in the body. Even the slightest disruption of the functioning of organs and systems will necessarily affect the state of the mucous membrane of the tongue. If the child is sick, then plaque and spots of a different nature appear on the tongue. Parents should know what the spots on the child's tongue mean in order to consult a doctor in a timely manner. nine0009

Which language is required

A child who is perfectly healthy has a uniform pink tongue, without areas of inflammation. Plaque on the mucous membrane should also not be normal. Parents should be alerted by such changes on the tongue:

• Limited areas of inflammation;

• Neoplasms of a different plan;

• nine0008 Uneven plaque, which consists of the smallest particles of food and dead epithelium;

• Excessive growth of the epithelium in certain areas of the tongue.

You should pay attention to the localization of spots and areas of inflammation. This is also of great diagnostic value, since each part of the tongue is associated with the work of a particular organ.

• nine0008 Liver and gallbladder - spots and plaque on the sides of the tongue;

• Intestines - changes affect the base of the tongue;

• Kidneys - spots are located between the root and the middle of the tongue;

• Lungs - there are spots on the front of the tongue;

• The heart is connected to the tip of the organ. nine0009

Most often, spots on the tongue are caused by problems with the digestive tract. Not necessarily such changes are a sign of serious illness, but it is worth consulting with a doctor about this.

Varieties of stains

The spots on the tongue of a child can be different, both in shape and in color. Depending on this, all spots on the mucous membrane of the tongue can be divided into several groups.

Geographic language

In this case, the mucosa is very similar to a map of countries and continents. This change can be observed in children of all ages, including newborns. The tongue looks heterogeneous, it has areas of small bald patches that are connected to each other. A similar type of mucosa is observed in such pathologies:

• With hormonal diseases;

• With helminthic invasion; nine0009

• For diseases of the digestive system.

Spots with a geographical language can be of different shapes and sizes. In many cases, they are not a sign of the disease at all, and they do not pose a danger to the child.

White spots

White spots on the mucosa in most cases are caused by fungi. In the people, such a pathology is called thrush. Candidiasis develops against the background of weakened immunity in children of different ages. Such spots have a curdled appearance, they can cover not only the surface of the tongue, but also the cheeks and palate. With a fungal infection of the oral cavity, the child cannot eat normally, he becomes capricious and restless. nine0009

As a first aid, the child's oral cavity is treated with a soda solution. Prepare such a solution at the rate of 1 teaspoon of soda per glass of boiled water.

Red spots

Such spots almost always indicate an inflammatory or infectious disease of the oral cavity. The cause of red spots can be glossitis, stomatitis, herpes and bacterial dermatosis. The reason for this phenomenon may be an allergic reaction and the use of red foods. nine0009

Quite often, the appearance of such spots is accompanied by pain and a burning sensation in the tongue. Due to pain, the child may refuse to eat and act up. Sometimes the body temperature rises.

Depending on the cause, antimycotic agents, antibiotics and antiviral drugs may be prescribed. Areas of inflammation are recommended to be treated with antiseptic solutions such as Miramistin or Furacilin.

Dark spots

Often appear on the tongue after consuming certain foods. They do not carry danger and disappear after rinsing the mouth or brushing the tongue.

Black spots may appear as a result of prolonged treatment with antibacterial drugs. In this case, the treatment is reduced to the normalization of the microflora of the digestive organs.

Deep dystrophic processes become a very rare cause of dark spots, when areas of the mucous membrane die off. This condition requires urgent medical attention. nine0009

Yellow spots

Occurs with problems with the digestive tract in a child. Such spots densely cover the base of the tongue and the rest of its surface. Plaque consists of dead epithelium and is difficult to remove. This phenomenon is almost always accompanied by bad breath.

To eliminate the problem, you should undergo an examination and treat diseases of the digestive tract. After treatment, the yellow plaque quickly disappears.

Blue spots

Blue spots on the tongue of children are extremely rare. They talk about problems with the cardiovascular system. To eliminate this phenomenon, sometimes it is simply necessary to normalize blood circulation in the vessels.

The cause of blue spots can be a hemangioma. In this case, the spot is most often one. Treatment in this case is always surgical.

Other stains

Normally, the tongue is covered with many taste buds, which give the mucosa a velvety appearance. With injuries of the tongue, burns and some inflammatory diseases, the taste buds die off, forming smooth areas of pink color. nine0009

Such spots do not cause discomfort to the baby, his taste may only change slightly. This condition is not treatable, since the taste buds are not restored.

Seeing different spots on the child's tongue, you should not panic, but you should not ignore such a phenomenon. The baby should be shown to a doctor who will correctly diagnose and, if necessary, prescribe treatment.

This article is for informational purposes only, please contact your doctor for details! Ask your doctor about contraindications and side effects. nine0009

What to do if a white spot appears on the tongue

The state of the tongue can be used to judge the health of many internal organs of a person. Changes in its color and structure, plaque or spots indicate a malfunction in the body. How the tongue normally looks, what causes white spots and when to see a doctor - in this article.

What a healthy tongue looks like

When a person is healthy, his tongue is even, soft, and pale pink in color. Movement does not cause discomfort. The papillae on the tongue are not smoothed: small at the tip, closer to the middle - larger. Plaque - white in a small amount, easily removed with a toothbrush. Taste sensations are not disturbed ^[1] .

In order not to miss the development of unpleasant diseases, regularly conduct an independent examination of the tongue. To do this, follow a few rules:

• Examine your tongue in the morning before brushing your teeth.

• Use natural light.

• Do not strain your protruding tongue.

• Keep in mind what you ate the day before. For example, beets or blueberries stain the tongue.

You can comprehensively assess the state of the language by honestly answering a number of questions:

• The color of the tongue.

• How smooth it is.

• Is there any plaque, what color and density.

• Is the language homogeneous in its structure.

• Have teeth been imprinted on the tongue.

• Cracks in the tongue, sores, sores.

• Do you have bad breath.

Causes of white spots

Harmless causes of white spots on the tongue can be dehydration, smoking, poor diet, poor hygiene, taking certain medications. But behind this symptom, unpleasant diseases can also be hidden, for example, such as stomatitis, leukoplakia, lichen planus, disorders in the digestive tract ^[2] .

1. Candidal stomatitis - inflammation of the oral cavity, which is caused by the fungus Candida. White spots are located on the tongue, cheeks, or completely cover the entire mucous membrane up to the throat and tonsils. There is also a feeling of dryness and burning. The disease is not dangerous, but requires treatment.

Stomatitis occurs due to prolonged use of antibiotics, metabolic disorders. Infection is also possible through objects, products or from another person. Predisposing factors include alcohol use, smoking, dentures, high carbohydrate diet, poor oral hygiene ^[3] .

2. Leukoplakia are white patches or plaques that are not scraped off during examination. Most often located on the mucous membrane of the cheeks along the line of closing of the teeth, they can occur on the back or lateral surfaces of the tongue, on the lips. Tobacco is a common cause of leukoplakia. It has a traumatic thermal and chemical effect on the mucous membrane. Sometimes leukoplakia appears due to an allergy to materials used in restoration and prosthetics of the teeth ^[4] .

3. Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease that targets the mucous membranes, skin, and, more rarely, nails and hair. You can find white spots on the tongue, on the surfaces of the cheeks, gums. Usually they are not painful, in some cases redness and rare blistering are noted. Most often, the disease occurs in women aged 40 to 65 years ^[5] . The cause of lichen planus in the mouth is rarely known. The disease may indicate a weakening of the human immune system. It is not contagious and is not inherited. nine0009

4. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. One of the causes of stomach diseases is the microorganism Helicobacter pylori. Its vigorous activity leads to stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, cancers and tumors of the digestive system. The gastrointestinal tract and tongue are closely related. Studies show that spots on the tongue, changes in its color and relief, the appearance of plaque and cracks may indicate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

When to see a doctor

Visit your dentist if stains do not go away within a week. White dots, fissures, ulcers and leukoplakia can cause oral cancer. In this case, the sooner a dangerous disease is recognized, the more favorable the outcome awaits the patient ^[6] .

“According to WHO data, 589,341 cases of malignant neoplasms were detected in the Russian Federation in 2015 alone (including 270,046 and 319,335 in male and female patients, respectively). The increase in this indicator compared to 2014 was 4.0%, and these figures are growing”

D.V.

Prevention of diseases of the oral cavity