White plaque on the baby's tongue

The surface of a healthy child's tongue should be clean and pale pink. Newborns may have a slight whitish coating on the tongue, associated with the use of breast milk or formula. If the white coating on the child's tongue is not thick and does not interfere with the contemplation of the true color of the tongue, then there is nothing to worry about.

Such plaque usually appears in the morning and is easily cleaned off with a toothbrush. However, sometimes white plaque is still pathological. How to determine this and what to do in such a situation? Let's try to answer these questions.

Causes of white coating on a child's tongue

If the plaque does not go away during the day, or, moreover, causes discomfort to the child, then one can suspect that the baby has some kind of disease.

• Inflammatory process in the oral cavity: inflammation of the oral mucosa, fungal infection or caries.

With stomatitis, the plaque may be uneven, with light inclusions. If you try to clean the plaque, the surface of the tongue may bleed.

With a fungal infection, along with plaque, there is a feeling of itching and dryness in the mouth, on the tongue, on the lips and cheeks. The plaque may resemble cottage cheese in appearance.

Caries is an infectious process in the oral cavity, therefore, with this disease, a pronounced white coating may appear on the tongue.

• Respiratory diseases: microbial or viral lesions.

ARI, cold, flu, which are accompanied by signs of intoxication of the body, as well as redness of the throat and an increase in temperature, can provoke the appearance of a white coating on the tongue. If a layer of coating appears on the tonsils, then this is a more serious reason to see a doctor.

Bronchitis may be accompanied by the appearance of a white coating on the front surface of the tongue. Foamy coating may indicate a chronic course of the disease. As complications develop, the coating may become gray and thicken.

The inflammatory process in the tonsils, angina, is usually accompanied not only by the appearance of a white coating, but also by pain when swallowing and an increase in temperature.

Bronchial asthma is characterized by the formation of a white coating on the tip of the tongue. The coating is viscous and difficult to remove.

• Infection – accompanied by pronounced signs of intoxication.

Scarlet fever is characterized by the formation of a white coating on the tongue, with isolated red elements (islets). It mainly develops in children from 2 to 6 years old.

In diphtheria, the plaque has a white-gray tint, with damage to the pharynx, nasal cavity, larynx and eyes.

• Diseases of the digestive system: gastritis, enterocolitis, dysbacteriosis. Such diseases can be suspected if the baby has diarrhea or constipation, abdominal colic, bloating or pain.
• Signs of dehydration are also accompanied by the appearance of a white, persistent coating on the tongue. Dehydration can be suspected in the following situations:
  • the baby urinates rarely (once every 5-6 hours or longer);
  • his lips and tongue are dry;
  • urine has a concentrated odor and a dark color;
  • Facial features may become sharper.

Symptoms of white coating on a child's tongue

Pathological white coating on the tongue is observed not only in the morning after waking up, but does not disappear after brushing your teeth and after breakfast. You should be especially wary if the coating layer goes to the cheeks and gums.

The plaque may be uneven, spotty, with light inclusions and even ulcers: such plaque may be a sign of oral thrush. Thrush is also characterized by a "cheesy" plaque, difficult to remove: when trying to forcibly remove the plaque, bleeding surfaces and ulcers may open up.

A thick white coating without additional visible signs is most often a sign of digestive problems. In this case, there are symptoms of digestive disorder: abdominal pain, flatulence, stool and appetite disorders.

Darkening of the plaque may indicate general intoxication, and the appearance of yellowness on the plaque indicates a disorder in the functioning of the liver and gallbladder.

A white coating against the background of an increase in temperature in most cases indicates a bacterial infection.

As a rule, any plaque disappears as soon as the baby is cured.

Diagnosis of white coating on a child's tongue

Where should I go to diagnose white coating on my child’s tongue?

Usually, the first specialist to whom a child turns for help is a dentist. He will carefully examine the oral cavity and tongue, feel the lymph nodes, and assess the condition of the teeth and gums. If the teeth and oral cavity are all in order, the doctor may refer the child to a pediatrician, pediatric gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, infectious disease specialist, and other doctors.

Usually, an external examination may be enough to establish a correct diagnosis. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe a general blood and urine test, bacterial culture from the surface of the tongue. Based on the examination, palpation and laboratory tests, the doctor will establish a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

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Treatment of white coating on a child's tongue

Treatment of white coating on the child's tongue should be carried out taking into account the causes of this condition and accompanying symptoms. It is better not to self-medicate, as coating on the tongue can be a sign of a serious disease.

If the plaque formed after drinking milk or eating a lot of sweets, then it is usually enough to simply rinse your mouth and clean your tongue with a toothbrush.

For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, treatment is prescribed for the corresponding disease: gastritis, enterocolitis, duodenitis, etc.

In case of infectious diseases, antibiotics, antifungal drugs, immunostimulants, vitamins and detoxifying agents are prescribed.

In case of dental diseases, the oral cavity and teeth are sanitized.

• A mild form of thrush can be treated with a simple solution of baking soda.
• If the plaque is accompanied by pain in the tongue, Kalgel will help.
• To eliminate bacterial infections in the oral cavity in children, Rivanol or Tantum Verde is used.
• For fungal infections, special ointments are used: nystatin and decamin.
• To speed up the healing process, you can use sea buckthorn oil, rosehip decoction, and aloe extract.

Prevention of white coating on a child's tongue

From an early age, a child should be taught to observe the rules of personal hygiene, because teeth, as well as the tongue, must be cleaned regularly. This is done 2 times a day: in the morning and in the evening.

It is recommended to purchase a special toothbrush with a tongue cleaning device. Such brushes are also available for children. It is necessary to teach the baby the technology of cleaning teeth and tongue: the tongue is cleaned with soft massage movements from the far surface of the tongue to the near one. After this, the oral cavity should be thoroughly rinsed.

You also need to rinse your mouth after breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can do this with plain water, soda solution, chamomile or oak bark infusion.

It is necessary to observe the child and notice the onset of diseases in a timely manner: the child becomes whiny, capricious, often cries, refuses to eat. If diseases are treated in a timely manner, then in most cases the coating on the tongue will not form.

To prevent white plaque, it is recommended to offer a little warm boiled water to a breastfed baby after each feeding.

White coating on the tongue of a child prognosis

If a doctor's examination and determination of the exact cause of the plaque's appearance are carried out in time, then the prognosis for white plaque on a child's tongue can be considered favorable. Sometimes, to treat this symptom, it is enough to perform regular oral hygiene procedures with an emphasis on the tongue area.

When we start brushing our teeth, we often forget that bacteria and germs can accumulate not only on the teeth and gums, but also on the cheeks and tongue. Remember that the child also needs to be taught to brush his teeth correctly, without ignoring the cleaning of the tongue.

If you regularly clean your tongue, monitor your baby's diet and drinking regimen, then the white coating on your baby's tongue will not form, and for parents there will be at least one less reason to worry.

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