New moms notice everything about their infants. When a mother discovers a white residue or patch in their child’s mouth, they may panic and worry that their child is deathly ill. There is no need to be concerned. In many cases, this white patch is simply leftover milk on the baby’s tongue. At other times, the baby has oral thrush, a common condition that can easily be treated.
Moms must know what causes these white patches or residue and how to treat them. Each condition has its own causes, and thrush and milk residue look different. Once a mom has determined what her child has, she can know how to proceed to correct the problem.
A White Tongue
Anyone who has ever eaten a popsicle knows it can leave the tongue discolored. A baby with a white tongue may be experiencing a similar condition, so it is important to know the difference between milk tongue vs thrush. Milk tongue is nothing more than a buildup of milk that leaves the baby’s tongue looking white. There isn’t enough friction to remove this milk, often due to the anatomy or shape of the infant’s mouth. Nevertheless, it may be that the child has oral thrush, a medical condition. Fortunately, thrush is not dangerous and can be easily treated by your child’s pediatrician.
Milk Residue
Infants who have not yet started solids often have a white tongue. Their only source of nutrition is milk or formula, leaving them at high risk of milk residue. One reason this is so common in young children is that infants lack the salivary glands seen in older children. Reduced saliva production makes it more difficult to remove milk residue after the baby finishes eating. Infants with a tongue tie or a palate that sits high in the mouth are at higher risk of milk residue.
Underneath the tongue is a small piece of tissue known as the frenulum. This tissue connects the tongue and the bottom of the mouth. When the frenulum is too short, the baby is diagnosed with a tongue tie, a condition in which the tongue can’t move freely and reach the top of the baby’s mouth. As a result, the infant cannot remove the residue with everyday movements. Talk with the pediatrician, as a simple surgical procedure can correct this common problem.
Your child might have a high hard palate. This condition can also lead to milk residue. The tongue can’t reach the child’s mouth to scrape off any remaining milk after they eat. The pediatrician can also assist with addressing the palate issue.
Oral Thrush
Oral thrush is another condition that may leave a white residue on the infant’s tongue. This fungal infection is common and easily treatable. Many people are upset at the thought of a fungus growing in their infant’s mouth, but they shouldn’t be.
Oral thrush is the result of Candida albicans. This fungal infection may appear on other parts of the body, including the groin or mouth. Every human has some fungal presence in their mouth and intestines. Fungus is also found on human skin. Good bacteria in the body help keep this fungus in check, preventing an infection. When things aren’t properly balanced, the fungus grows and creates an infection. If a baby has thrush, it will appear as a white coating or white spots on the tongue rather than the patches seen with milk residue.
If a breastfeeding mom or an infant is taking antibiotics, they are more at risk of thrush. Antibiotics kill some of the good bacteria present in the body, lowering the body’s defense system. This increases the likelihood of the fungal infection appearing. Moms often pass this infection onto their child unintentionally when they breastfeed. If a mom has discomfort while breastfeeding, she may have mastitis or thrush. When the infant feeds, the infection is transferred to them.
Any warm, moist environment increases the likelihood of a fungal infection developing. The baby’s mouth provides the perfect environment for this infection. Moms should watch for signs of oral thrush and talk to their pediatrician if they notice any. The doctor can give medication to address the thrush and provide the mom with advice on how to prevent it from recurring.
Milk Tongue or Oral Thrush?
Signs of milk tongue are typically easy to spot. They’re commonly seen after a baby feeds, and the mom will find she can gently wipe the tongue and remove these white spots. She’ll notice that other parts of the mouth appear clean even when the tongue is white. If the only part of the mouth that is white is the tongue, it is likely milk residue rather than oral thrush.
Thrush, in contrast, has a cottage cheese or velvety appearance. These patches will be found on the tongue, inner cheeks, roof of the mouth, and other areas. If the mom tries to wipe the white patches off, the area will turn red. The white spots do not come off as easily, and the corners of the mouth may be cracked. Moms often find that their child also has a diaper rash, as the fungus has spread through the digestive system.
A mom might worry that their child’s milk tongue will develop into oral thrush. As different things cause them, the likelihood of this happening is small. Nevertheless, a child may have milk residue and oral thrush simultaneously.
Moms often ask how they can prevent thrush. Cleaning the breast pump is one way to do so, and any signs of infection in the mother should be addressed to avoid transmission to her infant. Moms should also try to limit pacifier use and clean pacifiers regularly to reduce the risk of infection in infants.
Oral thrush and milk residue are common in infants. Moms should not become overly concerned when they see signs of one of these conditions. The best thing they can do is contact the pediatrician to determine the problem and the best way to address it quickly so that the infant can feed easily without worry.