Have you seen curdled milk-like appearance on your baby’s tongue? Worry not, look for these signs to confirm if it’s thrush or not.
Motherhood can be exhausting, especially if you are a new mum and there is no help around you. The teeny tiny newcomer doesn’t ask much other than a lot of care. It is easier for people to throw tons of advice towards a new mum; however, it can be daunting and frightening for her to process all that advice. The best thing to do as a mother of a newborn or toddler is to look closely at the changing signs.
For instance, a baby’s tongue says a lot about their gut health. Although babies feed on milk till they reach a certain age, they still can get upset tummies due to bacteria. If you see white curds on their tongues, that can only mean they have spotted the digested milk. However, it can be worrisome sometimes if you see them irritated. The whitish tongue can sometimes tell your baby has gotten thrush which can lead to agitating health conditions. We are here to discuss what could the white curdled milk on a baby’s tongue possibly mean?
Is Curdled Milk On A Baby’s Tongue A Sign Of Thrush?
If you are a mum to tiny babies, you will be familiar with milk residues or spit signs on the baby’s tongues. However, a new mum might freak out if she sees a whitish layer on her baby’s tongue. It isn’t a cause of concern in most cases because I have noticed that on my baby’s tongue after he feeds. Most of the time, it’s just the milk’s residue or can be curdled spit. If you are still worried and want to erase suspicion from your heart, you should consult your child’s pediatrician.
There are possibilities that your little one has gotten a thrush. Although thrush looks scary, you might sometimes confuse it with milk residue when it isn’t severe. It is always better to be on the safer side by talking to the pediatrician so that you don’t have to go through mom’s guilt. Let us discuss in detail what thrush looks like, how it spreads, and what the symptoms are.
Symptoms And Signs Of Oral Thrush In Babies
Thrush in the mouth, also known as oropharyngeal candidiasis, is a yeast infection that isn’t the cause of much concern. It is caused by yeast invasion and can slightly irritate the baby’s mouth by forming curled bumps. Oral thrush isn’t very harmful and can be treated with medicine. Sometimes it can go away on its own. Some immuno-compromised babies should get immediate help from the doctor if they develop thrush in their mouth.
If left untreated, it can cause other medical conditions in babies because babies are born with weaker immune systems. If you see a yellowish appearance in your little one’s mouth, here are a few indicators that can confirm that your baby has developed oral thrush.
- Yellowish curds like bumps on the tongue, throat, and inner cheek. These appearances are the first signs; however, it might not be thrush, so you should look for other signs as well.
- Irritability, your child might get fussy for no reason and may refuse to take milk because of the burning sensation in the mouth that comes with the thrush.
- Bleeding and sores in the mouth: if left untreated for a longer time, the bumps might start bleeding, and you might see a sores-like appearance, which can be very painful.
- Loss of appetite and taste: babies cannot tell you that their taste is gone, but you can sense if they are refusing milk or aren’t interested in eating or having milk.
Herpes-like skin in the corners of the mouth: when thrush spreads outwards, it can irritate babies’ delicate skins so severely. You might see crackly skin on the corners of their mouth, which can bleed at times. If you notice even one sign mentioned above, don’t wait for the second sign and run to the pediatrician for immediate help.
FAQs
Is oral thrush in babies dangerous?
Oral thrush is generally not harmful in the first appearance and might go away on its own or with some medical help. However, babies with weaker immunities can develop other medical conditions because of the rapid spread of yeast infection. Moreover, if it is left untreated for a longer time, it might cause painful conditions such as sores, and cracks, on lips and inside the mouth, which can be frustrating for the baby as well as for the mother.
What other meaning could white layers on a baby’s tongue have?
If you see a curdled formation or a simple white layer on your baby’s tongue, it only means one thing that is milk residue. Almost all of the babies spit milk after feeding, so you might as well see curdled spits on their tongues. Therefore, you should not always freak out by seeing such whitish layers in your baby’s mouth.
What are the prominent signs of oral thrush in babies?
If you are suspecting that your child has gotten oral thrush, look for these signs to confirm it. For instance, if your baby has yellowish bumps on their tongue, throat, and inner cheeks that might appear as sore, it can be a sign of thrush. Other than that, if you see bleeding along with the yellowish bumps and your child seems irritable, that can definitely be the cause of oral thrush.
Final Thoughts
A slight unusual sign you see on your baby can be worrisome, especially for the new mums. Remember, babies are human beings and are very much prone to getting sick. They have weaker immunities and can easily catch infections. Most of the time, the physical appearances of babies can be harmless; however, sometimes, it could mean serious health issues.
For instance, the yellowish bumpy appearance on the baby’s tongue could mean oral thrush. Most of the time, it can be milk residue or spit; however, look for the signs mentioned above to confirm it’s a thrush to get immediate medical help.