The white coating could be milk residue or oral thrush. It is not uncommon for a newborn to have a white tongue. Their primary source of nourishment is breast milk or formula, so milk residue from a recent feed is the most likely cause of this discoloration.
There are two causes of white tongues in newborns and infants: milk residue and thrush.
A milk diet often causes a white coated tongue. This is normal. It will go away after your baby starts eating solid foods.
The yeast can form a white film or blotchy patches on top of the tongue. Your dentist can prescribe an antifungal medication to kill the yeast, and brushing the tongue daily will help prevent its return.
Thrush often goes away on its own in a few days. Your provider may prescribe antifungal medicine to treat thrush. You paint this medicine on your baby's mouth and tongue. If you have a yeast infection on your nipples, your provider may recommend an over-the-counter or prescription antifungal cream.
It is not uncommon for a newborn to have a white tongue. Their primary source of nourishment is breast milk or formula, so milk residue from a recent feed is the most likely cause of this discoloration. Sometimes, a newborn may have oral thrush, which is a type of yeast infection.
For the most part, your tongue can look white for benign reasons (maybe you're dehydrated or skipped a few brushings), but thicker white patches can also be a sign of infection or, in rare cases, mouth or oral cancer.
While a white tongue often indicates thrush, it can be a sign of another condition. Several oral conditions have similar symptoms to thrush, causing them to sometimes be mistaken for thrush.
Even before that happens, regular oral hygiene is a must. Leaving breast milk or formula residues in your baby's mouth for days allows bacteria to thrive in their sugary saliva. This can cause fungal infections. It's normal for your baby to have a seemingly discolored tongue after nursing.
White patches on the tongue and elsewhere in the mouth that can't be rubbed off can indicate thrush at any age. On the whole, however, if your baby has a white tongue, milk residue is the most common culprit. In this case, your baby's white tongue is not thrush.
Oral thrush is a type of fungus infection, very common among babies. It appears as moist, milky-white patches in and around a child's mouth. Usually oral thrush is not serious and can sometimes even go unnoticed.
If the fungus grows out of control in your baby's mouth, it can develop into oral thrush, which may cause sore patches on the tongue or elsewhere in or around his or her mouth. These may be uncomfortable or painful for your little one, especially when feeding.
Symptoms of oral thrush in breastfed babies
Signs to look for include: creamy white spots or patches on the tongue, gums, roof of the mouth or insides of the cheeks – if you gently wipe these patches with a clean cloth, they won't come off. your baby being unsettled when feeding.
There are usually no obvious signs of thrush on your nipples. However some signs may be present and include: your nipples may appear bright pink; the areola may be reddened, dry or flaky. Rarely a fine white rash may be seen.
According to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and several other sources, there is no need to discard milk that was pumped during a presumed thrush infection.
This may affect the type of treatment you're given. If thrush isn't treated it eventually goes away on its own. There's no need for your partner(s) to have treatment unless they have signs and symptoms of thrush.
Untreated oral thrush can lead to more-serious systemic candida infections. If you have a weakened immune system, thrush may spread to your esophagus or other parts of your body.
Oral Care Before the Teeth Come In
Before your baby has teeth, you won't need to use a toothbrush, infant tongue cleaner, or toothpaste. Instead, a small piece of gauze or a washcloth soaked in a bit of water should suffice.
Baby teeth (also called milk teeth) hold the spaces open for permanent teeth to come in. Although most babies do not start developing teeth until they are 6 months old, it is recommended to begin cleaning the baby's mouth as a newborn, even before the teeth appear.