Milk tongue, also known as milk residue, is the buildup of milk on a baby's tongue. It's a common and harmless occurrence, especially in newborns.
Understanding Milk Tongue
Here's a breakdown of what you need to know about milk tongue:
- What it is: Milk tongue is simply milk residue that accumulates on a baby's tongue after feeding.
- Why it happens: Newborns don’t produce as much saliva as older babies, meaning there isn’t as much natural cleansing of the tongue.
- Appearance: It appears as a white coating on the tongue. This coating can be thin or thick.
- Harmless nature: Milk tongue is not harmful and does not cause discomfort to the baby.
- No need to remove: According to experts, there's no need to actively remove milk tongue or try to prevent it.
- Common in newborns: It's more frequently observed in newborns than older infants because their saliva production is still developing.
Differences Between Milk Tongue and Thrush
It's essential to differentiate milk tongue from thrush, a yeast infection that can also appear as white patches in the mouth.
Feature | Milk Tongue | Thrush |
---|---|---|
Appearance | White coating on the tongue | White patches that can be on cheeks, gums, and tongue; looks like cottage cheese |
Removal | Easily wiped or rinses off | Difficult to remove and may bleed if scraped |
Pain | Not painful | Can be painful, may cause feeding difficulties |
Cause | Milk residue | Yeast infection (Candida) |
Treatment | No treatment needed | Requires antifungal medication |
Key Takeaway
Milk tongue is a normal, harmless buildup of milk on a baby's tongue and requires no treatment. It's essential to be able to distinguish it from thrush, which is a medical condition requiring treatment.