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What is milk tongue?

Published in Infant health 2 mins read

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.