White tongue

[MissTeach75]

My little one is 17 days old and has developed a white tongue. She has been on Aptamil since birth and is feeding every 2 to 4 hours. Is this normal, is it just milk residue or could it be thrush. The health visitor is supposed to visit this week but hasn't been in touch yet. Not sure whether to contact the GP or not. Any advise what be helpful.

 

[KayBea]

i would go to the doctors. if its only just started now its likely to be thrush.
LO had it & was given some drops to put in her mouth. it cleared up pretty quick x

 

[MindUtopia]

Can you scrape it off? If you can scrape some off with your nail, it's likely just milk residue. My daughter often has this (actually, most of us have white gunk on our tongues, it's just sorta bacteria and food residue, kinda like the plague you get on your teeth). If it doesn't scrape off and she also has it on her cheeks or gums, it's possible it could be thrush. Though thrush is much more likely in BF babies.

 

[cupcaker]

I had a similar panic, but it was just a white coating with no spot like shapes and wasn't anywhere else in his mouth...I had already assumed it was just milk tongue but I checked out with the doctor anyway, and it was nothing. But I think it's something best caught early if it is thrush so won't harm to get a second opinion.

 

[cookette]

Can you scrape it off? If you can scrape some off with your nail, it's likely just milk residue. My daughter often has this (actually, most of us have white gunk on our tongues, it's just sorta bacteria and food residue, kinda like the plague you get on your teeth). If it doesn't scrape off and she also has it on her cheeks or gums, it's possible it could be thrush. Though thrush is much more likely in BF babies.

Thrush can sometimes also be scraped off with a fingernail. Best to go get it checked out, better safe than sorry.

 

[Wellington]

Thrush is more likely to be patchy.


If the only thing you eat/drink is milk, then you are likely to have a white coated tongue.

 

[Tournesol]

My baby had a white patchy tongue for a few days a couple of weeks ago. Thrush didn't even cross my mind, I just assumed it was a milky tongue! Whatever is was it cleared up by itself.
No harm in getting it checked out if you're worried though.