• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Toddler Oral Thrush

January 25, 2011 by ds_48512 Leave a Comment

Oral thrush, a type of Candida, or yeast, infection, commonly occurs in infants under the age of 6 months. It can occur in toddlers, older children and adults as well. The infection happens when the yeast that is usually present in the mouth becomes overgrown. Oral thrush is usually treated very easily and most toddlers will recover quickly.

Causes of Oral Thrush

An overgrowth of Candida yeast that leads to oral thrush can occur when a toddler takes antibiotics to treat another infection. The antibiotics kill the bacteria that causes the initial infection as well as any beneficial bacteria that usually lives in the mouth. The loss of beneficial bacteria gives Candida room to grow. A toddler may also get oral thrush because his immune system is not completely developed or capable of keeping the levels of yeast in check.

Symptoms

White lumps that look like cottage cheese are a common symptom of oral thrush. The lumps are usually located on the tongue, cheeks and roof of the mouth. They may bleed if you scrape them. A toddler with thrush may have cracked lips at the corners as well. While the lumps may not hurt, your toddler may feel pain when sucking. If the infection spreads to the esophagus, he may feel pain when swallowing.

Diagnosing and Treating Thrush

If your toddler develops oral thrush, take him to see the doctor. The thrush may be the result of another condition that needs treatment. The doctor will take a culture from the toddler’s mouth to confirm the infection. Usually, the toddler will not need any special medications, unless the infection does not clear up or another condition is the underlying cause. If he can handle dairy, give your toddler yogurt with acidophilus to help restore the body’s balance of bacteria and fight the yeast.

Risks

While oral thrush is rare in toddlers who are healthy and usually clears up quickly if it does occur, it can be severe if a toddler has another condition. Thrush can spread throughout the body if it does not resolve especially if the toddler has a weak immune system from a disease such as HIV. If you are still breastfeeding your toddler, you may get oral thrush on your nipples and then pass the infection back to your toddler after the initial one clears up.

Prevention

You can attempt to prevent oral thrush in your toddler by feeding her yogurt with acidophilus on a regular basis. Try to avoid giving her sugary foods, as sugar encourages the growth of Candida. Sterilize any bottle nipples and pacifiers your toddler uses. If you are still breastfeeding, Kids Health recommends asking your doctor for an anti-fungal cream to clear up an infection that occurs on your nipples. Hold off on breastfeeding until the infection is gone. Good dental hygiene is important to keep thrush away as well. Take your toddler to the dentist regularly and brush and floss her teeth daily.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Health/Fitness

About ds_48512

Based in Pennsylvania, Emily Weller has been writing professionally since 2007, when she started writing theater reviews. Her writing covers a wide range of topics including theater, vegetarianism, travel and news. Weller has a Master of Fine Arts in dramaturgy and theater criticism from CUNY/Brooklyn College.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

The Little Boy On First Base

To all the coaches, parents, and fans of little … [Read More...] about The Little Boy On First Base

Must Have

winter

Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

"It's beginning to look  a lot like Christmas..." The … [Read More...] about Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

Did you know?

How to Ask a Guy You Are Seeing Where You Stand

How to Ask a Guy You Are Seeing Where You Stand

Tell If You Are Pregnant While Breastfeeding

How to Tell If You Are Pregnant While Breastfeeding

Emotional Development of Adolescents

Married Man Hides His Feelings For You

How To Know If A Married Man Hides His Feelings For You

cooking with young children

Cooking With Young Children

Functions of Flour in Baking

What Are the Functions of Flour in Baking?

Dating a Man With a Big Ego

Dating a Man With a Big Ego

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.