If the baby complains of pain in the mouth, and the mother discovers that the gums of the crumbs are bleeding or inflamed, you should immediately show the child to the doctor. These can be symptoms of stomatitis, which often affects the gums and causes severe discomfort and pain in children.
What is it
This is an inflammation of the mucous membrane in a child's mouth, which often looks like a sore or spot, but can also be pustules, blisters or plaque. If the lesion on the gums is represented by a white-yellow-gray ulcer, often the only one, such stomatitis is called aphthous. When a bubble rash appears on the gingival mucosa, herpes stomatitis is often detected. White spots that itch and hurt are the most common form of candidal stomatitis.
Causes of the appearance of sores on the gums
Damage to the gums with stomatitis can most often be caused by:
- A bacterial infection. If there is not enough saliva in the baby's mouth, bacteria in the mouth become active and cause sores on the gums. In addition, their activity is associated with a weakened immune system or a course of antibiotics. Among the bacteria that cause stomatitis, staphylococci are most common.
- Viruses. Most often, the appearance of stomatitis can be provoked by herpes viruses.
- Fungi. Such a pathogen often causes stomatitis in children under one year old, getting into the baby's mouth from the mother, through toys or nipples.
- Poor oral hygiene... Food particles remaining in the mouth are a good substrate for bacteria.
- Injury. Gums can be damaged by hard objects such as lollipops, crackers, or the sharp edge of a toy.
- Allergy. Gum stomatitis can be caused by an allergen from toothpaste, medicine, or food.
- A poisonous substance. The appearance of sores on the gums is due to varnish, paint and other harmful substances, which, due to oversight, could get into the child's mouth at an early age.
Symptoms
Elements of inflammation on the child's gums are usually quite painful, and the mucous membrane is swollen. In addition to ulcerative lesions, vesicles or plaque, the child will also have such manifestations of stomatitis:
- The rise in body temperature. Some children do not have this symptom, but it happens that the temperature during stomatitis can reach + 40 ° C.
- Refusal to eat.
- General weakness.
- Bleeding gums.
- Bad breath.
- Insufficient saliva production or excessive saliva production.
- Crying and anxiety if the disease occurs at an early age.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
What to do
If a sore, painful spot, rash or other symptoms of stomatitis are found on the child's gum, you need to immediately show the baby to a specialist. Since different types of stomatitis are treated in different ways, the doctor must determine what kind of disease the baby has developed, and only after that the disease can be treated.
You can find out more about the causes of stomatitis, about methods of treatment and prevention in the following video. The popular doctor Komarovsky will tell you what to do if a child has stomatitis.
Treatment
Only in cases where stomatitis on the gums is caused by bacteria or the herpes virus, the doctor will prescribe antibacterial or antiviral drugs to eliminate the cause. In other forms of the disease, it will be treated symptomatically:
- Anesthetize the gum mucosa. For this purpose, teething gels such as dentinox, kalgel or kamistad are commonly used.
- Cleanse the gums with antiseptics, for example, chlorhexidine, calendula infusion, chamomile decoction, miramistin or furacilin. The child should rinse his mouth with a warm product 6 times a day and always after meals.
- Reduce temperature if it is high. For this, the child is given antipyretic drugs that are acceptable at his age.
Tips
- If sores or rashes appear on the baby's gums, the baby should be isolated from other children, as the disease can be contagious.
- A child with stomatitis must be sure to highlight separate hygiene items and dishes.
- Food for a baby with stomatitis on the gums should be liquid and warm. It is important to exclude irritation of the oral mucosa, therefore, no cold, sour, spicy or hot dishes should be given to the child.
- Give your child plenty of drinks and ventilate the room regularly.
- When the child has recovered, get a new toothbrush for him.
Prevention
To prevent the child from being bothered by stomatitis on the gums, it is important:
- Go to the dentist regularly and treat bad teeth.
- Brush your teeth twice a day and rinse your mouth after meals.
- Buy quality toothpaste.
- Eliminate the influence of allergens on the child.
- Teach your baby to wash his hands after a walk, before eating and after using the toilet.
- Limit sweets in the baby's diet, give enough fruits and vegetables.
- Strengthen the child's immune system.
