Tongue Thrush

How can I remove the thick thrush on my baby's tongue?

I think that's the one causing my baby to refuse feeding..I tried a while ago to remove but can't.. His pedia when he was a week old, didn't tell us about cleaning tongues. Just when I change to another pedia, she told us to clean. He was already 2mos.

Public Comments

1. You need medicines to clear a thrush infection, you can't just scrape it off. Go to your doctor.
2. That seem strange to me that they would tell you to just clean it. Thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth, and it requires antibiotics to get rid of it. I would ask for antibiotics.
3. Ask for a script for Nystatin and if you are breastfeeding you will need one too so you don't keep passing it back and forth. Or you can get some gentian violet from a drug store/natural remedy store. This takes longer (about 6 weeks) and will stain everything it comes into contact with purple. Again if breastfeeding you both need to be treated. This is the all natural way to treat it though if you don't want to give your baby medicines. If you are bottle feeding, nipples need to be sterilized after each use, bottles and rings should be done every week at least if you don't have an easy way to do them daily. If you are pumping, any of the pump parts that come into contact with your milk or your boobs needs to be sterilized in between each use (pain in the butt but has to be done). This way you can kill the thrush so it doesn't get passed back once the treatment is over. Mild thrush often doesn't need to be treated, babies do outgrow it. The thrush is a yeast infection gone wild due to there not being a proper balance of microbes and natural cultures in the babies mouth. Once they start on solid foods/around the 6 month mark it tends to clear up on it's own. However it can become severe enough to cause feeding issues and sore throat/gums/tongue/cheeks etc... so usually even mild cases are treated aggressively to prevent this. You can not clean this off once it has gotten a grip in babies mouth. Cleaning can help to prevent it from coming back though but they don't recommend gum/teeth cleaning until 4 months old.
4. you take alot of q-tips and get warm warm water put the qtip in the water and rub his tounge then do the same with a new one this is what i did for my son-kristy
5. antibiotics CAUSE thrush. you can get gentin violet from a pharmacist without a prescription. it seems to clear up thrush as fast or faster than anything else. the downfall is it turns everything purple for a few days. you probably will have to ask the pharmacist for it though because they usually keep it behind the counter. you can also ask your doctor to prescribe nystatin drops. whatever you do, do not try to scrape it off, it may cause the baby's tongue to bleed. you are right that is probably why he is refusing to eat. thrush is uncomfortable. if your ped will not prescribe meds for it or atleast give advice on treating it, you need to find a ned ped (again). good luck!
6. My daughter got thrush also and I was told to take a warm wash cloth after she ate and clean her mouth. Also what worked for us was Violet Solution ( ask your local pharmacist). Also try unsweetened yogurt. All it is is a yeast infection in the mouth. good luck . And make sure you clean and even sterilize any bottles or pacifiers he uses. They can hold the bacteria.
7. thrush is painful and often needs treatment... not just cleaning, it's basically a yeast infection. you could actually cause more pain by trying to wipe it off... try treating with gentian violet, just dip a clean qtip in it and swab it around baby's mouth, maybe twice daily... it will turn baby's mouth purple so be prepared for that, and it does stain clothing, so don't put him in any cute new clothes while he's being treated. if you're breastfeeding you need to be treated as well, even if you're not showing symptoms, you have it on you... if bottle feeding, you need to thoroughly sanitize all nipples, bottles, and pacifiers. http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T083100.asp
8. my baby had thrush and our doc gave us a free sample of stuff to remove it and it was gone in 2 days...its called Nystatin Oral Suspension...ask your doc for a sample...it treats it and prevents it from coming back
9. you can't remove thrush by wiping it off. It's bacteria. It's exactly like a yeast infection but in the mouth instead. You need to take your son to the pediatrician and get oral nyastatin .