Mouth infections and diseases are common in infants and young children. Although painful and uncomfortable, the most common conditions are harmless and do not last long. Parents should contact a doctor when these infections interfere with a child's ability to eat and sleep well. Preventative measures are available to minimize the spread of these infections, and parents can administer remedies to provide symptom relief.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease of HFMD is a viral infection common in infants in children. The virus causes fever and painful blisters on the tongue, gums and insides of a baby's cheeks. This highly contagious disease is hard to contain because often times a rash appears on the palms and soles of the hands and feet, but only one or two days after the blisters and fever have begun and often after they have begun to subside. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, people can spread HFMD by direct contact with the virus via saliva, sneeze and cough secretions, and infected stool.
Frequent hand washing and thorough cleaning of dirty surfaces, children's toys and soiled items is the best defense against this virus. Treatment involves rest, hydration, and ibuprofen or Tylenol as needed for pain relief.
Oral Thrush
Oral thrush is a common infant infection caused by an abundance of a natural yeast present in every one known as candida albicans. When an infant immune's system weakens due to physical immaturity or illness, candida overgrows and causes infections like oral thrush, diaper rash, or a vaginal yeast infection in girls. Babies with oral thrush develop cracked mouth corners and white cottage-cheese like patches on their lips, tongue and the insides of their cheeks. These patches can cause pain that can interfere with eating.
Treatment depends on an infant's age, according to KidsHealth.org, and can include antifungal creams as well as the introduction "good bacteria" into the body via yogurt with lactobacilli. Parents must take efforts to keep bottles and nipples clean and dry to avoid re-infection until the thrush clears.
Oral Herpes
The herpes simplex virus or HSV is responsible for painful cold sores that appear on the lips, tongue, face and roof of the mouth in many infants. Symptoms can include a low-grade fever, and infants often indicate pain by crying or difficulty eating and sleeping. Recurrence is common, and blisters usually heal within a week. It is extremely difficult to prevent oral herpes, as it spreads when an infected adult kisses a baby, when a baby eats with a contaminated utensil or mouths a contaminated toy. According to DentalResource.org, treatment options include antiviral creams to help shorten the size and duration of the cold sore, rest and hydration, and ibuprofen or Tylenol for the pain.
