Mouth ulcers can happen to anybody, but they tend to be less common in newborns. Mouth ulcers are open wounds that spread across the lining of the mouth. They can range from a couple millimeters in size to more than an inch in adults. Mouth ulcers can be very painful and may take several days to go away. If you notice them developing in your newborn's mouth, talk to your child's pediatrician.
Identification
Ulcers appear on the lining of the mouth, including the cheeks and gums. Initially the ulcer may appear as a red bumps, but it eventually breaks open and becomes an open sore. The sore may have a white, gray or yellow coloring to it. It may grow in size and have a red ring at the outside of it resulting from swelling and inflammation. When touched by the tongue, food or other objects, the ulcer will be very painful, likely causing a reaction and crying in your newborn.
Causes
Mouth ulcers can be caused by infection or an open cut inside the mouth. Some people have a genetic predisposition to developing mouth ulcers. Canker sores produce mouth ulcers, as does hand-foot-mouth disease. These sores can also result from the contraction of the herpes simplex virus, according to Seattle Children's Hospital.
Treatment
Mouth ulcers usually go away on their own, often between seven and 10 days. Although there are many treatment options available for young children and adults, newborns are more limited in how they can be treated. Talk to your doctor about ways you can help soothe your baby's mouth ulcers, including through chilled breast milk or formula, topical gels or creams, and in serious situations, internal medications.
Considerations
Most conditions that produce ulcers in the mouth are not common for newborns or infants to experience. Canker sores are much more likely to occur after 5 years of age. Hand-foot-mouth disease is common between ages 1 and 5, and the herpes virus often occurs between ages 1 and 3. If you have a very young baby suffering from mouth ulcers, contact your child's pediatrician. The ulcers could be the product of infection or other conditions afflicting your child.
