Mouth ulcers are common and should clear up on their own within a week or 2. They’re rarely a sign of anything serious but may be uncomfortable to live with. They can be very painful for babies and children and often develop during times of stress. They may prevent your child from eating and drinking.
Mouth ulcers are common in children. They usually clear up in a week or two, but they may be very painful and can prevent your child from eating and drinking. They’re rarely a sign of anything serious and should disappear within a week or 2.
Mouth ulcers are common in babies and children. They’re caused by an imbalance of bacteria in the mouth and usually clear up on their own within 7–10 days. They can be very painful for babies and children, who may also have difficulty eating or drinking because of the pain. Mouth ulcers can develop at times of stress or sickness, but generally don’t need any treatment unless they keep coming back. Your child’s doctor may recommend a special treatment cream, such as a gel or paste containing medication that stops inflammation.
Cold liquids, ice, or frozen juice bars may help soothe mouth pain. Don’t give your child spicy or acidic foods. Liquid antacid 4 times a day may help ease the pain. For children older than 6 years old, a teaspoon (5 mL) as a mouthwash may be given after meals.
What Causes Mouth Ulcers in Babies?
Mouth ulcers are little sores that come up inside the mouth, on the tongue or on the gums. Several things can cause mouth ulcers: viral infections like cold sores or hand, foot and mouth disease. oral thrush.
Mouth ulcers are a common problem for babies and children, but rarely a cause for concern. They can be very painful for your little one and may prevent them from eating and drinking. There are different types of mouth ulcer, some that cause pain and others that don’t. Try to keep your child’s mouth as clean as possible so they’re not healthy bacteria grow in their mouths.
Mouth ulcers can be very painful and may prevent your child from eating and drinking. If they persist, see your GP as they may need to be treated.
Mouth ulcers in children are uncommon and most are relatively minor. They can be extremely painful and often develop when your baby is feeling stressed during teething, being weaned off milk or starting solid foods.
Mouth ulcers are painful and can make it hard for your child to eat or drink. They are common in babies, who may be teething and have a dry mouth. Mouth ulcers can also be caused by stress or illness.
How Long Do Mouth Ulcers Take To Heal In Babies?
Simple mouth ulcers usually don’t need treatment and clear up within a week. If your child is in pain, you can try applying a numbing mouth gel to the area. You can buy these mouth gels at your pharmacy. You can also try warm salt water rinses if your child is old enough to rinse or gargle with liquids.
Baby Mouth Ulcer Treatment
Mouth ulcers can occur in children due to a number of reasons such as stress, injury, vitamin and mineral deficiency, body heat or even food allergies. It can be easily cured with these effective home remedies.
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1. Honey
If your child is above the age of one year, you can use honey to treat mouth ulcers. Apply it to the affected area a few times. Honey has great anti-microbial properties, which will heal the sores quickly. Please note: Do not give honey to your child if he or she is below one year of age.
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2. Turmeric
A staple in most households, turmeric can be used to treat mouth ulcers in children. Its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial properties heal all sorts of wounds and cuts. To make the application easier, mix it with honey.
3. Coconut
Coconut is another staple item in all Indian households and it comes handy in treating canker sores. You can either give your child coconut water to drink or make him gargle with coconut milk. If you don’t have these at home, you can simply apply virgin coconut oil on the sores. However, do not use coconut oil for your baby if he is younger than 1 year of age.
4. Curd
Curd and buttermilk are great remedies for mouth ulcers in children. Make your child swirl either curd or buttermilk in his mouth. Curd is a great remedy because the friendly bacteria in it help fight harmful germs and keep fungal infections at bay.
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5. Holy Basil
Chewing basil leaves (tulsi) is another great remedy for mouth ulcers. The leaves contain medicinal properties and can cure the ulcer in a jiffy. Tulsi leaves should be chewed along with warm water twice a day for it to show results soon.
6. Ghee
Another derivative of milk, ghee can work wonders in healing mouth ulcers. You need to apply the ghee on the affected area at least three times a day for best results. Doing this will help the sores heal faster, and provide relief to your child. If she doesn’t like the taste of ghee, you can give clarified butter instead.
7. Aloe Vera
Another famous household remedy, aloe vera is a great choice to heal mouth ulcers in children too. The leaf provides relief from the pain, and their antibacterial and healing properties contribute towards the health of the gums. You can either apply the gel on the affected area or mix it with water and use it as a rinse thrice a day for great results. If you choose the latter option, then make sure to use cold water to mix the gel with – this provides relief from the pain and the kids will enjoy it too. However, this remedy is used in the wrong way mostly, so it should be tried only if the child is old. And do try this remedy, only after consulting with your doctor.
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8. Liquorice
You can soak a tablespoon of liquorice root in 2 cups of water, and make your child gargle the water a few times a day in order to heal the mouth ulcer. If you have the root in the powdered form, then the best option would be to mix it with a little bit of turmeric or honey, and then applying it over the affected area. The liquorice will act as a demulcent, and it also has anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce the pain and swelling around the ulcer. Even if you apply it when the mouth ulcer is at its most potent, you will see instant results – the open lesions become relaxed and the red colour decreases. However, this remedy should be tried only for older kids.
9. Ice Cream
Cold foods can soothe your child’s ulcer pain. Toddlers can eat ice cream for instant relief. Ice cream is a medicine that your child will never say no to.
Key points
- Mouth ulcers are white sores that come up inside the mouth, on the tongue or on the gums.
- Mouth ulcers can be painful. Mouth gel and warm salt water rinses can help.
- Treatment isn’t usually needed. Ulcers should clear up within a week.
On this page:
- About mouth ulcers
- Symptoms of mouth ulcers
- Does your child need to see a doctor about mouth ulcers?
- Treatment for mouth ulcers
About mouth ulcers
Mouth ulcers are little sores that come up inside the mouth, on the tongue or on the gums.
Several things can cause mouth ulcers:
- viral infections like cold sores or hand, foot and mouth disease
- oral thrush
- injuries like biting, burns or rubbing from braces
- low vitamin levels
- diseases like coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease.
Sometimes ulcers keep coming back without any obvious cause.
Symptoms of mouth ulcers
Mouth ulcers usually look like round, white sores on the inner lining of your child’s mouth, or on the surface of your child’s gums or tongue.
These sores can be painful, especially when your child eats salty or spicy foods. Sometimes your child might even refuse food until the ulcers start to heal.
If an infection is causing the ulcers, your child might also have a fever.
Does your child need to see a doctor about mouth ulcers?
If you think your child might have ulcers related to a mouth infection, it’s a good idea to see your GP.
You should see your GP urgently if your child develops severe mouth ulcers with symptoms of general illness like:
- weight loss
- stomach pain
- unexplained fevers
- blood or mucus in poo
- neck stiffness and tiredness
- ulcers around the anus.
This is because mouth ulcers can sometimes be caused by coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease.
Treatment for mouth ulcers
Simple mouth ulcers usually don’t need treatment and will clear up within a week.
If your child is in pain, you can try applying an anaesthetic mouth gel to the area. You can buy these mouth gels over the counter from pharmacies. You can also try warm salt water rinses if your child is old enough to rinse or gargle with liquids.
Encourage your child to have enough fluids by offering small, frequent sips of water. This will help to prevent dehydration.
There are specific treatments for mouth infections caused by thrush and the cold sore virus. Your GP will let you know about these if your child needs them.