All parents are incredibly familiar with their infant drooling. It is common for babies to drool from 3 to 6 months of age when their requirements are most concentrated on their mouths.
Saliva performs a variety of vital tasks such as soothing a baby's gums while they're teething and keeping their mouth moist.
The reason behind drooling
- Muscle is the key. Approximately 2-4 quarts of saliva are produced each day by salivary glands in your mouth: By swallowing, adults are adept at reducing the amount of waste that accumulates. At about 18 and 24 months of age, babies can manage all aspects of their swallowing and mouth muscles.
- Teething, which occurs when a baby's teeth emerge from their gums, may also cause drooling. Drooling can begin before the teeth erupt and continue for a long time afterward, though.
- Motor receptors in your baby's mouth signal the brain to begin saliva production, an indication that she may be ready to eat when she begins to chew on her hands. A baby's muscles and digestive secretions mature when she starts eating solids.
- A lot of drool can be good saliva, which cleans the teeth and gums by removing food debris and bacteria that have built up. Moreover, it aids in the digestion of meals and is beneficial to the intestines. When she has all her teeth in, the drool fest should come to a stop.
Drool rashes
Drooling in babies can be caused by a variety of factors, including teething as well as and a tendency to keep their lips open when speaking or swallowing.
Rashes can be caused by the baby's excessive salivation irritating the skin around the mouth and chin. No medical issues are associated with drool rash, and it is not communicable. It can, however, lead to red, itchy, bumpy patches of skin on babies, which they may find upsetting and painful.
Drool rash can be reduced by easy steps taken by parents and caregivers. Keeping a baby's skin dry throughout the day is the best strategy to treat drool rash and prevent new rashes from forming.
Treatments for drool rash
Drool rash can be controlled with a few simple measures, such as:
- As soon as drool develops on the child's face, use a clean towel or baby wipe to wipe it away.
- Avoid using irritants like harsh laundry detergents, soaps, and scented lotions on or near the baby. Replace these items with unscented, milder ones.
- To assist, protect and repair the baby's skin, use an ointment on the affected region. Before using any new foods or products near the baby's mouth, it's always advisable to check with a doctor.
- Try plain water or a soft dry cloth instead of baby wipes if they appear to aggravate the itch more rather than soothe it.
- Try giving the infant a teething toy to gnaw on if drooling is a problem.