Patient's question:
Urgent! My child is now 1 year and 5 months old. He has been drooling since he was 5 months old, and it gets worse when he is teething! Please give some advice to the experts on how to treat it!Doctor's answer:
Hello, there are many reasons for drooling in infants and young children. Some start drooling between 2 to 4 months after birth, and it increases thereafter, becoming particularly noticeable between 5 to 6 months.At birth, the salivary glands are not yet fully developed. By 3 to 4 months, they gradually mature, and saliva production increases accordingly. Between 5 to 6 months, when milk teeth begin to erupt, they stimulate the trigeminal nerve, leading to increased saliva production. At this stage, infants are not yet accustomed to swallowing saliva, and their mouths are also shallow, so saliva continues to flow outward. This is a normal physiological phenomenon. As the child grows older, they will be able to swallow excess saliva, and this condition will naturally resolve on its own. Parents do not need to worry or seek treatment.
However, if the child normally produces little saliva but suddenly produces more in a short period, or if they have already been able to swallow excess saliva but then start drooling again, it is important to observe whether the child has a fever or is crying excessively. A check of the mouth may reveal very red buccal mucosa, indicating oral inflammation. For mild cases, attention to oral hygiene is necessary, along with local application of Bingbo Powder or Chloramphenicol Glycerin. If the redness is severe, or if there are ulcers on the oral mucosa, proper oral care should be provided, with frequent oral cleaning and prompt control of infection.
Generally, after cleaning the mouth with a 1:5000 chlorhexidine solution or 0.1% acriflavine solution, the ulcers can be treated with 1% gentian violet or 2.5% Chloramphenicol Liver Oil, or with Xilie Powder or Bingbo Powder. In severe cases, antibiotics may be administered. If numerous white spots elevated above the mucosal surface and difficult to wipe away are observed on the buccal mucosa, it may indicate thrush. Treatment can involve cleaning the mouth with a 1%–2% sodium bicarbonate solution before feeding or using