Patient's question:
Hello, my baby is almost four months old these days he keeps trying to suck his lips into his mouth. Some people say it might be due to zinc deficiency. Is that the case? If he is this age, how should I supplement it?Patient Age: Three and a half months
Detailed medical history and consultation purpose:
Duration and onset of the current illness:
Doctor's answer:
Hello: Based on the child's condition, it could be a symptom of teething.The child's mouth changes with growth and development. Newborns have no teeth in their mouths, with a short and wide tongue, thick fatty layers in the cheeks, and well-developed facial muscles. The mucous membranes of the jaw are thickened and protrude, which helps the child grasp the nipple and coordinate sucking movements. Due to the absence of teeth, the alveolar ridges have not yet developed, making the palate and oral floor relatively shallow.
Between 6 to 7 months, the child's saliva production gradually increases. However, during this period, the swallowing reflex is not yet sensitive. Since there are no alveolar ridges to block the saliva, it cannot be swallowed. As a result, the child often drools, which is a physiological condition during this stage and does not require treatment. As the child grows, teeth erupt, the alveolar ridges gradually form, the palate slowly rises, the oral floor gradually deepens, and swallowing movements are trained, leading to an improvement in drooling.
Parents should pay attention because some infants' drooling may be pathological, indicating certain diseases. For example, if the child drools excessively and has cracked, inflamed corners of the mouth, it may be due to angular cheilitis. If accompanied by redness or ulcers in the oral mucosa, refusal to eat, and irritability, it may be caused by oral thrush. If accompanied by unilateral or bilateral facial muscle atrophy and weak chewing, it may be due to poor digestion or intestinal nematode infection. If accompanied by intellectual developmental delays or mental retardation, it may be due to underdevelopment of the brain's nervous system. These pathological drooling conditions require medical examination and treatment. Generally, once the underlying cause is addressed, the child's drooling will improve or resolve.
Since saliva contains digestive enzymes,