Patient's question:
Started drooling since he was three months old, and now he's almost one year old and still doing it. Is there any way to make him stop? From the child being three months old to now, almost one year old, the past treatment history and effectiveness: None. What kind of assistance is needed: Enter...Doctor's answer:
Children drooling can be divided into physiological and pathological categories. The majority of cases are physiological phenomena. When a child is born, the salivary gland cells are not yet fully developed, and saliva secretion is minimal. By the time the child is four or five months old, they have started eating solid foods, which increases chewing. At the same time, their milk teeth have also begun to erupt, and the gums are stimulated, leading to a nervous reflex effect. These factors can stimulate saliva secretion, causing drooling to increase. However, children's mouths are shallow, and they cannot swallow excessive saliva in time, so the excess saliva will flow out from the corners of their mouths. This is a normal physiological phenomenon and does not require treatment. After the child turns two and a half, when all their milk teeth have erupted, the drooling will stabilize. However, some children may drool due to pathological conditions, such as oral thrush, including tongue inflammation, gingivitis, etc. In such cases, the saliva may be yellow or light red and have a slightly unpleasant odor. The child may also have mild fever, a lack of appetite, and restlessness. In this situation, it is necessary to consult a doctor. For children who drool frequently, it is important to maintain local hygiene. When wiping their saliva, use a clean, soft towel and be gentle. You can also wrap the child in a soft cloth bib and change their clothes frequently to keep them dry.