Why does a baby drool bubbles?

Why is there so much saliva?
Saliva and its functions
How to help your baby
Baby care
If the abundance of saliva scares you

Just yesterday your little one was a cute baby, but today he suddenly started blowing bubbles.
What happened, why is your mouth watering so much that you don’t have time to wipe it off? What should I do: call a doctor or is it not dangerous and will they go away on their own? With the birth of a child, a mother has new questions every day. Before, there were no tears when I cried. Then you need to wipe your mouth, clean your ears, but it’s scary to get hurt. Now suddenly my mouth started watering, and for some reason so much. There are many questions, let's consult a pediatrician.

Why is there so much saliva?

Your newborn is growing, becoming large, and reaching two to three months of age. At this stage of development, the salivary glands form and begin to work. Therefore, excessive drooling is normal.

During this same period, the baby becomes more active. The child explores and tastes everything that surrounds him. Therefore, the body produces a protective antibacterial environment - saliva, which washes away dirt that gets into the small mouth.

The newborn has already drooled, but the baby still does not know how to swallow it, so streams flow down his chin. Parents are frightened by such profuse drooling. If the saliva is clear, not foamy, not thick, not stringy, experienced mothers do not worry. Mothers know that this is a normal state for a baby at this age.

Saliva and its functions

Saliva is necessary for the body at any age. In the oral cavity, under the tongue, on the inside of the cheeks, behind the lower teeth, there are salivary glands. They work constantly, producing up to two liters of fluid per day for an adult.

Saliva takes care of maintaining pH in the desired state, preventing the formation of tartar and caries. Saliva destroys harmful microorganisms, thereby preventing unpleasant odor in the mouth.

Saliva is involved in processing and digesting food. Salivary enzymes help break down and digest substances and produce glucose from starch.

This liquid softens and liquefies food for better digestion. Without saliva, taste buds do not work.

In newborn babies, saliva performs many tasks related to digestion and protection. Protective functions of saliva in a baby’s life:

Protection of the oral cavity from the colonization and proliferation of pathogenic microbes and bacteria.
Protection and lubrication of mucous membranes from irritation and damage.
Protecting mucous membranes from dehydration and drying out during swallowing, chewing, and talking.
Cleaning the oral cavity from foreign bacteria and food debris.

In addition to protective functions, saliva performs a number of other tasks. It plays a great role in matters of nutrition and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The enzymes it contains are responsible for the initial processing of starch. And tongue lipase helps infants digest milk. It is saliva that forms the sense of taste by helping taste buds dissolve solids in food.

In the future, the gums will swell, become inflamed, the teeth will feel, saliva will soften the pain and protect the wounds from infection. And when the teeth erupt, saliva will maintain the integrity of the tooth enamel by treating it with calcium, phosphate, and fluoride dissolved in it.

How to help your baby

Parents will have to come to terms with and go through the period of slobbering toddler. It is unpleasant for the baby to be slobbery, so parents take special care and care for the baby at this time.

It’s not in vain, apparently, that our great-grandmothers invented bibs for babies. Bibs will help now: the fabric absorbs liquid, blouses remain dry, the skin on the neck and chest is also dry.

Sometimes a baby drools so much when lying down that he chokes and simply choke on it. He may experience a cough, even wheezing. To prevent your child from getting into trouble, place him on his side or tummy, or you can put him on a low pillow. So, the drool will flow down and will not harm the baby.

If a baby sucks on a pacifier, he is able to swallow his saliva. When going for a walk, give your baby a pacifier. Using a pacifier is another way to cope with the problem.

Soon the time for teething comes, the baby's gums itch and itch, he constantly chews something to relieve the itching. Help him, massage his gums with your finger. And in the places where the first teeth appear, press lightly. On the doctor's recommendation, buy a special product and lightly lubricate the gums with it, this will calm the baby.

How to proceed?

Imagine having a constantly wet chin... That's it! And the little man has to put up with this. So the task of a loving mother is to ease and support her little one. What do we have to do?

Don't forget about bibs. In addition to the fact that they are convenient, they are also a great way to teach your baby to be neat. After all, after the end of the “drooling” period in life, the stage of “adulthood” will begin, and your child will learn to eat independently. Agree, even in theory this sounds promising. But a bib will come to the rescue and save you from many stains. By the way, in addition to the usual ones, you can buy special products for teething children. They are made of a fabric base and oilcloth.
Due to constant contact of the skin with an irritant - saliva - has your chin become very red and irritated? In this case, you need to soothe the skin by treating it with nourishing and then moisturizing creams. Ointments with the addition of zinc also work very well - for drying out areas of inflammation.
Give a pacifier more often. While many pediatricians defend the point of view that pacifiers are harmful, this simple device really helps to “pacify” the flow of saliva, since with its assistance the baby learns to swallow liquid.
Be patient. Until the salivary glands “learn” to secrete secretions in doses, the time will come to rejoice at the teeth that have come out. So the drool will flow profusely again. But this will pass... by 2-3 years.

Baby care

Excessive salivation requires increased care from parents. Mothers stock up on handkerchiefs or soft napkins to wipe the newborn's mouth and chin.

Even with constant wetting of the chin, dripping drool causes redness, peeling, and a rash on the skin around the mouth and on the chin. Knowledgeable mothers advise using baby cream and lubricating irritated areas several times a day until the skin is restored.

Your doctor will tell you which creams and ointments to relieve irritation on your child’s skin. You need to lubricate delicate skin with the prescribed products very carefully, in a thin layer, so as not to cause even more irritation.

If the abundance of saliva scares you

Usually, a 2-3 month old baby begins to produce copious amounts of saliva as the salivary glands begin to function. The second stage, which decorates the little one with bubbles, is the period of teething.

During colds and other diseases of the ENT organs, with allergic reactions to house dust or animals, when the nose does not breathe, the baby has to open his mouth. In such cases, the amount of saliva that can drain from the mouth increases. Consult a doctor, eliminate the cause, and the amount of saliva will return to normal.

The causes of excessive leakage may be gastrointestinal diseases. And also if the baby does not know how to close his mouth tightly. It must be said that when affected by an oral disease such as thrush, saliva partially loses its functions. In particular, the digestion of starch into glucose stops. The absence or insufficiency of sugars in the body of infants will negatively affect their development. Therefore, during your daily morning toilet, look into your baby’s mouth, and if you have any suspicions, contact your pediatrician.

But if there is too much saliva, it is of a different color, type or consistency, if the abundance of discharge scares you, be sure to consult a pediatrician. If necessary, after a thorough examination and tests, the pediatrician will refer you to another specialist. An ENT specialist, a neurologist, a dentist, and a surgeon can help.

Using saliva analysis, the doctor will make the correct diagnosis. If the baby has problems of an endocrine nature or in the adrenal cortex, a saliva test will show the disease. To obtain accurate data, saliva is tested several times during the day. It is not difficult, painless, and will show the right result.

If the baby is healthy, the period of drooling will soon stop, the baby's mouth and chin will be dry.

When a baby begins to put not only his fists into his mouth, but also all objects that he is able to reach, the first thought of the parents is that teeth are coming out. The eruption of baby teeth in young children is often accompanied by increased salivation. This is not the only reason for the occurrence of such symptoms, however, due to the prevailing stereotype, most mothers of children in their first year of life do not try to understand why the baby’s gums are itchy and eliminate the source of severe discomfort.

Dangerous symptom?

Increased salivation in a child can be a sign of a dangerous disease, which is important to quickly pay attention to and provide assistance to the baby. Strong salivation in a toddler older than 4 months is a possible sign of the following disorders:

Viral or bacterial infection. Secondary symptoms include nasal congestion and difficulty breathing.
Congenital abnormality of the swallowing reflex or pseudobulbar syndrome - dysfunction of the muscles of the pharynx or tongue, which leads to the accumulation and involuntary leakage of mucus.
Allergic rhinitis. Sometimes drooling is the body’s reaction to an allergen (dust, flowering plants, animals).
Neurological pathologies. If a toddler has symptoms of brain diseases, cerebral palsy, or genetic abnormalities, drooling is also possible.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Side effect of pancreatitis or duodenal ulcer in newborns.
Poisoning. If poisonous substances enter the baby’s body (by airborne droplets or through the mouth), this will cause intoxication. Saliva with bubbles often accompanies this disease.
Diseases of the endocrine system, hormonal imbalance.
Stomatitis or candidiasis. In addition to the fact that the baby is drooling heavily, there is a white coating on the tongue and gums and bad breath.

There is an opinion that excessive salivation is a sign of parasites (helminths) in the intestines. It is worth noting that this symptom is not found in textbooks for pediatricians among the signs of worm infection. If a 2,3 or 4 month old baby is infected with parasites, other symptoms are observed: itching in the anus (with helminthiasis), loss of weight and appetite, weight loss (with ascariasis).

Pathologies of the central nervous system, stress, and overexcitation can provoke excessive salivation. With hypersalivation, it is important to establish the source and cause of the problem. Only comprehensive treatment of the disease will help cope with individual symptoms, including excessive salivation.

Drooling and chewing of fists during teething

It is teething that most often provokes the appearance of itching and painful sensations in the oral cavity in infants. At the same time, the child is drooling in bubbles, he constantly holds his fists in his mouth. As a rule, this process begins at the beginning of the 6th month of life, but often the first symptoms appear at 2-3 months of age, and sometimes earlier. The advancement of the first molars in the gums may be accompanied by an increase in body temperature, disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, and increased excitability. However, the main sign of the appearance of teeth is swelling and swelling of the baby’s soft gum tissue.

Teething period

Teething usually begins around 6 months of age. The child becomes whiny and irritable. The process of tooth extraction is accompanied by pain and the formation of wounds on the gums. They can greatly disturb the baby, bringing him a lot of suffering.

Salivation helps make pain less intense: saliva has an anti-inflammatory and calming effect. Teething is greatly extended over time and sometimes lasts up to 2 (and even 3) years.

Important! Increased salivation up to 2 years of age is most often caused by natural causes and is physiological.

Cause: oral diseases (stomatitis, thrush)

If the baby constantly sucks his fists, and increased salivation is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, a white coating is clearly visible on the tongue, gums and mucous membranes, you should immediately consult a doctor. These symptoms indicate damage to the oral cavity by a fungus of the genus Candida. Factors contributing to the appearance of thrush in children:

Sugar consumption. The baby can receive it both from baby food (manufacturers often use artificial sweeteners to improve taste) and from breast milk (if the mother’s diet contains refined foods, sweets and preservatives in large quantities).
Decreased immunity. Thrush in infants often accompanies infectious diseases.
Poor hygiene. Pathogenic fungi enter the body of a two to three month old baby with dirty nipples and toys, as well as if he puts dirty fingers or fists in his mouth.
Taking antibiotics. They destroy bacteria that prevent the growth and reproduction of pathogens.

Often children at 2-4 months drool continuously due to stomatitis. With this pathology, blisters and ulcers appear on the oral mucosa. Babies may refuse to eat due to severe pain.

Newborn period

In newborn babies, salivation is normally absent due to the underdevelopment of the salivary gland apparatus. However, often a mother may notice how, in the first hours of a child’s life, a colorless liquid, very similar to saliva, is actively secreted from his mouth.

Most often, this is how amniotic fluid comes out, which the baby managed to swallow while passing through the birth canal. Normally, this phenomenon should stop a few hours after birth. If drooling continues longer, it is better to inform your pediatrician (neonatologist) about this in order to exclude serious health problems.

Neurological disorders

In rare cases, excessive salivation indicates neurological disorders (cerebral palsy, various abnormalities in the functioning of the central nervous system). In this case, the following are observed:

Such conditions are diagnosed by specialists in the first months of a baby’s life and require serious and long-term therapy. Excessive drooling is a secondary symptom.

Parents should regularly wipe their baby's chin, neck and chest to avoid skin irritation. If your child constantly sucks his fist or keeps his fingers in his mouth, you need to keep his hands clean. If possible, you should disinfect all objects that he may lick. The lack of necessary hygiene measures leads to the entry of pathogenic microorganisms into the body, weakened by the underlying disease. The development of an infectious process can significantly worsen the baby’s condition.

Is fist sucking harmful?

Often parents try to wean their child off this habit because they are concerned about his bite and the quality of his future teeth. Some displacement of the teeth is indeed possible if the child chews his fist, fingers and other objects very enthusiastically. But this only affects baby teeth and does not affect the molars.

Applying mustard, pepper and other tasteless substances to your fingers or fist is not the best idea, as it will cause stress and will not help wean your child off the habit. It is better to just leave the child alone and let him do what his body requires.

22.11.2017

Beginning ARVI

Sometimes excessive salivation, accompanied by regular attempts by the baby to put his fingers and fists in his mouth, indicates the onset of an infectious disease such as ARVI, flu, sore throat, etc. In this case, the child has a fever, nasal congestion or mucus discharge from the sinuses. Many babies begin to sneeze and cough.

The main function of saliva is protection against pathogenic microbes and bacteria. This is what causes the increased activity of the salivary glands in babies 2-4 months of age against the background of the onset of ARVI and other inflammatory processes localized in the oral cavity.

In this case, the main help lies in the fight against the causative agent of the disease. The cleanliness of the baby’s hands, pacifiers and toys should be taken with special care during this period, as there is a high risk of harmful microorganisms being introduced into the baby’s body.

Increased salivation (hypersalivation) in children: a problem for doctors and parents.

I was recently asked a question about increased drooling in a child aged 2.5 years: “Drooling constantly, not only when he starts playing or thinking and opens his mouth, but in general always when you tell him and remind him that he needs to swallow drool - swallows, understands this and swallows food normally for a very long time.”

This pressing question is very difficult to comment on, but I will still try to answer it.

Hypersalivation, synonyms: ptyalism, sialorrhea, drooling

- This is an increase in the secretory activity of the salivary glands. In children aged the first two years of life, this phenomenon is considered physiological during the eruption of the first (baby) teeth.

In older children, hypersalivation is regarded as a disease that brings a lot of trouble, anxiety and discomfort to the child and parents.

In such children, first of all, a disturbed swallowing reflex is observed, and not a true increased production of saliva, which is commonly called hypersalivation, which is noted in the following pathological conditions:

stomatitis (pathology of the oral mucosa);
viral diseases affecting the salivary glands (viral sialadenitis);
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, etc.)
helminthic infestation;
diseases of the central nervous system (cerebral palsy (cerebral palsy), bulbar palsy, Parkinson's disease, encephalitis of various natures (etiologies); lateral myographic sclerosis, brain tumors, strokes, some forms of schizophrenia, etc.);
nervous stress, strong psychological and emotional experiences (positive, for example, from anticipation of something tasty, or, conversely, negative);
poisoning with lead, mercury, barbiturates, organophosphorus substances (karbofos, chlorophos, etc.).

Clinical manifestations

are expressed in a complaint about the abundance of saliva in the oral cavity and the need to constantly spit it out.

A functional study of the salivary glands (sublingual, parotid glands) with true hypersalivation reveals an increase in the amount of secretion (saliva) above the norm of more than 10 ml in 20 minutes (normally within 1-4 ml). No other pathology of the salivary glands is determined.

“Relative” or false hypersalivation occurs against the background of a violation of the act of swallowing (with an inflammatory process in the oral cavity, injury to the tongue, neurological pathology - bulbar palsy, etc.). In these cases, the amount of saliva produced corresponds to the above standards, but the patient and parents have a false feeling of its excess.

Treatment

consists of adequate treatment of the underlying disease that caused hypersalivation.

Irritation of the mucous membrane during acute inflammatory processes occurring on the oral mucosa is accompanied by an unconditional reflex increase in saliva secretion, which is a protective reaction of the body. In such cases, hypersalivation does not require treatment.

In the treatment of true hypersalivation, drugs with an anticholinergic effect are used (m-anticholinergics - atropine, antispasmodic, typhen, aprofen, diprofen, metacin, etc.). They reduce saliva production but have other serious side effects.

M-anticholinergics include belladonna alkaloids (atropine, scopolamine) and platyphylline; synthetic drugs similar in structure (for example, homatropine) and some other tertiary and quaternary ammonium compounds (aprofen, metacin, etc.). By blocking m-cholinergic receptors in organs, these drugs cause dilation of the pupils, paralysis of accommodation, increased intraocular pressure, inhibit the secretion of saliva, sweat and secretion of the glands of the stomach and intestines, increase the rhythm of heart contractions, and relax the smooth muscles of the bronchi and stomach.

Surgical treatment and radiation are also used, but these methods threaten serious complications: facial asymmetry, caries, etc.

Treatment methods such as biofeedback therapy (biofeedback) and exercises for the muscles in this area are not effective enough to cope with the problem of ptyalism.

In children, increased salivation can cause a violation of the pronunciation side of speech - the so-called dysarthria, when a large amount of saliva prevents children from mastering and pronouncing words. This can lead to the formation of slurred speech, which will further complicate the child’s development and socialization. Therefore, this problem must be solved together with a qualified speech therapist to conduct speech therapy massage.

So, in each specific case, it is necessary to ask yourself the question: “What is the cause of increased drooling?”

P. _ S. _

From the physiology of salivation and salivation it is known that when the oral mucosa is filled with saliva, peripheral receptors transmit this information along sensory nerve fibers to the brain, and from the brain along the motor (descending) pathways the command to swallow saliva is transmitted.

Now let’s remember our feelings after visiting the dentist, who gave us light pain relief (anesthesia). It seems that if you lose sensitivity in your lips, you will begin to drool. To avoid hypersalivation, the patient has to monitor the swallowing of saliva. This effect occurs because the reflex sensorimotor arc is temporarily blocked by anesthesia, and information from the oral cavity does not enter the brain.

Drooling in children with various of the above pathologies is caused by various factors. However, they all lead to disturbances at the level of the sensorimotor arc, i.e. associated with sensory disturbances. This is the main cause of drooling.

Thus, children suffer from reduced sensation (hypoesthesia), but not anesthesia (complete loss of sensation), and therefore there are significantly fewer spontaneous swallows during the day. This explains the increased salivation.

In the presence of such hypersalivation, rehabilitation should be aimed not at regularly reminding the child of the need to voluntarily swallow saliva (especially since this cannot be done constantly), but at correcting the sensorimotor arc.

To do this, you need to create a situation to provide the brain with more information that allows for reflexive swallowing. For these purposes, foreign scientists use cryotherapy (from the Greek word krios, i.e. cold) in the form of running an ice stick across the tongue. This method of rehabilitation does not give results in 100% of cases, however, in half of the cases of hypersalivation, there is a cessation of salivation or a clear decrease in it.

Of course, this method takes quite a long time to expect a positive result (such work must be carried out over several months) and is labor-intensive for parents. However, such a conditioned reflex technique is not traumatic for the child compared to methods of surgical dental correction of facial muscles, which do not give better results over a longer period of observation.

And one last thing. If hypersalivation occurs, care should be taken to increase the child's fluid intake during the day to compensate for the daily loss of fluid (water).

02/25/2012

Timoshenko V.N.

, pediatrician of the highest qualification category,

Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor

More articles on the topic:

How to relieve the condition of a baby who is drooling?

If a newborn constantly drools a lot, it is not only unhygienic, but also dangerous due to the appearance of irritation on the baby’s delicate skin. The most effective way to combat excess moisture in the mouth, neck and chest is to constantly dry your baby with a dry towel or napkin. In addition, you can use bibs. They will help protect your clothes from getting wet. What should you do if, despite all your efforts, heat rash still appears? You can relieve discomfort with Bepanten cream. It should be applied to clean, dry skin several times a day.

When a baby drools while lying on his back, he may choke or choke on it. You can avoid such consequences by turning the baby on its side and placing a cushion under the backrest. This way he won't be able to roll over in his sleep. A pacifier will also help to swallow drool, as the baby swallows the liquid accumulated in the mouth while sucking it.

During the first year of life, a child sucks his fists for many reasons. These are psychological aspects (this is how he calms himself down), and itching of the gums during teething, and irritation caused by various infectious diseases of the oral cavity. In order to help your baby get rid of unpleasant and painful sensations, pediatricians recommend massaging his gums. This can be done using special attachments or your fingers. Hands must first be washed and disinfected.

In addition, you can choose a dental gel with a cooling effect. Such products are sold without a prescription in pharmacies. They are applied to the gums and lightly rubbed into the mucous membrane. They not only relieve itching and have an analgesic effect, but also disinfect the oral cavity.

After a newborn is born, he develops and matures every day. And parents watch with affection the changes in the child. However, there are a number of phenomena that may alarm happy mothers. These include increased salivation. Perhaps no one would pay attention to the fact that a two- or three-month-old child’s drool is flowing almost in streams. But no mother can calmly look at the consequences of increased salivation in a child. Irritation of the chin and diaper rash in the folds of the neck make parents seriously think about the reasons for the increase in the amount of saliva in the baby. This phenomenon is most often observed when the child is 3 months old. Drooling occurs during this period for a number of reasons, the main one being banal teething. However, there are more alarming factors that can cause a child to drool in bubbles.

Baby drools profusely - reasons

To understand whether you should panic and run to a doctor for help, or whether the baby will stop drooling on its own after a while, you need to know what caused the drooling. The main reasons why a two-month or three-month-old baby drools:

. As mentioned earlier, if you notice that your baby is drooling a lot, this may mean that his teeth will soon appear. This period can begin as early as two months and last for one and a half years. You may not immediately see the relationship between excessive saliva and teething. After all, the baby feels their advancement deep in the gums, and this gives him discomfort and pain. And saliva is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that the body uses to try to alleviate gum inflammation. In this case, it is useless and impossible to combat increased salivation. Therefore, all that remains for you is to wait for the end of this period, alleviating the suffering of your baby. To do this, lubricate the baby’s gums with special gels and offer to chew on special rubber toys (rodents). If the baby experiences less pain, then less saliva will be produced.
Increased activity of the salivary glands. Since the salivary glands of a newborn baby are not fully formed, they may experience interruptions in their functioning for the first few months of the baby’s life. As a result, saliva begins to be released in huge quantities, which is difficult for the child to swallow, and he drools out. This phenomenon occurs quite rarely and usually goes away quickly. Therefore, there is no need to panic.
The baby's body fights bacteria. Everyone knows that already a two-month-old baby is trying to taste everything. It is impossible to make every object surrounding it completely sterile, so there is always a risk of developing a disease such as stomatitis. In this case, with the help of saliva, the body tries to cleanse itself of uninvited guests, washing away germs and bacteria. This is where parents complain that their child has begun to drool heavily.
Hypersalivation. I would like to express my hope that you will encounter this term exclusively in this article. After all, it indicates that the child has more serious diseases, which include disruption of the nervous system, brain diseases and the formation of tumors. Only a specialist can identify hypersalivation, so do not try to independently detect incoordination of movements in your baby. After all, it is impossible for an ordinary person to do this in a newborn.

The reason for the increased salivation does not in any way determine how much the baby suffers from the consequences of constant dampness of the chin. Therefore, parents should know how to prevent them in a timely manner.

How to help your child

Despite the fact that most of the causes of increased salivation in infants cannot be corrected, every mother wants to help her child survive a problematic period in his life. This can be done.

Keep your child's clothes dry. If saliva is released in large quantities, tie him a waterproof “bib”. This way you will save your baby from discomfort and irritation in the neck area.
When going for walks, offer your baby a pacifier, which will make it easier for him to swallow saliva.
If your baby is teething, do not limit yourself to simply lubricating the gums with gels. Try to scratch and massage your gums with your finger as often as possible. Just remember that you must wash your hands thoroughly before this procedure.

If your baby grows and develops correctly, then the appearance of increased drooling cannot be avoided. Therefore, the main thing for parents to remember is that all this is short-term, and after a few months you won’t even remember how you had to constantly wipe your baby’s chin and change his clothes. And in order not to get lost in guesswork and make diagnoses yourself, it is better to immediately ask your local pediatrician for advice. Then both you and your baby will be calm.