Table of contents:
- The cause of canker sores in children
- Various medical drugs for children's thrush at the pharmacy
- 1. Paracetamol
- 2. Ibuprofen
- 3. Chlorhexidine
- 4. Hydrogen peroxide
- How to treat thrush in children at home?
- 1. Gargle salt water
- 2. Cold compress
- 3. Honey
- 4. Black tea bag
- 5. Nutritious food intake
Thrush can be experienced by anyone, including children. Sores in the mouth due to thrush can cause painful pain, making children fussy and have no appetite. Providing drugs to treat canker sores in children is certainly not as easy as treating canker sores in adults.
However, you don't need to worry. There are various choices of canker sores that are effective and safe for children, both medical and natural, that are easily found at home.
The cause of canker sores in children
Canker sores experienced by children can appear in any part of the mouth, starting from the gums, lips, roof of the mouth, the inside of the cheeks, tongue, to the throat. Regardless of the location, this oral health condition can cause a painful stinging sensation that prevents the child from eating.
Although the exact cause of canker sores is not known, but quoted from Stanford Children's Health, there are several factors that can cause thrush, namely:
- Weakened immune system
- Food allergies, such as coffee, chocolate, cheese, and nuts
- Stress
- Viral and bacterial infections
- Oral trauma or injury
- Poor nutrition
- Irritation of braces and orthodontics
- Certain drugs
Various medical drugs for children's thrush at the pharmacy
Although canker sores are not dangerous, they are often painful, making it difficult for your little one to eat. Generally, canker sores heal on their own after about one to two weeks.
So, so that your little one doesn't constantly grimace in pain and fuss because of thrush, you can give some of the following medical drugs.
1. Paracetamol
Parents can rely on pain relievers such as paracetamol to reduce pain in children due to thrush. Paracetamol is easily found in stalls, drug stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets without having to redeem a doctor's prescription. This drug is also safe for use by all people, from babies over 2 months, pregnant and lactating women, to the elderly.
Even so, make sure you give your child pain relievers according to the recommended dosage. Before giving this canker sores medicine for children, first read the rules of use printed on the packaging carefully.
Don't hesitate to ask your doctor or pharmacist directly if you don't understand how to use it. If your little one has a history of certain diseases, you should consult before you give this drug.
2. Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen can also be used as a medicine to treat thrush in children. Ibuprofen belongs to the class of drugs nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). This drug is effective for relieving pain and reducing inflammation in the body.
Ibuprofen has a stronger effect than paracetamol. Therefore, use this drug with caution. Do not give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months of age. Ibuprofen also should not be given to children who are dehydrated or vomiting constantly.
You should consult a doctor first if your child has a history of chronic diseases, such as asthma and kidney or liver disease.
3. Chlorhexidine
Chlorhexidine is a topical drug in the form of a liquid antiseptic that can be used as a canker sore for children. Doctors usually prescribe this drug to prevent the growth of bad bacteria in the mouth.
This drug has many variants ranging from the form of ointments, solutions, or mouthwashes. If your child is able to rinse his mouth properly, the doctor will usually provide a variant of mouthwash.
Use this medicine after the child has brushed their teeth. Stay with your little one when they rinse their mouths and make sure they don't swallow the chlorhexidine solution. Ask your child not to eat and drink immediately after gargling so that the medicine can work more optimally.
4. Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide) can also be another option for treating thrush in children. Hydrogen peroxide is a wound antiseptic drug, to clean and prevent infection in wounds that you can buy at the nearest pharmacy or drugstore without having to redeem a doctor's prescription.
However, you should be careful when using hydrogen peroxide medications. The pure form of hydrogen peroxide can injure the gums and mouth. Therefore, make sure to read the rules of use carefully first.
In order to ensure it is safe, you should first consult a doctor before giving this canker sores medicine for children.
How to treat thrush in children at home?
In addition to using medical drugs available at pharmacies, you can also treat thrush with natural ingredients available at home to speed up your baby's recovery.
Some of the natural ingredients at home that you can easily find include the following.
1. Gargle salt water
Canker sores experienced by children can become inflamed and swollen. However, you don't need to worry. You can relieve swelling and inflammation in the mouth by asking your child to gargle salt water.
Research reports that salt can relieve inflammation, reduce pain, and eliminate bacteria in the mouth. Not only that, this natural remedy is also proven to be effective in helping accelerate the healing of thrush experienced by children.
You simply dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Ask the child to gargle with this solution for a few seconds, then remove the water marks. Your little one can gargle with salt water 2-3 times a day.
2. Cold compress
Cold compresses can be a cheap, easy, and fast and fast cure for canker sores for children. The cold temperature can temporarily numb the nerve triggers around the problem area and reduce the pain.
In addition, cold temperatures can also help reduce inflammation and swelling in the injured part of the mouth. That way, the stinging sensation and the burning sensation that he complained about can gradually subside.
You can wrap several ice cubes and wrap them in a clean washcloth. Place the package of ice cubes directly on the part of the mouth that feels sore.
Repeat the compress several times a day until the pain subsides and the swelling subsides. Gargling with a glass of cold water can also be a solution if ice cubes are not available.
3. Honey
Research published in the journal Quintessence International says honey can help reduce pain, size, and redness in canker sores. Another study published in the Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal also mentions honey can treat and prevent canker sores.
These various properties are obtained because honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. No wonder honey is included in the list of natural thrush drugs that are safe for children.
However, it is important to understand that not all honey can be used as a canker sore for children. Use manuka honey, a type of honey that is not pasteurized, so it still contains a lot of natural nutrients in it. To be used as a natural thrush remedy, apply manuka honey to the injured area four times a day.
For the record, do not give honey to babies under one year. The reason is, honey contains bacterial spores Clostridium botulinum which can cause botulism, which is a disease due to toxins in babies.
4. Black tea bag
After brewing the black tea bag, don't throw away the used tea bag immediately. Used black tea bags can be used as a natural remedy to treat canker sores in children.
You can simply place the used tea bag on the injured part of the mouth and let it sit for a few minutes.
The tannin content in black tea can help reduce the pain caused by canker sores. Interestingly, tannin compounds are also found in several commonly consumed pain relievers.
5. Nutritious food intake
Poor nutritional intake will certainly get worse when the child does not want to eat and drink because of the pain caused by thrush. Therefore, it is important for you to meet their daily nutritional needs.
Avoid certain types of food, such as foods that are too acidic, spicy, and hot. Also stay away from hard textured foods, like children's favorite snacks first.
During the recovery period for canker sores, children are advised to eat soft and soft foods, such as porridge. Also make sure you drink water intake, you can drink cold water to relieve pain and avoid dehydration.
In addition to following the treatment suggestions above, you also need to teach the importance of maintaining oral health to children, for example by brushing your teeth regularly, flossing, and use mouthwash.
Thrush in children generally will heal on its own in one to two weeks. If the symptoms of thrush are getting worse, you should consult your doctor for further treatment.
