Soda, also known as potassium bicarbonate, has many positive properties necessary for oral care. It affects teeth and gums in the following way: removes plaque, reduces inflammation, disinfects the oral cavity, and prevents caries from developing.
When a person regularly uses baking soda as an additive to water when rinsing or cleanses the oral cavity with powder, the result is healthy teeth for a long time. Using baking soda powder, you can even independently remove tartar that has become visible to the naked eye (initially the stone is not visible, it is examined by the dentist under a special lamp and is not yet black in color).
Signs of stomatitis in children
To identify the cause of the child’s nervousness and capricious state, he must be carefully examined. The disease may not appear externally, so you need to examine the oral cavity, feel the tummy, and put your hand to the head. The first reason for refusing to eat may be the presence of small wounds in the oral cavity. A disease such as stomatitis exhibits similar symptoms.
The first signs of the disease can be recognized even without medical education: the tongue becomes covered with a white coating, as does the entire oral cavity. The presence of sores on the inside of the cheeks, lips and palate can cause a rise in temperature. If you notice such symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor for help. A dentist can diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment. It is recommended to first consult with a pediatrician, who can indicate effective methods and methods of treatment.
In children, stomatitis can occur suddenly due to several reasons that contribute to the development of infection. When an inflammatory process appears in the oral cavity, the child will experience severe pain when trying to eat. The causative agents of this disease are different types of bacteria:
- Candida mushrooms;
- Allergic stomatitis;
- Herpes virus.
Inflammation of the oral cavity in a child: causes, treatment
Pathogenic bacteria do not select their hosts based on age; for them, the main factor is a beneficial environment. Children, as a rule, are more susceptible to this type of infection than adults, because... the body is weaker and does not have a strong enough immune system.
If a child has been infected with pathogenic bacteria, this does not mean that the parents are providing poor care; today, the risk zone for children is modern sweets, many of them may already contain strains of viruses, depending on where and by whom they are produced, and as a result, they can cause caries and other dangerous diseases. For example, as a result of an examination, a doctor can diagnose stomatitis.
We are talking not only about school-age children, but also about infants who feed on their mother’s breasts, since bacteria can also be transmitted through milk. Children aged from birth to three years old can suffer from candidal stomatitis. After three years, they may develop herpetic stomatitis. This occurs when a child is denied a pacifier and begins to suck dirty fingers, which leads to the spread of bacteria in the oral cavity and the formation of small ulcers in size and shape. In this case, stomatitis in children in the mouth can be dangerous and treatment must be carried out very quickly, since the child will not be able to eat food at all, which will negatively affect his general condition and activity, not to mention the terrible pain that the child will experience.
School-aged children may also be susceptible to oral inflammation. In them, the disease takes the form of allergenic or aphthozonal stomatitis. It should be noted that an unhealthy lifestyle, unsanitary conditions, dirty cutlery or lack thereof can lead to adults also getting stomatitis. When it comes to children, it is necessary to conduct preventive and educational conversations about the need to always take care of hygiene, because clean hands are a guarantee of protection against the occurrence of stomatitis and intestinal diseases.
Stomatitis is more common in children. This is explained by the fact that in babies the mucous membrane in the oral cavity is much more tender and thinner. This leads to its rapid injury and defeat. The child’s immune system cannot cope with a large number of bacteria, so wounds appear in the mouth, which are quite difficult to cure. At the initial stage, stomatitis in her child can be detected by the mother, who is always next to him. However, you should not experiment with treatment; it is important to identify the cause of the disease and undergo treatment. You can only take precautions by isolating the child in a separate room if there are other children in the family. The reason for isolation is simple: the disease is transmitted through airborne droplets.
Why is soda used as a medicine?
Baking soda is a common household product, often used by housewives as a cleaning agent or baking powder. However, its beneficial properties do not end there.
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and is codenamed E500 (the food label for soda). This is a harmless and non-toxic alkali for the human body, and, like all alkalis, it neutralizes acids.
An acidic environment is the best place for the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
Sodium bicarbonate transforms acids into neutral compounds and thereby disinfects mucous membranes and skin. Due to these properties, soda is widely used as a treatment for stomatitis in patients of different age groups.
The therapeutic effect is due to the fact that candida fungi, which provoke the development of stomatitis, cannot withstand the alkaline environment of soda and die. Thus, the product removes not only the signs of the disease, but also the root cause.
The benefits of soda as a medicine are determined by the following factors:
- Destroys most pathogenic bacteria.
- Relieves swelling, redness, pain.
- Has a preventive effect.
- Absolutely safe for the human body.
- Accelerates tissue regeneration processes.
Unlike the popular treatment with brilliant green, soda therapy has no contraindications.
Soda is also used to treat diseases such as:
- diseases of the gums and oral cavity;
- skin irritations;
- insect bites;
- vaginal candidiasis.
Treatment of stomatitis in children of different ages
Stomatitis in children is a kind of profuse inflammation of the oral mucosa. It is necessary to treat the baby immediately and avoid extensive lesions. The child needs to be provided with special hygiene products with which he can regularly rinse his mouth.
If the baby is still very small, then he should treat his mouth with special napkins, on which a special solution - an antiseptic - is applied. Children over one year old can easily learn to rinse their mouth after eating, clearing it of dirt. This rinse will allow the sores to gradually heal as all bacteria and infections are destroyed. If stomatitis is not treated promptly, ulcers can spread throughout the entire oral cavity. In the future, this will lead to diphtheria, which is much more serious than stomatitis.
If an infant gets stomatitis, it means that nipples and bottles need to be carefully treated. Also, before each feeding, the mother’s nipples need to be treated, since various infections can be transmitted through them. Everything must be clean and sterile. If the child eats independently, then you need to ensure that the temperature of the food is equal to body temperature. In this case, he will use it without whims and stubbornness. Sour foods or particularly spicy foods should be excluded from the diet. If it is too painful for your child to eat, you can offer him food through a straw. This can be broth or liquid puree.
If a child with stomatitis refuses to eat, it is possible that he experiences severe pain while eating. In this case, you can use special gels that reduce the sensitivity threshold, and the child can eat little by little. If stomatitis is detected in a child, treatment must be started immediately. Nowadays, childhood stomatitis can be successfully treated, and the treatment itself can be completed in just a few days if you regularly rinse the mouth and monitor hygiene.
Sometimes there are situations when stomatitis is accompanied by the appearance of another disease - periodontitis. Here, home treatment is not enough, since periodontitis in children is treated in a specialized dental clinic or hospital. These diseases can be treated by the staff of the Dent Prestige dental clinic. Experienced specialists will always come to the aid of children and their parents.
Alternative ways to use baking soda for stomatitis
If mouth rinses cause discomfort and nausea, other therapeutic methods can be used.
Rubbing
It is often used in cases where a very young child suffers from stomatitis and is not yet able to rinse the mouth on his own.
The inside of the cheeks, gums and oral cavity are treated with a cotton swab dipped in the solution. To achieve a greater therapeutic effect, the procedure must be repeated not only before and after feeding, but also before going outside and upon returning home.
Sprinkling soda
If the area affected by stomatitis is small, you can simply sprinkle it with soda. This kills pathogenic bacteria and reduces healing time.
This method is not suitable for treating stomatitis in young children, since the powdering procedure is quite painful and unpleasant.
Resorption agent
To prepare the “lollipop,” you need to mix half a teaspoon of baking soda, 5 milligrams of novocaine, 1 ampoule of vitamin B1 and one ampoule of vitamin B6.
The result will be a substance with a consistency reminiscent of honey. Helps relieve inflammation, redness and pain.
This remedy is used in the morning before meals.
Processing toothbrushes and pacifiers
During treatment of stomatitis, oral hygiene is extremely important. To prevent re-infection or spread of infection, it is necessary to disinfect toothbrushes, pacifiers and pacifiers. A soda solution is perfect for these purposes.
During the treatment period, toothbrushes, pacifiers and dishes must be cleaned every day, before and after use.
For a patient suffering from stomatitis, it is necessary to provide separate dishes and cutlery.
Symptoms of stomatitis in children
The first symptom of stomatitis in a child that can be seen by relatives is dry, flaky lips. A small white coating may form on the tongue, which over time can spread throughout the mouth. Infants may well become infected with fungal stomatitis, which manifests itself in the form of small white spots. By their nature, the spots resemble milk that has curdled on the tongue. Sometimes such stomatitis can occur as a result of long-term treatment with antibiotics. That is why doctors do not recommend long-term use of such drugs.
An increase in temperature is one of the primary symptoms, which may also indicate that the child is sick. Lack of appetite, lethargy, whims - these are the first symptoms that need to be responded to in terms of diagnosing the oral cavity in a child.
Treatment of stomatitis using traditional medicine
Medical staff at children's clinics say that when stomatitis is detected, it is best to consult with your doctor. Only a specialist can identify what stage the disease is at and prescribe treatment. However, there are situations when the clinic is not open (for example, evening hours and night time), and the child is very sick and does not feel well. If stomatitis is detected at first, you can resort to traditional medicine. There is no need to think that the disease will go away on its own. If the infection is not eradicated, the child will get even more sick.
In case of stomatitis, the oral cavity should be wiped with a bandage containing a soda solution. Plaque in the mouth is removed with a bandage or a piece of gauze, thereby eliminating the infection. Making a soda solution is very easy: add one teaspoon of soda to one glass of water and mix thoroughly. Before use, the liquid should be stirred so that the soda does not remain at the bottom of the glass. Using soda, you can thoroughly disinfect the oral cavity and mucous membrane, while removing plaque.
You can also try wiping the inside with slimy brilliant green. Procedurally, you need to do the same as with a soda solution. Then soak in brilliant green and thoroughly wipe the child’s mouth.
For older children, you can prepare herbal infusions and give them a mouth rinse after eating. In this case, food particles will be removed, and the mucous membrane will not burst. You can rinse with a chamomile solution, which quickly removes the inflammatory process. It is not uncommon for people to use strong green tea, which is also used as a mouth rinse. This procedure should be carried out several times, and it is not at all necessary to do it after meals.
It is sometimes quite difficult to persuade young children to rinse their mouths, especially if they experience pain there. In this case, they may like rose syrup, which also has a positive effect on eliminating infections in the mouth. You can make this syrup yourself using rose petals, sugar and water. You can easily prepare a decoction of oak bark at home. Herbs you can choose from are burdock, sage, and yarrow. You can prepare a mixture of these herbs and rinse your mouth with the tincture several times a day.
You can also use aloe, which you can simply chew. If a child cannot swallow such a plant, then holding it in his mouth will be enough. Aloe will taste good together with a little honey. However, we must remember that using large amounts of honey for stomatitis can only worsen the disease. When a child is ill, you should use only high-quality products without acid and harsh sensations, which will not cause allergies and irritation of the mucous membrane. It is advisable to limit yourself to a set of dishes that were pleasant to the child and did not cause him discomfort.
How does baking soda affect the oral cavity?
Sodium bicarbonate is used for the purpose of prevention or a gentle regime for gum restoration after a tooth has been pulled out or an incision has been made to remove a boil. Soda reduces inflammation, accelerates tissue regeneration, increases the healing effect, slows down the growth of harmful bacteria, and disinfects the wound.
The use of soda when rinsing the mouth is of great importance for the dentist, since it is easier to convince the patient to undergo preventive treatment with soda than with other methods.
