What causes a newborn's tongue to appear white?

White tongue in newborns may be caused by milk residue, indigestion, food stagnation, or oral thrush.

1. Milk residue

After birth, newborns are usually fed breast milk or formula. If caregivers do not offer water to the newborn after feeding, milk residue may remain on the surface of the tongue, leading to a white appearance of the tongue.

2. Indigestion, food stagnation

Newborns have relatively poor gastrointestinal motility. Excessive feeding volume, overly frequent feedings, and low physical activity can easily lead to indigestion and food stagnation. This may result in a white tongue, along with symptoms such as a sour or foul odor from the mouth, reduced appetite, and acidic-smelling stools.

3. Oral thrush

Newborns' bodies are still developing and their immune systems are weak, making them susceptible to bacterial or viral infections. If infected with Candida albicans, they may develop oral thrush, which typically causes a white coating on the tongue and sometimes white, film-like patches on other areas of the oral mucosa.