At thirteen months old, the salivary glands in the baby's mouth are already quite mature. Generally speaking, babies in this age group will not experience excessive drooling. If a child in this age group experiences excessive drooling, it is important to pay attention to whether there is a certain disease.
1、 What causes drooling in a thirteen month old baby
Children drooling, also known as drooling in written language, is mostly a normal physiological phenomenon. The regulation of saliva secretion relies on local stimulation in the oral cavity; Secondly, it relies on the reflex of the central nervous system. Newborn babies have little saliva due to the underdeveloped central nervous system and salivary glands.
By March, saliva secretion gradually increases, and some infants have strong secretion ability and may drool. At 6 to 7 months old, baby teeth will sprout, stimulating the trigeminal nerve will also increase saliva secretion. In addition, children have a small oral volume and cannot swallow or regulate saliva in the mouth, so after accumulation, it will naturally flow out. Saliva secretion is also innervated by nerves, and young children may have poor ability to inhibit saliva secretion and swallowing due to incomplete brain development, resulting in frequent drooling.
After the age of one, with the development of the brain, drooling occurs less frequently. By the age of 2-3, children's swallowing function and central nervous system are further improved, and they no longer drool. If a child still drools when they grow up, it may be pathological drooling rather than physiological. This may be caused by poor neurological or endocrine development, or inflammation and indigestion in the mouth, and must be diagnosed and treated. For example, when the oral mucosa is inflamed, it stimulates the secretion of salivary glands, causing an increase in saliva. Some may also have yellow or light red mucus and a foul odor. At this time, it is necessary to seek diagnosis and treatment at a dental clinic; When a child is suffering from a cold or flu and has difficulty breathing, they often use their mouth to breathe, which can also cause drooling.
Some children may also experience drooling due to incomplete brain intellectual development or endocrine system disorders, and should seek medical attention at the pediatric department. After 6 months of birth, babies can gradually develop the habit of swallowing saliva by putting small pieces of rock sugar in their mouths.
Reasonable feeding, eating more fresh vegetables and fruits, enhancing disease resistance. Change the bad habits of forcefully kissing and pinching children's cheeks. For children with drooling, special attention should be paid to personal hygiene: clean and soft handkerchiefs or tissues should be used to wipe away saliva. Collar and collar should be changed and washed frequently. To protect the chin and chest skin, use a clean sandcloth or bib. If the skin around the lips, jaw, and neck has become flushed, eroded, or even peeled, it should be washed with warm water and then coated with a small amount of ointment or oil.
2、 When babies drool, pay attention to the following points
1. Be sure to wipe off his saliva at any time, without using force. Gently dry the saliva to avoid damaging the local skin.
2. Wash your mouth with warm water and apply oil to protect the skin on your chin and neck. It's best to wrap the child's mouth to prevent saliva from staining their clothes.
3. A handkerchief for wiping baby's saliva should be soft in texture, preferably made of cotton, and should be washed and ironed regularly.
4. If the baby drools severely, it is necessary to go to the hospital for examination to see if there are any abnormal symptoms in the baby's mouth, whether the swallowing function is normal, and so on. In addition, when a child sleeps on their stomach and drools, it will not have any impact on them. However, the pillow should be washed and sun dried frequently to prevent the growth of bacteria inside.
This article introduces the reasons for drooling in a thirteen month old baby, as well as some measures that mothers need to take when drooling. In fact, as long as they actively respond to the situation of drooling in their baby, it can be improved. There is no need to be overly anxious.
