Weaning in babies is a critical stage as at this phase, kids are in the teeth-growing phase and are constantly irritated. If you feel like your newborn is not able to eat liquid foods, there might be a need for teeth cleaning.
Do you know how to clean a newborn tongue and mouth to keep them from bacteria?
In this blog, we will discuss how to clean a 1-month baby’s tongue, effective home remedies to clean a baby’s tongue, and more about oral hygiene in newborns.
Keep reading to learn more about it.
Moreover, Tongue Tie Phoenix offers pediatric dentistry services from initial visit to post-treatment cautions. If you are a new mother finding pediatric oral care demanding, contact our professionals for expert advice.
Read: What to Expect in Tongue Tie Revision Treatment in Babies?
What is Oral Care in Infants, and Why is it Important?
From the early days of birth till independence, oral hygiene should be adequately taken care of.
Newborns’ teeth and tongues must be bacteria-free to avoid blisters and infections.
They must get dental consultation from the beginning to prepare them for proper oral care.
Bacteria in the newborn’s mouth can cause infection if not properly managed.
In youngsters, saliva production is high, which washes away the food residues, but infants’ mouths have less saliva.
It makes it harder for their mouth to wash away milk residues. So, a cleaning regime is necessary to prevent plague and bacterial growth.
Moreover, it is much needed to avoid bad breath in infants and to prevent gum diseases. Infections with the fungus can prevail due to white tongues in babies after nursing.
That’s why dentists and pediatricians recommend teeth cleaning in infants regardless of whether their teeth erupt.
Read: What to Expect After Tongue Tie Release?
4 Ways to Clean Newborn Tongue at Home:
Cleaning the tongue and mouth in babies can be challenging for first-time mothers.
The easiest way to clean their mouth at home is by using a damp cloth to introduce them to oral cleaning at an early stage.
Apart from cloth, there are various ways and tools for the same purpose. Before moving towards those ways, you must learn if you need to clean newborn mouths.
Most doctors recommend cleaning the mouth after nursing or when smelling bad.
Here are more ways of keeping their mouth clean and fresh:
1: Gauze to clean baby’s tongue
Among all the ways of newborn oral hygiene, the best way to clean the mouth is by using gauze. To start the procedure, make sure your hands are washed and dried.
Things you need to perform this simple process are warm water and a piece of gauze.
Dip a gauze in the warm water. Ensure your gauze is wet, and then start with easy finger insertion.
Lightly rub their tongue in a circular motion using the cloth. Softly rub your finger on the baby’s gums, teeth, tongue, and cheeks.
2: Soft-bristle finger brush
Nowadays, a soft-bristle toothbrush that is easy for children is available in the market.
Baby teeth are soft and delicate and can get damaged if too much force is applied. Son, one must be cautious while using the brushes for babies.
Soft-bristled brushes are gentle on teeth and tongue as they are specially designed for babies.
Make sure to choose a toothbrush with a small size that fits your baby’s mouth.
Use finger brush on newborns after feeding, at bedtime, and when breathing badly.
3: Glycerin
Do you know how to clean a baby’s tongue with glycerine? Glycerine is a sweet-tasting liquid that is commonly found in toothpastes.
It is non-toxic and 100% safe for kids if used in small amounts.
If you are still wondering how to clean a newborn mouth and tongue at six months, this is the best way.
Use glycerin with a finger brush, a clean cloth, or a piece of gauze without having any doubts.
4: Toothpaste
Using toothpaste for babies can be dangerous as they can swallow too much fluoride.
Try to use toothpaste less. Using toothpaste is a viable option for babies over nine months old. To clean the teeth, follow these basic steps:
- Take a clean and soft brush, especially designed for kids.
- Add a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and rinse.
- Now, brush the teeth, tongue, and cheeks in circular motions.
- Make sure to wash for at least 2 minutes.
- Rinse the mouth with water 3 to 5 times.
Summary:
To sum up, new mothers must learn how to clean their baby’s tongue from milk feeding as it can cause plaque.
Early dentist visits can be helpful for mothers to get deeper insights about kids’ oral health.
But, one must know how easy it is to clean a baby’s teeth at home for reìoutine oral hygiene.
Read: Tongue Tie 101: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment for Infants
FAQs
When can I start cleaning my newborn tongue?
You can start cleaning your kids’ mouths when they enter their weaning phase.
After each meal, brush your baby’s mouth to keep their gums and teeth healthy. If they are unable to keep them clean, visit a dentist.
What happens if you don’t clean your newborn tongue?
They can develop plaque or cavities. A white tongue can cause oral thrush in babies, resulting in a sore tongue and mouth.
Moreover, in some cases, babies smell bad if they lack a proper oral regime.
How do you get milk residue off a baby’s tongue?
The best technique to remove milk residues is to rinse their mouth with water or clean it with gauze or cloth.
Using toothpaste and glycerine for this purpose is also a viable option.
Do newborns need to brush their tongues?
Newborns might not have teeth, but they must get used to teeth-cleaning tools to prepare them for regular oral care.
So, newborn moths must be cleaned with a wet cloth after nursing.
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