How to clean the baby's mouth: when to start and care (2023)

How to clean the baby's mouth: when to start and care (1)

To keep your child's mouth healthy, you should brush his teeth regularly. They are prone to cavities and other problems if not properly cared for at home. To keep babies healthy before their first teeth appear, they need to keep their tongues, gums, and cheeks free of germs. So how do you clean your baby's mouth?

Cleaning a baby's mouth is easy and quite straightforward. Before your baby's first tooth comes in, you can clean his mouth with warm water and a washcloth. Once teething starts, you can switch your baby to a special baby toothbrush and toothpaste. You can always contact your pediatrician or pediatric dentist to find out how to take care of your child's oral health.

(Video) Cleaning a baby’s mouth - Oral hygiene for infants

In this article

  • Why should you clean your baby's mouth?
  • When should you start cleaning your baby's mouth?
  • How to clean the mouth and tongue of a newborn?
  • Precautions when cleaning the newborn's mouth
  • frequent questions

Why should you clean your baby's mouth?

Babies start teething around four months of age. Even before this happens, good daily dental hygiene is essential. Bacteria can grow in your baby's sweet saliva if you leave leftover breast milk or formula in your mouth for a long time. This can result in fungal infections.

It is normal for your baby to have a discolored tongue after nursing. As a result, milk residues stick to the tongue. On the other hand, oral thrush can appear as creamy white sores in the baby's mouth.

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Candidiasis is a common fungal disease that can spread quickly. So if you suspect your baby has it, see a doctor. Cottage cheese-like chunks that don't come off easily. Babies infected with thrush have difficulty breastfeeding because of their soreness and burning sensation.

Plaque can build up quickly and lead to cavities in newborns and babies who don't practice good oral hygiene, affecting teeth as they age. When your baby or toddler eats a sugary snack, the plaque bacteria begin to produce acids. These acids wear away the outer covering of the teeth, called enamel, leading to cavities.

When should you start cleaning your baby's mouth?

Brushing your baby's teeth should begin as soon as the first tooth appears. This can take between three and nine months. The first teeth can appear as early as six months, but some newborns do not erupt until they are one year old.

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How to clean the mouth and tongue of a newborn?

How to clean the baby's mouth: when to start and care (2)

You don't need a lot of equipment to clean a baby's tongue and gums, and the technique is simple. All you need is a cloth or gauze and warm water.

  • To get started, use soap and water to thoroughly clean your hands. Start cleaning your baby's mouth by holding him in one hand.
  • Cover one of your fingers with gauze or a handkerchief and immerse it in the warm water.
  • Gently open the baby's mouth and gently touch his tongue to the cloth or gauze in a circular motion.
  • Gently massage the gums and the inside of the baby's cheeks with your finger.
  • Your baby's mouth and gums can also be cleaned with a soft brush to gently massage away milk residue. It is recommended to brush the baby's tongue at least twice a day.
  • If you see a white coating on your baby's tongue, it's important to know that milk isn't always to blame. Candida may be the culprit in some cases. Thrush and milk residues have a similar appearance. The difference is that the remains of milk can be removed with a damp cloth. Candidiasis cannot be eliminated.
  • Oral candidiasis is an infection of the mouth caused by a fungus. White patches appear on the tongue, gums, cheeks, and roof of the mouth as a result of oral thrush.
  • To prevent the spread of yeast infection, an antifungal medication should be used. Contact your child's doctor if the white coating does not come off. Use a soft children's toothbrush and toothpaste after your baby is six months old and has his first tooth. Use it to clean newly erupted teeth.
  • The toothbrush can be used to gently clean your baby's tongue and gums, or you can wait until she's a little older to use a finger brush, gauze, or washcloth. You will find brushes and finger brushes specially designed for babies.
  • The pastes must be free of fluoride for at least as long as the baby is 3 years old or old enough to spit out the contents of his mouth on his own.
  • They need the size of a grain of toothpaste for a six-month-old to brush his teeth. (As long as they swallow it, of course.) You can increase the amount to the size of a pea when your child is three years old.

Precautions to take when cleaning your baby's mouth

How to clean the baby's mouth: when to start and care (3)

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There are a few things you should do to keep your baby's teeth and gums healthy. As soon as your child shows his first tooth, it would be a good idea to take him to the dentist regularly. Be sure to follow your dentist's advice on how to properly care for your baby's oral health.

Here are some precautions to take when cleaning your child's mouth.

  • The best technique for cleaning a baby's tongue is with water. The tongue can be cleaned with a piece of soft gauze or a cotton cloth soaked in warm water. However, please pay attention to your baby's safety and avoid putting your baby in too hot water.
  • Let her clean her tongue while she brushes her teeth while you do something fun with her teeth.
  • It is possible to remove the white residue from the baby's tongue by cleaning it with a drop of toothpaste; However, be sure to rinse the toothpaste out of the baby's mouth well to prevent choking.
  • When brushing your teeth, be sure to thoroughly clean your gums and the inside of your cheeks.
  • It is common for some newborns to become irritable and refuse to have their mouths cleaned. It would help if you wait until your child is in a good mood before cleaning his tongue.
  • Finally, schedule regular dental appointments for your baby.

Even if your baby doesn't have teeth yet, that doesn't mean you shouldn't worry about their oral health. The importance of good oral hygiene in newborns cannot be underestimated. Since cleaning a baby's tongue is not an easy process, many new parents wonder how to do it. Cleaning a baby's tongue can make him cry, making the task more difficult for you! However, it is crucial that you clean her tongue and keep her mouth clean and healthy.

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frequent questions

1. Why does your baby have a white tongue?

Newborns often have a white tongue. In many cases, leftover milk is to blame, but it can also be a sign of an infection like oral thrush. The tongue of newborn babies is often covered in milk.

2. When should you start brushing your baby's teeth?

As soon as your baby's teeth come in, you can start brushing him. Brush your baby's teeth with a baby toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. At first, brushing your teeth may not be as effective as expected. Brushing your baby's teeth is the most important thing you can do to ensure they grow up with healthy habits.

3. Can you brush your baby's teeth with toothpaste?

As soon as your baby's teeth come in, you can start brushing him. Brush your baby's teeth with a baby toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. At first, brushing your teeth may not be as effective as expected. Brushing your baby's teeth is the most important thing you can do to ensure they grow up with healthy habits.

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