How To Clean A Baby’s Tongue

Many parents grapple with the question – how to clean a baby’s tongue? This is a frequent challenge encountered by each parent. The answer, however straightforward, is still unfamiliar to some parents when it comes to appropriately cleaning their babies’ tongues.

A baby\’s tongue is soft and smooth. If it gets dirty or infected, it can cause serious problems. In addition, it can also spread bacteria from mouth to mouth.

So if you need to know how to clean a baby\’s tongue you\’ve come to the right place. This guide will walk you through how to clean a baby\’s tongue and help you work out if you need to clean your baby\’s tongue.

Do You Need To Clean Your Baby\’s Tongue?

The idea of cleaning your baby\’s tongue might seem a bit strange. Especially if they aren\’t eating solid foods. So you might question whether you need to clean your baby\’s tongue. However, there are many benefits that come with keeping your baby\’s tongue clean.

Even though your baby may not be eating solid foods they still have bacteria in their mouth. Just think about how they put their hands in their mouths! One thing we know about babies\’ mouths is they have less saliva in them. This means that bacteria and milk residue can build upon their tiny tongues.

In addition to this, oral hygiene care starts before your baby has teeth. This means by starting to clean your baby\’s tongue before they have teeth, you are already on the way to preventing gum disease.

The White Stuff On Your Baby\’s Tongue

Have you noticed white stuff on your baby\’s tongue? If the answer is yes then you definitely want to start cleaning your baby\’s tongue. So what is this white stuff?

Well, it is simple milk residue on their tongue. As we mentioned before, baby\’s don\’t have a lot of saliva. This means unlike us, they cannot completely wash away the milk that stays on their tongues. You might think that this milk residue is harmless, but it can actually lead to gum disease in the future.

If you leave the milk residue on your baby\’s tongue, then bad bacteria can start to grow. This can increase the risk of gum disease in the future.

Another important thing is this white coating on your baby\’s tongue might not be milk residue. Sometimes babies can pick up oral thrush during labor. This can also appear in the form of white residue on your baby\’s tongue. Milk residue and thrush look similar on the tongue.

To tell the difference between the two is quite easy. The good thing about milk residue is that it can be wiped away, but thrush is not able to be wiped away. That is how you tell the difference. Thrush is a fungal infection which is why it cannot be wiped away.

How To Clean Your Baby\’s Tongue

Now we know the importance of cleaning your baby\’s tongue, here are the steps you should follow in order to clean their tongue.

• Step One: Wash your hands. When handling your baby and cleaning them, it is important that you are also clean. Especially if you are putting your hands in their mouths.
• Step Two: Use warm water. It is best to use warm water when washing your baby\’s tongue. This will ensure that you get all the bacteria off.
• Step Three: Use a clean cloth or gauze. Make sure that this piece of cloth is small. You should wrap the cloth around your finger and dip it in the warm water until it is nicely saturated. Ring out excess water.
• Step Four: Hold the baby in one arm. Use your free arm to open the baby\’s mouth. If this is difficult for you, try laying your baby on a flat surface on their back.
• Step Five: Clean the inside of the baby\’s mouth. Once you have opened the baby\’s mouth, gently wipe the inside of their mouth with the wet cloth. Be careful not to touch any other part of their body. It is best if you go in a circular motion
• Step Six: Once you have cleaned the tongue, you should use a clean damp cloth to also rub and clean the gums.

That is how easy it is to clean a baby\’s tongue. If you have cleaned your baby\’s tongue and the white coating does not disappear it could be an oral thrush. At this point, it would be best to consult a doctor about the oral thrush.

This is so you can get the proper medication to treat your baby\’s tongue and get rid of oral thrush. They will usually prescribe your baby antifungal medication to treat the oral thrush.

Cleaning A Six Month Old Baby\’s Tongue

Once your baby reaches six months old the methods for oral hygiene care change a bit. Here are the ways you can clean a six-month-old baby\’s tongue.

Introduce A Toothbrush

Once your baby has its first tooth, you can start to use a baby-friendly toothbrush in their tongue cleaning routine. To do this, you should gently use the toothbrush to scrub the baby\’s tongue and gums.

Introduce Toothpaste

At this age, it is safe to introduce baby-friendly toothpaste. If you are unsure about this, you can dilute the toothpaste with water. When using toothpaste with a six-month-old baby, it is important that you only use a small amount. Do not put too much on the brush as it could cause choking.

It is important that you wait until their teeth come in before you start to introduce these steps. These steps can help to soothe your baby\’s gums and tongue through the teething process.

Final Thoughts

When caring for your baby, it is very important to make sure they are comfortable. Oral health is just as important as overall health. By following these tips, you can keep your baby\’s tongue healthy and happy.

When you are cleaning your baby\’s tongue, you might be tempted to buy a baby tongue cleaner. This isn\’t necessary. Cleaning your baby\’s tongue with a damp cloth will ensure you are providing your baby with the proper oral care.

Hopefully, this article was helpful. Please share our blog post with others who may need some information about how to clean a baby\’s mouth.