How to clean baby mouth after feeding

How to Clean a Baby Tongue at Every Stage, Newborn to Toddler

If your baby isn’t eating solid foods or doesn’t have teeth yet, cleaning their tongue might seem unnecessary. But oral hygiene isn’t only for older kids and adults — babies need their mouths clean, too, and the earlier you start, the better.

Here’s what you need to know about oral care for newborns through toddlers, as well as tips on how to teach older kids to clean their own mouth.

Bacteria exist in a baby’s mouth the same way they exist in your mouth.

But babies have less saliva than you, which makes it harder for their little mouths to wash away milk residue. This can also build up on their tongue, causing a white coating. Cleaning their tongue loosens and removes the residue.

Using a damp cloth to clean your baby’s tongue also introduces them to oral cleaning early, so it’s not a huge shock when you clean their mouth with a toothbrush later on.

Cleaning a baby’s tongue and gums is a relatively simple process, and you don’t need a lot of supplies. The only things you’ll need are warm water and a washcloth or a piece of gauze.

First, thoroughly wash your own hands with soap and water. Then, to begin cleaning, lay your baby across your lap with their head cradled in your hand. Then:

Dip a gauze- or cloth-covered finger into the warm water.
Gently open your baby’s mouth, and then lightly rub their tongue in a circular motion using the cloth or gauze.
Softly rub your finger over your baby’s gums and on the inside of their cheeks, too.

You can also use a soft finger brush designed to gently massage and scrub away milk residue from your baby’s tongue and gums. Ideally, you should brush your baby’s tongue at least twice a day.

Glycerin and toothpaste

Glycerin is a colorless, sweet-tasting liquid that gives toothpaste its creamy texture. It’s also found in some skin and hair care products.

Glycerin is nontoxic and considered safe once you start your baby with a small amount toothpaste at around 6 months.

But neither toothpaste nor the glycerin in it are needed for cleaning the mouth of a newborn or young infant less than 6 months old. (Although the glycerin isn’t likely to be a problem, using toothpaste with such a little one can result in baby swallowing too much fluoride.)

It’s important to note that a white coating on your baby’s tongue isn’t always due to milk. Sometimes, it’s caused by a condition called thrush.

Milk residue and thrush look similar. The difference is that you can wipe away milk residue. You can’t wipe away thrush.

Oral thrush is a fungal infection that develops in the mouth. It’s caused by oral candidiasis and leaves white spots on the tongue, gums, inside of the cheeks, and on the roof of the mouth.

Thrush requires treatment with an antifungal medication to stop the spread of the infection. So if that white coating doesn’t wipe away, contact your baby’s pediatrician.

Once your baby is at least 6 months old and has their first tooth, you can use a soft, kid-friendly toothbrush, along with toothpaste. Use this to clean any teeth that have come in.

You can also use the toothbrush to gently scrub your baby’s tongue and gums, or continue to use a finger brush, gauze, or washcloth until they’re a little older.

When giving toothpaste to a baby that’s at least 6 months old, you only need a small amount — about the amount of a rice grain. (And just assume they’re going to swallow it.) Once your child is at least 3 years old, you can increase the amount to pea-size.

Most toddlers can’t clean their own teeth, so you might have to supervise them until they’re between the ages of 6 and 9. But if they have enough hand coordination, you can start teaching them how to correctly brush their own teeth and tongue.

To start, squeeze a little toothpaste on a wet toothbrush.
Demonstrate by first brushing your own teeth (with your own toothbrush).
Next, brush your child’s teeth with their toothbrush. As you brush, explain your actions. Highlight how you’re brushing the front and the back of their teeth.
Let your kid give it a try and allow them to brush as you guide their hand. Once your child gets the hang of it, you can supervise as they brush their own teeth.

You should also show children how to gently clean their tongue using the toothbrush. Also, remind children not to swallow the toothpaste. Teach them to spit out any excess after brushing.

Along with brushing and tongue cleaning, regular checkups with a pediatric dentist are also important for babies and toddlers.

As a general rule of thumb, schedule your child’s first dental visit within 6 months of getting their first tooth, or by 1 year old, whichever comes first. The dentist will check the overall health of their teeth, jaw, and gums. They’ll also check for oral motor developmental problems and tooth decay.

Good oral hygiene starts at an early age. Although your child won’t remember having their tongue and gums cleaned as a newborn, this routine contributes to their overall oral health, and helps them maintain good habits as they become older.

How to Use It and When

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Cleaning your baby's teeth is important for keeping their mouths healthy. Without good care, they can get cavities and other problems. Before their first teeth start coming in, though, newborns need their tongues, gums, and inner cheeks to be bacteria-free to avoid potential health issues. A baby tongue cleaner can be a great tool for this.

It’s a plastic, copper, or stainless steel device that allows you to clean microbes from your baby's tongue. It works by pulling the scraper forward from the back of the tongue a couple of times. If you buy one of these products, carefully follow its instructions on how to use it safely, store it, and keep it clean.

Why You Should Keep Your Baby's Tongue Clean

Infants start teething at around 4 months old. Even before that happens, regular oral hygiene is a must. Leaving breast milk or formula residues in your baby's mouth for days allows bacteria to thrive in their sugary saliva. This can cause fungal infections.

‌It's normal for your baby to have a seemingly discolored tongue after nursing. That's the milk residue that sticks to the surface of their tongue. But if you notice creamy white wounds inside your baby's mouth, that's probably oral thrush.

Thrush is a common fungal infection that can spread rapidly, so talk to your doctor if you think your baby has it. It looks like small lumps of cottage cheese that you can't easily wipe away. Babies with thrush have discomfort and burning that makes it hard for them to eat.

It can easily spread to a breastfeeding mother's nipples, too. ‌

‌Lack of oral hygiene in babies with teeth and toddlers can quickly cause plaque to build up, and it could lead to tooth decay. Bacteria in the plaque produce acids whenever your infant or toddler eats a sugary snack. These acids corrode the protective exterior layer of the teeth called dental enamel and cause cavities.

How to Properly Clean Your Baby's Tongue and Teeth

Babies and small children need an adult's help to keep their tongues clean. To clean your baby's tongue and gums correctly, you should:

Make a habit of cleaning after feeding.
Gently cradle your baby in one arm during the cleaning.
Use a damp gauze or washcloth, or a silicone baby tongue cleaner.
Gently massage their gums, tongue, and inner cheeks.

If your baby won't let you clean their mouth, put a finger near their mouth and wait until they slowly open it. Once your baby's mouth is open, place your finger in gently and with patience. Make your way in along the inner cheek if you can't reach the gums toward the back of their mouth.

Are Baby Tongue Cleaners Worth It?

Having clean teeth is only one part of oral hygiene. Using a tongue cleaner or scraper can reduce plaque by getting rid of certain bacteria in the mouth.

As your little one gets older and you teach them how to take care of their teeth, keep in mind that tongue scraping isn’t a substitute for brushing teeth. Kids who clean their tongue along with brushing tend to have less plaque, though.

Some other dental care tips are:

Don’t give your children lots of sugary foods and drinks.
Use a toothpaste that has fluoride.
Make sure your child only uses a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
Don’t allow babies and toddlers to go to sleep while feeding with a bottle in their mouth.
Avoid sharing utensils with your child.
Schedule their first dental appointment by one year of age.

Oral care from the first days of life

Author:

Marbery Gedrean

| Checked by: Shteba Victoria Petrovna | Last revised: January 06, 2022.

Not all parents realize that taking care of their baby's oral health is very important. There is a belief that if a child does not yet have teeth, it is not necessary to clean the oral cavity. Unfortunately, this is a mistake. Oral care should be taken care of from the first days of a baby's life.

How do I start taking care of my newborn's oral health?

The first treatments should be on your child's gums and oral mucosa. This procedure is simple and does not require the use of special products. To do this, use warm boiled water and a sterile gauze pad. It is important that the water is not too hot. Wash your hands thoroughly, wrap your finger with a napkin moistened with water, and gently rinse the gums, tongue and cheeks from food debris.

This procedure is repeated every time the baby is fed. Even if your baby only drinks milk, leaving his mouth after a feed can cause white patches and bacteria to grow. Failure to follow the rules of regular mouth cleaning in infants often leads to thrush. They are caused by yeast fungi.

Mold are small white spots that appear on the tongue and on the inside of the cheeks. Infection occurs due to improper oral hygiene or due to a poorly cleaned bottle nipple. Breastfeeding mothers should rinse their nipples with warm water before and after breastfeeding. The infection is not serious, but causes discomfort, which can make the baby naughty and anxious. That is why oral care is so important from the first days of a child's life.

How to properly care for the first baby teeth?

The first milk teeth, the lower incisors, erupt at the age of 4-6 months. Often this process is accompanied by itching, pain, fever, the child is irritable and whiny. Teething gels can be used to minimize pain. Gently massage your gums with a tissue soaked in medicine.

The gel has an analgesic and soothing effect. These preparations usually contain extracts of chamomile or sage, which relieve inflammation, vitamin B5, which supports the regeneration of the gums, and, above all, anesthetics, which bring immediate relief. During baby teething, you can give your baby rubber teethers that are safe to bite on, reduce itching, and speed up the extraction process.

Care when the first teeth appear

When the first teeth appear, the oral hygiene brush should already be used. The brush should have a small head and soft bristles. In order for the baby to get used to the new duty better, we can let the child play with the toothbrush and brush his teeth by biting it. There are also sonic toothbrushes for babies on the market. These brushes create a light vibration, thanks to which they clean your teeth more thoroughly than a regular toothbrush, and perfectly massage the gums. In the first years of a child's life, the health of the child's oral cavity depends on the parents. It is the parent who must thoroughly clean and monitor the condition of the teeth. To facilitate oral hygiene, you should use toothpaste, but it should be adapted to the child's age and contain the right amount of fluoride. The dose of fluoride for children from 0 to 6 years old should not exceed 500 ppm.

Due to the fact that the baby has not yet developed the spitting reflex, very little toothpaste should be used, squeezing out a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. After brushing your teeth, excess toothpaste can be removed with a gauze swab. Be sure to thoroughly brush each tooth and finally make sure all surfaces have been properly cleaned. Because of their chemical structure, milk teeth are much more susceptible to caries than permanent teeth. That is why they are often subjected to the so-called decay. If you feed your baby at night, after eating, give the baby a bottle of water to rinse the surface of the teeth from food debris.

First visit to the dentist

The first visit to the pediatric dentist should be after the first four teeth have erupted. A pediatrician is a doctor who primarily deals with the treatment of young children, has a special approach and knowledge in this area. At the first visit, the doctor assesses the condition of the teeth, correct eruption and checks for signs of caries. The first visit is called an adaptation visit, during which the child gets to know the doctor, the office and wakes up for the first time in front of the dentist. This visit basically introduces the child to the new environment and explores the oral cavity. If there is already a need for treatment, it is carried out at the next visit.

Milk teeth are of great importance for the health and proper development of the child. They are responsible for the correct bite, proper eating, affect the development of permanent teeth and the entire face of the child.

Make an appointment with a dentist at Apollonia Dental Clinic.

Oral hygiene in children from 0 to 3 years old - articles Dr. Slon

In the first years of life, a child's milk teeth erupt, he gradually begins to eat the food familiar to an adult, and a chewing reflex is formed. During this period, it is important to choose the right hygiene products so that in the future the child has healthy and strong teeth.

Today we will tell you how to choose the first brush and paste, prevent the development of caries in the early stages without going to the dentist, and also get through the eruption of milk teeth.

Where do babies get caries from
Hygiene products in the first 6 months
What should be the first brush
What should be the paste for a child under 3 years old
How to cure caries without a dentist
had problems with bite
Rules for oral care up to 3 years
Tips from a pediatric dentist: video

Where do babies get caries

Local immunity in the child's mouth develops gradually, the first bacteria are transmitted from the mother at birth and during feeding. Initially, the oral cavity is sterile, and the microflora is formed when contacts with the outside world occur: parents lick a nipple or bottle, try complementary foods with a baby spoon, kiss the baby.

During these contacts, bacteria are transmitted, to which the immune system adapts, but it can fail with sudden changes or illness. Transmission of harmful bacteria occurs most often at an early age through the so-called “infection window”, but it is also possible at an earlier or later date.

The child's microflora is not yet ready and cannot cope with many infections: thrush or stomatitis fungus, streptococci and staphylococci (which provoke the development of angina), as well as E. coli and herpes virus.

A recent study claims that the most commonly transmitted infection is Streptococcus mutans. It is she who provokes the development of caries. Moreover, it is transmitted even if the parent does not have carious teeth, since the adult's body is more prepared to cope with viruses and infections - cariogenic bacteria do not have time to form caries in the enamel. And the baby's body is only learning, and the risk of caries in the baby is higher because of this. Therefore, dentists recommend limiting contacts: various licks and kisses.

The main sources of transmission of cariogenic bacteria in a child under 3 years of age: tasting food during complementary feeding, licking pacifiers, bottles and toys, kissing

Hygiene products in the first 6 months

It usually takes 6-10 months before the appearance of the first teeth. Oral hygiene at this time is just as important as after eruption, as it affects the formation of strong local immunity and the bite of teeth in the future. Note that during this period, parents should pay attention to three things in the baby's oral care arsenal: proper pacifiers, xylitol cleaning wipes, and teething gel.

Orthodontic nipples

If you use pacifiers, firstly, they must be orthodontic, and secondly, do it until 6 months, when the first teeth begin to erupt. After 6 months, the nipple may influence future bite formation.

Rejection of nipples up to 8-9 months forms a correct bite and helps the development of the jaw. According to studies of dentoalveolar anomalies, more than half of complaints of malocclusion come in the period of early mixed dentition (6–9years), but the formation of the position of the teeth begins in infancy. The parents of the children participating in the study pointed to the tilt of the upper incisors due to the bad habit of sucking the nipple and fingers.

In addition, it is at this age that the sucking reflex is replaced by chewing, so it will be psychologically easier for a child to wean from a pacifier.

Philips AVENT Ultra Air Soother 0-6mth Graphic (2 pcs) SCF345/20

AVENT Ultra Air Night Soother 0-6mth (2 pcs) SCF376/12

Philips AVENT Ultra Air Soother 0-6m (2 pcs) SCF244/20

Xylitol wipes

Xylitol wipes are recommended until the baby has their first teeth. They help maintain a normal pH level and reduce acidity in the mouth. Due to the increased level of acidity in the mouth, there is a favorable environment for the reproduction of many bacteria: for example, cariogenic and thrush bacteria.

To use, wrap the tissue around your finger and clean the surface of the mouth: gums, tongue, teeth.

Teething gels

When teething, the child may have a fever and cough from constant saliva. In order not to mistake these symptoms for SARS or another disease, pay attention to the following signs.

The gums turn red, and in places of eruption it becomes white.
Saliva flows profusely.
Toddler puts hands and toys in mouth to relieve itching.
The baby may throw food, does not eat, overeats, which may cause indigestion.

To make teething easier, try massaging the gums with a silicone fingertip or give your child a special teether. And if local massage does not help, try special gels. They are combined with teethers and fingertips, and also relieve inflammation. The composition of such gels includes only harmless components of plant origin.

Jack N Jill silicone finger brush (6-12 mo)

miradent INFANT-O-BRUSH yellow

Pierre Fabre Mouth Gel Pansoral First teeth

What should be the first brush

Dentists recommend switching to brushing with a toothbrush when milk teeth are at least halfway through. The first toothbrush should have a compact head and synthetic bristles. In addition to the usual toothbrush, you can use a silicone fingertip brush: it massages the gums and relieves itching.

4 principles for choosing the first toothbrush:

The brush head should be small and cover no more than two teeth. A brush with a large head will be very difficult to thoroughly remove plaque due to its sluggishness.
The brush head must have silicone pads for safe cleaning. For babies up to a year old, a protective silicone ring (limiter) will not be superfluous.
The bristles should be soft, dense and short.
The handle of the brush should be comfortable for both the child and the parents.

From the age of 1, it is important to motivate and nurture their interest in the brushing process. Studies have shown that the use of electric toothbrushes can be one of the ways to build motivation. In addition, switching to an electric device improves oral hygiene compared to a manual brush: the amount of cariogenic microflora in saliva decreases, and the risk of developing caries decreases.

An electric toothbrush at an early age will allow the child to get used to the vibrations in the mouth, and it will be more convenient for parents to reach the back teeth with it.

3 principles for choosing the first electric brush:

For children under 5 years old, it is recommended to choose models with extra soft or soft bristles.
If the first electric toothbrush is in a bright design with the image of fairy tale or cartoon characters, the child will form a pleasant association with brushing his teeth.
The size of the head of the brush should not exceed 2 cm, and the handle should be rubberized. So the child will gradually begin to take the brush on his own, and a small head will allow you to brush your teeth more thoroughly.

CURAPROX Curakid Baby Toothbrush (0 to 4 years old)

CS Medica CS-561 Kids (1 to 5 years old) Yellow

Mega Ten Kids Sonic Kitten Electric Toothbrush

Hapica Baby DBB Electric Toothbrush DBB 1Y (from 1 to 6 years old)

What kind of paste should a child have under 3 years old

If we turn to clinical studies that were conducted on the principles of evidence-based medicine, then the main component in children's toothpastes are fluorides. Only they confirm their effectiveness in caries prevention.

However, it is widely believed that children under 3 should not brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste. This position is due to the risk of developing fluorosis with an excess of fluorine in the body - the destruction and darkening of the enamel. But an excess of this substance is possible only in areas with a high content of fluorine in water, and is also due to genetics.

Fluorine content in water can be checked on the water map of Russia. And the genetic predisposition - at the attending physician, having passed the tests. If the quality of drinking water is normal and the tests are in order, dentists usually recommend the use of a toothpaste with a low concentration of fluoride (up to 500 ppm) at an early age.

In addition to fluorides, it is recommended to look at the abrasiveness of the paste (up to 50 RDA), as well as the presence of therapeutic and prophylactic additives in the composition: enzymes, xylitol, herbal extracts.

What to look for when choosing a paste:

Abrasives - An alternative, non-traumatic, but effective abrasive is silicon dioxide. It is worth giving preference to toothpastes with this substance in the composition.
Fluorides - organic fluorine contains compounds such as aminofluoride (olaflur).
Lactic enzymes - lactoferrin, glucose oxide, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase. All of them stimulate the development of beneficial microflora, strengthen local immunity and restore the acid-base balance of the oral cavity.
Xylitol is a natural sugar substitute with beneficial properties for teeth and gums. It inhibits the growth of bacteria and reduces the risk of caries.

Biorepair Kids Strawberry Toothpaste (0-6 years), 50 ml

Apadent Kids Strawberry-Grape Toothpaste (from 0 years), 60g from 0 to 3 years), 50 ml

How to cure caries without a dentist

It is believed that it is impossible to cure a tooth affected by caries without visiting a dentist. But only if it is not caries at the stage of a chalky spot - this is the initial stage of caries, when calcium is washed out of the tooth enamel. At this point, the tooth is most susceptible to attack by cariogenic bacteria. But the defeat can still be stopped without visiting the dentist.

For example, with remineralizing gels. They contain all the necessary minerals that fill the washed areas: for example, in Tooth Mousse, casein performs this function. So the tooth acquires its original appearance and receives additional protection from carious formations.

Even if the child, at first glance, does not have caries, the gel can be used for prevention.

R.O.C.S. Medical Minerals Strawberry flavor, 35...

R.O.C.S. Medical Minerals Fruit Flavored, 35...

GC Tooth Mousse Strawberry, 35 ml

When to wean from a pacifier to avoid bite problems

The habit of putting everything in the mouth can lead to incorrect articulation of the tongue, lips and jaws when swallowing, as well as an open bite. Studies have shown that it is possible to wean a child from the habit of sucking a pacifier up to three or four years. But since such a habit has biomechanical reasons, it can be difficult to wean a child - in this case, the help of a psychotherapist is needed.

To avoid bite problems, it is important to discard the pacifier in time. By 8-9 months, if complementary foods are introduced in a timely manner, the sucking reflex is gradually replaced by a chewing one. It is from this age that it is recommended to start giving the baby less pacifier - it will be psychologically and physiologically easier for him to wean.