Is a tongue cleaner necessary for your baby?
Your newborn may not have teeth yet, but that doesn't mean you should wait to take care of his mouth.
Babies need to get used to the feel of dental products in their mouth to prepare for their daily hygiene product routine, so it's important to start cleaning their gums and tongue from day one. And while it's not necessary to use a tongue cleaner for your baby, you should get into the habit of cleaning your baby's tongue, gums and teeth as soon as they start to come in.
Oral Care Before Teeth Erupt
The way you should care for your baby's mouth depends on whether any teeth are present. Before the appearance of the first tooth, it is not necessary to use a toothbrush, tongue cleaner or toothpaste. Instead, a small piece of gauze or cloth soaked in a little water should suffice. After feeding the baby, wrap the gauze around the index finger, carefully place the baby in your lap and rest the head on your arm.
The New York State Department of Health recommends using your finger wrapped in gauze to gently massage the gums to remove food or milk residue. As you gently clean your baby's tongue with the gauze pad, be careful not to put your finger down his throat. Use gentle circular motions to clean your tongue and gums. You don't need to use toothpaste at this stage, as there are no teeth yet. Remember to throw away the gauze and wash the cloth after each cleaning.
Oral Care After Teeth
Erupt Your baby's oral care routine should change somewhat after the first tooth erupts, which usually occurs anytime between 4 and 6 months of age. As soon as the first teeth appear, you can start using a soft, child-friendly toothbrush whose head is sized appropriately for the size of your baby's mouth for easy access. Use this toothbrush to clean the teeth that are visible and continue using soaked gauze to clean the gums and tongue.
Introduction of toothpaste
In the baby's first dental evaluation, the dentist can give an idea of when it is acceptable to start using toothpaste to clean the teeth and tongue. While in the past it was recommended to avoid using any amount of fluoride in babies under two years of age, the American Dental Association (ADA) changed its stance in 2014, noting safe advantages of a very small amount of toothpaste. fluoride in cleaning the mouth of children under two years old.
As guidelines for cleaning your baby's teeth and tongue with or without using toothpaste can be confusing, one of the best things you can do to ensure your child's oral health is off to a good start is to consult a pediatric dentist. This professional can clarify whether the use of toothpaste from an early age would be useful. He can also advise on the step-by-step cleaning of the baby's gums, tongue and teeth and inform which are the most useful products for this procedure.
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