How To Clean A Baby's Tongue: Tips and Precautions To Take

Oral hygiene is an essential part of infant care, even before they begin teething, since oral care also involves the gums and tongue. Hence, it is important to discuss how to clean a baby's tongue for optimal oral hygiene.

The New York State Department of Health states that it is important to take proper care of your child's teeth and dental (oral) health right from birth (1). However, oral care for infants is often neglected as it is usually misunderstood as merely teeth care.

In this post, we discuss the importance, tips, methods, and precautions to take while cleaning a baby's tongue.

Why Do You Need To Clean Your Baby's Tongue?

A healthy mouth is important for a healthy body. Oral hygiene maintenance routine should start in infancy. A clean environment in the mouth could eventually help keep the erupting teeth healthy.Here are a few more reasons to clean your baby's tongue.

  • Babies are breastfed from their very first day of life. Breast milk has sugars, just like the formula (2). Therefore, it is essential to clean the baby's tongue and gums after feeding them.
  • Oral thrush is a fungal infection seen in babies and is visualized by white patches on the tongue, cheek, palate, and gums. Regular cleaning of the tongue and other soft tissues helps in maintaining a clean oral environment and could help avoid fungal infections (3).
  • Cleaning a baby's tongue at a young age makes them habitual to the feeling of oral hygiene maintenance tools like toothbrush, tongue cleaner, etc.
  • It could also teach the baby the importance of healthy oral hygiene.

How To Clean A Baby's Tongue: A Step-By-Step Guide

Be gentle and patient while cleaning your baby's tongue. Your baby might initially suck or bite your fingers, thinking it to be food.It takes a few days for the baby to get used to it.

Step-by-step guide to clean your baby's tongue:

  1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  1. Dip a clean washcloth or gauze in warm water and wrap it around your index finger.
  1. Carefully open your baby's mouth and insert your finger inside.
  1. You can retract the baby's lower lip to enable him/her to open the mouth.
  1. Move your finger circularly over the tongue while taking care not to slide the finger towards the baby's throat.
  1. If there are any teeth present, then clean the teeth with the gauze.
  1. Clean the baby's gums and the insides of the cheek too.
  1. While cleaning the tongue and the mouth, make sure to check for the presence of any stubborn thick white coating that won't leave the surface in spite of wiping. It might be oral thrush and might need medical attention.

It is suggested to clean the baby's tongue and mouth at least once a day.A gauze piece is most commonly used to clean a baby's tongue. You may ask your dentist if they suggest using any finger toothbrushes or specific tongue cleaners for babies.

Do You Need A Tongue Cleaner For Your Baby?

Tongue cleaners are not recommended for babies.

Tips For Cleaning The Baby's Gums

Babies often do not cooperate while cleaning their gums, but these tips might make the process a bit easier.

  • Engage and distract your baby while cleaning the gums.
  • Cradle them in your arms so that you have a better grip on the baby, and it is easier for you to clean them.
  • Wait until your baby is in a good mood before starting to clean his/her tongue and gums.
  • For very young babies, it is difficult to determine the last meal of the day. So it might be a good idea to fix a time in the day. It helps build a sense of routine for the baby.

Precautions To Take While Cleaning Your Baby's Tongue

The following precautions while cleaning your baby's tongue can help avoid any injury to the baby.

  • Try using a clean washcloth piece for your baby's mouth to avoid the risk of any infection.
  • Keep your nails short and clean to avoid any injury to the baby's delicate tissues.
  • Do not forcefully clean the baby's tongue

1. When should I start cleaning my baby's mouth?

You may start cleaning your baby's mouth when they are three months old. Gently wiping their gums twice a day will ensure your baby is ready for brushing when the first tooth appears (4).

2. Can I use glycerine to clean my baby's tongue?

No, you need not clean your baby's tongue with glycerine (5).

Tongue cleaning is an essential part of oral hygiene that is often neglected. Routine tongue cleaning can prevent your baby from developing mouth infections and give way to healthy teeth and gums. So follow the above tips to learn how to clean a baby's tongue safely and thoroughly to prevent injury and discomfort. Remember to use clean hands and materials for cleaning and perform it regularly. If you notice any unusual developments in their mouth, consult your child's doctor for better management.

Key Pointers

  • Cleaning a baby's tongue removes breast milk sugar from the mouth, ensuring good oral hygiene and prevention of oral thrush.
  • Clean the tongue in a circular motion with your finger using a washcloth dipped in warm water.
  • Engaging the baby, cradling them in your arms, keeping your nails short, and being gentle are some tips that will help make the cleaning process easy.

References:

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Dr. Ritika Shah is a certified lactation counsellor from iNational Health Care Academy, Singapore and a dental surgeon with more than seven years of clinical experience across various cities in India. She did her graduation in Dentistry from KM Shah Dental College. During her clinical practice, pediatric dentistry was her particular area of interest, and she constantly thrived to inculcate... more

Dr. Anita Bakshi has over 29 years of experience and currently practices at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in Delhi. Having done her MD in Pediatrics from the University of Kashmir in 1989, she initially worked in a government children's hospital. Her areas of specialization include infectious diseases, ADHD, allergy testing and diet. Dr. Bakshi is a member of the Indian Society... more