We all know how important it is to brush our teeth regularly but have you ever thought about your baby's tongue? That little pink muscle in their mouth can be a breeding ground for bacteria if not properly cleaned. Don't worry, though. In this article, we'll give you everything you need to know on how to brush your baby's tongue effectively and prevent any oral issues from arising.
Why You Should Brush Your Baby’s Tongue
Before diving into the "how-to" of brushing your baby's tongue, let's first understand why it’s important.
Did you know? - Bacteria can still grow in the mouth even before teeth start coming through. - Neglecting proper cleaning of a newborn’s mouth can result in thrush - an infection caused by yeast that forms white patches on the tongue and cheeks.
By incorporating cleaning of the tongue into your child’s regular oral hygiene routine, you can help reduce bacterial growth and potential infections.
When Should You Start Cleaning Their Tongue?
It depends! - For infants under six months old who are breastfed or bottle-fed exclusively, there is no need for additional cleaning since breast milk contains antibodies that protect against infectious microorganisms. - As soon as they start eating solid foods or around six months old when their first tooth appears would be a good time to introduce gentle scraping with soft-bristled brushes.
Remember: prevention rather than treatment should always be prioritized when it comes to cleaning your little one’s mouth!
What You’ll Need
To get started, here are some things you will require: 1. A baby-sized toothbrush 2. Water (filtered preferably) 3. Organic coconut oil OR glycerin-free infant toothpaste
Oh yeah! We mean business.
Coconut oil is high in lauric acid which makes it an effective anti-microbial agent while glycerin is often used in toothpaste to give it a smooth texture BUT interferes with the ability of teeth to re-mineralize.
How To Brush Your Baby’s Tongue
Now that you have your supplies, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of how to get this done effectively:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before handling the infant/toddler.
- Make sure they are comfortable and facing upright on a towel or changing mat – avoid putting them in their crib as they might associate uncomfortable brushing with sleep time.
- Wipe their mouth gently using clean-damp cloth or gauze pads; ensuring all milk deposits and debris are removed from around areas where bad breath can emanate from (front gums, under the tongue, inside cheeks).
- Using a small amount (pea size) of coconut oil OR family-approved infant toothpaste for babies up until 24 months old, apply evenly onto toothbrush bristles - ensure products with an ADA seal indicating approved safety.
Fact check: A pea-sized quantity means just about as much paste snuggled within one outer casing shell without many breaking each time!
- Proceed by placing baby's tongue gate-openedly between the lower front center teeth & brush spreading downwards towards its surface-cleaning again starting at top-moving away firmly but delicately akin massage motions don’t forget those crevices!
- Rinse off excess paste using filtered/sterilized water and make cute faces for amusement but also demonstrate expectation of receiving love language review e.g., “Brushing is bonding-time”!
- Done! Congratulations…You and your little one have conquered another challenge together( y).
Go ahead, pat yourself on back now! Because we know you totally aced that
Tips and Tricks – What The Experts Say
Brushing a baby’s tongue requires cautiousness and gentle care. Here are some tips from dental experts to ensure brushing the tongue is a breeze: - "When working with an infant, you want to make sure that the tongue cleaner or brush doesn't go too far back in their mouth," says Malik Benjamin, DMD. - Make it fun! Use songs or nursery rhymes as distraction techniques. Set aside time for “brushing contests” reminding them of its benefits. - Patience is key in this technique! Try never forcing your child if they seem afraid rather stay calm after showing them how easy-breezy moments will be before trying again (reverse psychology).
Fact Check: Ever thrown S#@T against the wall just waiting for something different to happen; hasten loose powder compact cleanliness perhaps…persistence pays off.
Conclusion
It may not immediately occur to us to clean our little one's tongues, but it certainly plays a vital role in early oral hygiene. A healthy mouth goes beyond just aesthetically pleasing white teeth --- who would have ever thought?! By regularly adding this simple routine into your child’s daily regimen, both overall health & experience at future dental visits can be improved.
So there we have it folks – manual dexterity meets intrepid service providing those chompers with much-needed shiny happiness...may as well introduce #teethfie (ta-da)!
Indeed parenting brings about many new experiences including toothless grins turned into full on-tooth confetti shows…the journey must continue developmentally around AND down below!