Small babies need high levels of cleanliness because they are more prone to infections. Their immunity levels are not so strong as a grown-up and therefore, cleanliness is the only preventive measure one can take. While bathing and massaging are on everybody’s mind, it is the tongue, ears, and nails that miss people’s attention often. Ears and nails are not to be taken care of on a daily basis, but due to milk diet, tongue certainly needs cleaning every single day. Here are some tips to make sure that you have done the job of tongue cleaning nicely and without annoying baby too much.
- Use soft and moist gauze: Gauze made of soft cloth, not so big in size but big enough to cover finger can be used to clean the baby’s tongue. To use gauze, first, wash your hand well. Then, wet the gauze. Open the mouth of the baby while distracting it to something of their choice. Then, rub the tongue lightly in a circular motion to scrape off the milk. This job can be more easily done with the help of a lollipop tongue cleaner.
- Use Lollipop tongue cleaner: This tongue cleaner for babies is available easily in the market. It is made of non-toxic polymer and BPA. The head has a silicone flap that makes it easy to clean the baby’s tongue. There is a slip-proof handle that offers the convenience of a strong grip while cleaning the tongue. You need to be careful while putting it inside the mouth as only a little portion of it should enter. This is quite an easy way and reduces the risk of transferring infection caused by hand.
- Apply gum cleaner also: Apart from the tongue, the gums are also prone to germs, especially when the baby has started eating semi-solid foods or other liquid foods. The build-up in gums can lead to cavities or rotten teeth later. To clean the gums, one can use fingers and rub the gums softly. If small teeth have sprouted, then gum cleaner made of baby-friendly material is used to clean those too.
Other tips not related to the cleaning process
Apart from learning the cleaning process of tongue, teeth, and germs, one should pay attention to other necessities related to a child’s oral health.
First, it is advisable to get dental check-ups of the baby done regularly. There can be some issues developing in the oral cavity which parents may not know without a professional examination.
Secondly, if there is any issue related to teething or milk feeding, mothers must consult a pediatric specialist dentist. A number of issues can be solved by discussing things related to oral care. You can also read about the baby oral care kit to ensure if you have all the necessary things in place.
Also, replacing the tongue cleaner and gum cleaner in baby oral care kit often is advisable. It helps to ensure that the materials used for the job are amply sanitized and have not surpassed the usage limit. All these points are necessary to give good oral care to babies who cannot voice their discomforts in clear words. Your proactiveness can be your best tool!