Here\u2019s how it\u2019s done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

• Give your hands a thorough clean with soap and warm water, then dry them off.<\/li>
• Rest your baby horizontally over your lap and cradle their head in your hand.<\/li>
• Dip the cleaning utensil of your choice into the warm water. If you\u2019re using a washcloth, fold it over your finger.<\/li>
• As softly as you can, open your baby\u2019s mouth. It can be tricky with one hand, but you\u2019ll get the hang of it pretty quickly.<\/li>
• Using a gentle, circular motion, rub their tongue with your cleaning material.<\/li>
• Continue until their tongue is noticeably cleaner. You may need to give your cleaning utensil another dip in warm water at some point.<\/li>
• While you\u2019re in there, you might as well give their gums and the inside of their cheeks a quick once over as well.<\/li>
• To do so, grab a fresh bit of cloth or a new gauze, dip it in the warm water, then use the same technique as you did with their tongue.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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  Do I Need Toothpaste to Clean My Baby\u2019s Tongue?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

  I know that cleaning our mouths without toothpaste seems sort of redundant, but it\u2019s just not necessary for children under the age of 6 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  A lot of people think it\u2019s unsafe due to the glycerin in toothpaste (the stuff that gives it a lightly sweet taste and creamy consistency), but glycerin is completely non-toxic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  The issue is actually the fluoride content. As you can\u2019t wash your baby\u2019s mouth out after a clean, they\u2019ll swallow most of the fluoride, which can lead to dental fluorosis, a discoloration of the enamel when their teeth come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  A Note on Thrush<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  Caused by oral candidiasis, oral thrush is a fungal infection of the mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  A case of oral thrush in a baby will often go undiagnosed because it looks very similar to the milky sock we\u2019ve already talked about; however, there is one key difference that can help you identify the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Whereas milk will rub off the tongue quite easily, thrush will not, so if you\u2019re having trouble cleaning your baby\u2019s tongue, it\u2019s time to call your pediatrician, as the only way to get rid of oral thrush is to treat it with antifungal medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  How to Clean a 6-Month Old Child\u2019s Tongue<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

  At this point in time, your little bundle of joy will have sprouted their first tooth \u2014 exciting! So, that\u2019s your cue to bring some baby-friendly toothpaste into the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  You don\u2019t need any paste to scrub their tiny tongue, but if you want, you can rinse their baby toothbrush and use that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Alternatively, if they\u2019ve become accustomed to the sensation of a washcloth on their tongue, you can carry on exactly as you were before their first pearly white arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Do bear in mind that, at this stage, you don\u2019t need much toothpaste at all \u2014 we\u2019re talking a blob the size of a grain of rice. When your child reaches 3 years old, you can switch it up to a pea-sized blob.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  Summing Up<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  There you have it, folks; everything you need to know about cleaning your baby\u2019s tongue. Ideally, it should be done twice daily, but don\u2019t sweat it if you miss the odd scrub here and there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  You won\u2019t need any toothpaste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  A washcloth and some warm water will work just fine, and you can use the same gentle circular motion technique for newborns all the way through to 6-month olds and beyond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Oh, and don\u2019t forget to give their gums and the sides of their mouth a quick once over while you’re in the area. All the best!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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