How to Care for Your Child's Tongue When Brushing Their Teeth

Posted on 5/15/2020 by Fariba Mutschler

Children's oral care can seem complicated at times. No sugary drinks. Brush daily. No thumb sucking or pacifier use, the list can get lengthy. But today we're here to discuss some of the Do's of your child's oral health, and to remind you that we're here for you! Together, we can work to support your child as they learn to become independent adults and we support you as a parent, partnering with you to provide the best oral health care possible for your child.

Brushing 101

Good oral health begins at birth, believe it or not. Beginning at birth, use a damp wash cloth to gently clean your baby's gums and tongue after each feeding. Yes, the tongue too! This gets them used to oral health care and begins to establish good habits for taking care of their teeth once they begin erupting. Once your child does have a few teeth, schedule your first visit with our office! We can help make sure that everything is coming in exactly on schedule.
At home, brushing twice daily is our recommendation. Begin with a smear of toothpaste on your child's toothbrush. Gently brush all surfaces of the teeth, being sure to get the back ones too, if they've grown in already. Then encourage your child to open wide and stick their tongue out. Gently brush the tongue's surface being careful not to go too far back, this can cause gagging and your child may not be a willing participant next time. This tongue brushing removes bacteria build up that can occur on the tongue and is a very important part of good oral hygiene.
As always, if you have any concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to call our office. Establishing a good Dentist/Child relationship will benefit your child for years to come, and we can't wait to begin that journey with you!

My daughter was a little nervous to have her dental work done but everyone in the office was super friendly and very reassuring and that helped her nervousness go away. Thanks for the excellent dental experience. ~ Lilyana G.

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Our Dental Blog | Great Grins Pediatric Dentistry - Portland, OR
Dr. Fariba Mutschler & Dr. Mark Mutschler have created this informative blog to help educate the community. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please use the share it button to post to Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
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