Baby Oral hygiene

As your new born has, apart from in some exceptional circumstances has no teeth, and eats no solid food, we tend to forget completely that part of our baby care routine should be oral hygiene of the baby.

Generally speaking, as the new born has no teeth, until teething stage begins that can be anytime after birth, but generally from around four months old, we need do little to actually clean the mouth of the infant, although we must never neglect to check the mouth of your new born.

One actually common oral problem in the new born, is fungal infection of the mouth. Fungi love to grow anywhere moist, and for this reason, it is also important to remember in our daily baby care routine that after bath time, we must dry correctly in all creases and folds, most especially in the genital area, as well as creases in the legs due to the fact that the healthy new born has a higher fat ratio than her adult counterpart.

Just as a baby can suffer from fungal infection in the genital area when diapers are constantly wet and skin never gets chance to breath, fungal infection can occur in the mouth of the infant, as the mouth is a warm, damp place.

A fungal infection in the mouth of the new born may go mistaken for residue of milk, especially when baby is bottle fed, as a residue or film of milk is left on the tongue.

However , if this whiteness is always apparent, even between feeds, or just before a feed, then it is possible that the underlying cause is a fungal infection of the mouth.

To test baby to see if the whitening of the tongue is in fact a fungal infection, or a simple formula or breast milk residue, very gently try to scrape away the whitened area. If the whiteness lifts with no problem, then this is most likely milk residue. If the whitened area appears to be thickened, especially towards the back part of the tongue, then the cause is a fungal infection. This is simply remedied by a solution that will be prescribed to your by paediatrician at your local baby care center or medical center.

It is important that if you are breastfeeding your new born, to clean also your nipples and areola with the same solution, as you may also , although unnoticeable and maybe without any itching, also be carrying the infection. The same rule go here as for baby’s diaper, keep your nipples dry and protected, and if you are using lactation discs, make sure you change them regularly, to prevent fungal infection.

In the mouth of the new born, the next thing to look at as regards to baby care is when teeth start to show. If your baby seems more unsettled than normal, and you can see no other underlying cause, gently run your finger over the gums of baby to see if you can feel any swelling or hardening. When we find swelling or hardening of the gums, it is a good indication that baby is starting teething. Unfortunately the process can cause quite some discomfort for the infant, and there is very little we can do to aid the process apart from giving extra love and attention to soothe your child. Special pastes are available to numb the area, as are teething rings, but when consulting baby care manuals, the general advice is to be patient and to be prepared for a few days of unrest with each tooth he cuts.