The importance of maintaining baby oral hygiene

Procedure for maintaining baby oral hygiene:

• For regular cleaning of the oral cavity of newborns and infants, you need a sterile compress 5x5 cm and saline.
• Wash your hands, then wrap gauze around your index finger and pour saline solution on gauze; then lightly rest your finger on the baby's lips, the baby will start sucking your finger as a reflex; then, with light pressure and circular motions, clean the inside of both cheeks and lower the finger over the tongue. Hold the rolled gauze with your thumb. Wiping also has a gum massage function that is soothing to the baby, especially when his/her teeth are erupting.
• A common change that occurs in the mucous membranes of babies' mouth and tongue in the form of whitish deposits (looks like clotted milk) is called thrush or oral candidiasis. It may cause babies to eat less, and even refuse food.
• At home, this condition is treated with a mild solution of baking soda (a level teaspoonful of baking soda per 100 ml of boiled and cooled water). Wash your hands, wrap sterile gauze around your finger, then moisten it with the baking soda solution, and then carefully run your finger over the deposits in one circular motion around the baby's entire oral cavity, without strong pressure. When the infection has progressed, the deposits are harder to remove and the procedure should be repeated.
• Take care that the baby does not swallow the solution because he/she may vomit. It is best to perform the procedure an hour before or after feeding. If the deposits do not disappear in two to three days, consult a doctor.