Yup, you’ll need to get baby tongue cleaners when you have a baby, so you might as well add that to your baby registry list. On the laundry list of kinda weird, kinda gross things you have to do as a new parent (ahem, like changing tons of diapers), you might want to tack on tongue scraping. Yeah—turns out oral care isn’t just for babies spooning up purees or chomping on chicken nuggets. In fact, the sooner you start taking care of your baby’s mouth health-wise, the better.

The best way to get rid of bacteria lurking in your baby’s mouth is with a newborn tongue cleaner. Ever catch a glimpse of your baby’s tongue and notice white residue built up? That’s leftover from the milk, be it breastmilk or formula, but when it’s left to sit for long periods of time, like when your newborn takes more than a 30 minute nap, bacteria can build up.

Cleaning your newborn’s tongue doesn’t have to be a difficult process. In fact, it’s easier than ever thanks to the tongue cleaning devices on the market that are specifically created for newborns. Here are some of the top-sellers that parents are loving right now.

This set of 40 soft, double-wave brushes are made of 100 percent medical kim gauze so you know they’re safe for your baby and formulated to fit his tiny gums. The lattice structure and double-suture fastening keep the tongue scraper so stable while you’re using it (no worrying about tiny pieces coming off). Just don’t forget that they’re disposable and meant to be discarded after a single use. 

These baby dry wipes make for an easy oral cleaning, helping to slough away milk deposits, food residue and other bacteria from your baby’s mouth. The standard ring buckle design affixes to your fingers firmly so you don’t have to worry about it coming off in your baby’s mouth. They are made without fluorescent agents, adhesives, and harmful substances such as alcohol, flavor and preservatives and you can use them from the newborn period through 16 months of age. 

No gum wipes or finger toothbrushes here—these swab-like disposable brushes can easily reach every part of your newborn’s tiny mouth, including, of course, her tongue. They’re ultra soft and have a flexible round brush head to streamline the process. They’re CPSIA certified and made of 100 percent medical skim gauze—no strange chemicals whatsoever. They come individually wrapped and are meant for one-time use. 

This is not your average tongue cleaning device—it’s a baby wipe, but meant for your baby’s tongue. They are made from 100 percent pure water and have a safe finger-sleeve design that stays firmly on your finger while in use. They are free of fluorescent agents, adhesive, alcohol, flavor and preservatives and are even environmentally friendly. 

Though not necessarily a true newborn tongue cleaner, this device can totally be used on your newborn’s tongue, as well as his gums and budding teeth. The tooth and gum gel is fluoride free, so it’s totally safe if your baby swallows it, and free of alcohol, parabens, aspartame, dyes, sugar, SLS, dairy, gluten. 

These disposable tongue scraping and oral cleaning baby brushes have a durable, absorbent gauze head that is stable and safe for use in your baby’s mouth. Made from 100 percent medical cotton, they help remove milk stains and bacteria from your baby’s mouth. They’re easily portable and can be stored in suitcases, carry-on bags, you name it. Just dip into warm water and you’re good to go.

The soft, circle ring on this tongue-cleansing device is nice and gentle on your newborn’s tongue and gyms. It helps remove milk residue and built-up bacteria and is super easy to use, which tired new parents will totally appreciate. As one reviewer noted: “I bought this because my 2-month-old has bad milk tongue. This helps get a little further back on the tongue and isn’t as bulky as my finder and a wash cloth. Good quality, soft but firm, and easy to use.”

This soft tongue cleaner is made out of 100 percent food-grade silicone and features a double-sided brush head and a curved handle that makes it easy for you to maneuver. The brush bristles are nice and soft, but note that this is best used for babies 18 months and older. The reviews are impressive, with one happy reviewer noting: “My 7 month old is obsessed! She loves brushing her teeth with me in the morning. She loves the teether too!”

Now that you’ve got your little one’s oral care squared away, check out more baby gear you’ll surely need in her first year.

This set of 40 soft, double-wave brushes are made of 100 percent medical kim gauze so you know they’re safe for your baby and formulated to fit his tiny gums. The lattice structure and double-suture fastening keep the tongue scraper so stable while you’re using it (no worrying about tiny pieces coming off). Just don’t forget that they’re disposable and meant to be discarded after a single use. 

These baby dry wipes make for an easy oral cleaning, helping to slough away milk deposits, food residue and other bacteria from your baby’s mouth. The standard ring buckle design affixes to your fingers firmly so you don’t have to worry about it coming off in your baby’s mouth. They are made without fluorescent agents, adhesives, and harmful substances such as alcohol, flavor and preservatives and you can use them from the newborn period through 16 months of age. 

No gum wipes or finger toothbrushes here—these swab-like disposable brushes can easily reach every part of your newborn’s tiny mouth, including, of course, her tongue. They’re ultra soft and have a flexible round brush head to streamline the process. They’re CPSIA certified and made of 100 percent medical skim gauze—no strange chemicals whatsoever. They come individually wrapped and are meant for one-time use. 

This is not your average tongue cleaning device—it’s a baby wipe, but meant for your baby’s tongue. They are made from 100 percent pure water and have a safe finger-sleeve design that stays firmly on your finger while in use. They are free of fluorescent agents, adhesive, alcohol, flavor and preservatives and are even environmentally friendly. 

Though not necessarily a true newborn tongue cleaner, this device can totally be used on your newborn’s tongue, as well as his gums and budding teeth. The tooth and gum gel is fluoride free, so it’s totally safe if your baby swallows it, and free of alcohol, parabens, aspartame, dyes, sugar, SLS, dairy, gluten. 

These disposable tongue scraping and oral cleaning baby brushes have a durable, absorbent gauze head that is stable and safe for use in your baby’s mouth. Made from 100 percent medical cotton, they help remove milk stains and bacteria from your baby’s mouth. They’re easily portable and can be stored in suitcases, carry-on bags, you name it. Just dip into warm water and you’re good to go.

The soft, circle ring on this tongue-cleansing device is nice and gentle on your newborn’s tongue and gyms. It helps remove milk residue and built-up bacteria and is super easy to use, which tired new parents will totally appreciate. As one reviewer noted: “I bought this because my 2-month-old has bad milk tongue. This helps get a little further back on the tongue and isn’t as bulky as my finder and a wash cloth. Good quality, soft but firm, and easy to use.”

This soft tongue cleaner is made out of 100 percent food-grade silicone and features a double-sided brush head and a curved handle that makes it easy for you to maneuver. The brush bristles are nice and soft, but note that this is best used for babies 18 months and older. The reviews are impressive, with one happy reviewer noting: “My 7 month old is obsessed! She loves brushing her teeth with me in the morning. She loves the teether too!”

This article was originally published on 12.25.2020