Congratulations. I have a going on three year old Sulcata.
Well its good you are doing some research although a bit confusing it can be.

Soaking is good for young ones. Everyday is fine you could go every other day too. Water dish is good too. With the skin flaky I might think you want the extra humidity. Which leads into substrate, I just changed out mine for coir fiber aka bed a beast it is so fine that they could eat it and it would pass right through. I buy the bricks at nursery stores instead it is a lot cheaper for the bricks. I set the dry bricks in a lot of water more than it calls for to dilute any excess salts and stuff that is in it from processing, then I just grab it out and wring the water out making a fist. The cage heat lamp dries out the substrate pretty fast. I leave the cage area dry except for the sleep area I try to keep a bit damper, I was told humidity in the sleep area helps form a nicer shell. Tortiose burrows in the wild are a bit on the humid side I was told too.
With the dirty mouth, what is it eating? Mine seemed to have a grass stained mouth a lot when he was younger but not so much anymore. I wouldn't be concerned about trying to clean his mouth.
I wish you good luck with your little guy. I included a pic of my Riley from shortly after I brought him home as a hatcling. He more than covers my palm now!!

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