Teething A baby goes through many changes as it grows but one of the toughest on them is the teething stage. For any parent who has ever had to suffer through a night or week of their child teething, they will tell how difficult it can be on not only the child but also the parents’ abilities to cope. This article will address this stage of development for a child and what can be done to help ease the troubles that are associated with it.
A baby first usually starts teething between 5 and 7 months. Of course, this is the average time so if it occurs earlier or later, it’s not a sign of any developmental issues. Some babies are born with teeth already present and some babies don’t start teething until later in their first year. The first teeth to erupt in a baby are the 2 front lower teeth. This is then followed a few months later by the front upper teeth and then later the teeth on either side of the upper front teeth. By the time the child is about 2 and a half years, all 20 teeth should be out. Once again, there’s no need to panic if this hasn’t happened by then, your dentist will be able to give you more info on why. Teething is the natural process by which the teeth move through the bone and gums, and erupt into the mouth. This process is usually accompanied by some signs and symptoms that can be seen in the developing child. Although there is a wide variance in what each individual child goes through, these are some of the common signs of teething: Excessive drooling – most children drool as it is, but during teething, they tend to drool more than usual Putting their fingers or other objects in their mouth – babies like to put things in their mouth as a natural instinct but during teething, they put things in their mouth to bring relief from the pain Inflamed or swollen gums in the area of erupting a tooth Baby is cranky or fussy more than usual – usual a change in eating habits will accompany Fever There are ways of making your child more comfortable during the teething stage. If they are cranky, try giving them a chewy toy that they can bite on. Usually, cold objects soothe more so try putting a teething toy in the fridge for a while before giving it. However, do not freeze them. You can also rub your fingers on your baby’s gums, just make sure they are clean in order to prevent causing detrimental effects. Teething ointments such as Orajel or Anbesol can help but their effects don’t last long because they are removed with the excessive saliva. Children’s Advil or Tylenol can help reduce the pain your child is feeling and can also bring down any fever associated with teething. However, if your child is under 2, please follow the directions of the medicine correctly and consult your baby’s physician. Besides that, there’s not much else you can do but console the baby during this process. If you do have any questions or concerns then it is best to sit down with your family dentist and discuss your options. If you are located in Langley, BC then call Langley Village Dental today for an appointment!