Teething

Teething is when your baby's first set of teeth (known as primary teeth) erupt through the grums. Teething tends to begin around 6 months of age but it's not uncommon for it to begin slightly earlier or later. In most cases your child will have all 20 of their primary teeth by the age of three. Teething usually begins with the lower teeth appearing first and the upper teeth coming a couple of months later.

The Symptoms

When teething it's normal for babies to become fussier than normal, this is often due to the swelling and soreness which occurs in their gums before the tooth erupts. Symptoms like this usually begin about five days before the tooth appears and should disappear as soon as the tooth is in the right place. However, in many cases teething doesn't seem to have any affect on infants whatsoever. In order to help relieve the pressure placed on their gums by teething many babies bite their fingers or toys. They may also be adverse to eating or drinking due to the pain they're experiencing in their mouths. It's also important to watch out for rashes during teething which can be caused by excessive drooling. All these symptoms are normal and should only be temporary but if you think your baby's symptoms may be severe then don't hesitate to call your doctor.

How to help your baby through teething

There's a number of ways in which you can help relieve the discomfort associated with teething. Mild pain relievers can be safely used on children such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can often help to relieve an infants discomfort, it's important that you don't give your baby asprin as this could have serious side effects. In many instances, rubbing your baby's gums for a couple of minutes at a time can be soothing despite initial protests. Similarly you can provide safe objects for your baby to chew on during teething like specially designed teething rings.

How tooth development works

Your child's first primary teeth (or 'baby teeth') should appear at about six months of age but it could be earlier and in rare instances much later. By the age of three the vast majority of children will have all of their primary teeth. These will usually erupt in a particular order with the two bottom front teeth usually appearing first followed by the four upper front teeth and the two lower lateral incisors. This is usually followed by the first molars, canines and then any remaining molars. Your child's permanent (or secondary) teeth will usually begin to replace baby teeth at around six years of age, they erupt in a similar sequence to primary teeth and usually push the preceding tooth out of the way as they erupt.

Promoting good oral health

There's a number of ways in which you can help your child to develop healthy teeth and gums. For instance, measures you can take to help protect against tooth decay in primary teeth include cleansing them with a gauze pad or soft cloth as they appear. As more teeth appear you can move on to cleaning them with a soft toothbrush, using only water for the first couple of months. You can also help protects against tooth decay caused by baby bottles by removing the bottle from your baby's mouth as soon as they're finished. It's important to clean your baby's teeth after they have eaten, particularly at night. When it's time for your baby to move on to solids you can help promote oral health by feeding them foods which are low in sugar and healthy. It's also good practice to keep milk feedings to a minimum during the night. It's also important to schedule regular appointments with your child's doctor as they will monitor their dental health. Your child's first dental appointment is usually recommended between the ages of six months and a year if your doctor feels your child may be particularly vulnerable to tooth decay.

When symptoms become severe

Although treatment at home is usually sufficient to relieve the symptoms of teething like drooling, fussiness and discomfort, you may need to talk to your doctor if your child develops other symptoms which become excessive or remain longer than a few days. Symptoms may include; severe diarrhea or nappy rash and frequent pullingon the ear. It's also a good idea to consult your doctor if your child hasn't begun teething by 12 months of age or is showing signs of tooth decay. Similarly, if your child's permanent teeth are erupting before the primary teeth are lost or your child has a small birth defect of the mouth or jaw problems like a cleft palate you should consult your doctor.