Teething Signs and Relief

A baby’s teeth begin to develop before most women know they are expecting. Tooth buds start forming in the fetus around five to six weeks of development. They won’t become a problem for baby until the first teeth start coming through the gums at about six months of age. The first set of teeth can start to come in anytime as early as three months or as late as twelve months. The most common first set of teeth are the two bottom front teeth. The teeth will continue to come in sets of two. The most painful teeth children get are the first set of molars and canine teeth. These teeth usually arrive at about 13-19 months of age. By age three, children should have a full set of 20 teeth. Here’s some advice on how to recognize the signs of teething and how to soothe the pain.

When babies start teething they can have multiple symptoms.



 Extra cranky

 Chin rash

 Ear pulling

 Not sleeping well at night

 Low grade fever

 Swollen gums

 Excessive drooling

 Biting and chewing



Not all these symptoms may be present and not all the symptoms represent teething. You should contact your pediatrician if you suspect your child is bothered by more than just teething. There are plenty of ways to soothe baby’s sore gums. Some ways to help your child soothe the pain from teething include:



 Teething rings

 Cold or frozen washcloth

 Rubbing gums with finger

 Cold drink

 Cold food

 Baby Orajel

 Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen

 Chilled soft-tip baby spoon to chew on





You can add extra effectiveness to teething rings and toys if you put them in the fridge for a while. The coldness calms the inflammation and helps numb the pain. When using any medications to soothe baby’s teething pain use medication as directed or consult your pediatrician.



Once teeth arrive, just like adult teeth, they are susceptible to plaque build-up and decay. As soon as the first tooth pokes through the gums you should begin brushing your baby’s teeth. This can be done with a small soft toothbrush and water or baby toothpaste at least twice a day, morning and bedtime. You can also use a clean, wet washcloth or gauze pad to wipe teeth and gums after meals. It is important to take care of temporary baby teeth because this will promote healthy gums and future adult teeth.



There’s no telling how each child will react to teething but hopefully these tips will be helpful.

Melissa K



Sources: www.babycenter.com