Teething, which first occurs between 4 months and 6 months of age, causes a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, including bleeding in the mouth and gums. Bleeding while teething is alarming, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as fussiness and pain. In order to properly treat it, it's essential to understand why bleeding while teething occurs.
Symptoms and Causes
Bleeding while your baby is teething ranges from minor to extreme. In some cases, a blue or red blister appears on the gum where the tooth is developing. This hematoma breaks open and bleeds as your baby's tooth comes through. Additional teething symptoms include inflammation in the mouth, gums that are bumpy in texture, crankiness, hot and cold sensitivity, loss of appetite, drooling and trouble sleeping.
Remedies
Give your baby a cold compress to chew on, such as a cold wash cloth or frozen teething ring, to help stop bleeding by constricting the flow of blood. The cold also eases discomfort and pain. If your pediatrician approves, apply an over-the-counter topical teething medication to your baby's gums and give your child the appropriate dose of infant acetaminophen to relieve symptoms.
Tips
If you baby experiences bleeding and discomfort at bedtime, give him infant ibuprofen if your doctor OKs it. Although acetaminophen is less likely to cause stomach discomfort, ibuprofen lasts up to eight hours, helping your baby to sleep more soundly through the night. Although a frozen vegetable, such as a carrot, can provide bleeding relief while your child is teething, do not give it to him if any of his teeth have actually grown in and he can break off a piece of the vegetable, which can pose a choking hazard.
Considerations
Call your doctor if your child's teething-related bleeding is severe, accompanied by extreme pain or lingers longer than one week without the appearance of a tooth. Don't be alarmed if your child develops a fever while teething. Gum hematomas and inflammation can trigger a low-grade fever. However, contact the pediatrician if the fever goes higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit or lingers for more than three days.
References
- What to Expect: Teething Symptoms
- "American Baby"; Baby Teeth: Frequently Asked Questions; Mitzi Johnson, M.D.
- "What to Expect the First Year"; Heidi Murkoff, et al.; 2003
