Teething occurs when new teeth begin growing up through your child's gums. While some babies just breeze through the teething process, others have a much harder time of it. Cutting new teeth can be painful, causing your child to cry, act irritable and drool. Knowing more facts about teething can help you make this process a little less painful for your child and less stressful for you.
The Teething Process
Some babies are born with a tooth or start teething when just a few weeks old. However, most babies start cutting new teeth between the ages of 6 and 8 months old and often continue teething until their third birthday. The two bottom front teeth typically erupt first. The two upper front teeth appear a month or two later. The side teeth erupt next, followed by the molars in the back. Baby teeth don't fall out until the permanent teeth start coming in, usually around the age of 6.
Signs of Teething
Some babies become fussy for a few weeks before the tooth actually starts showing through the gums. Your child might wake up more often during the night, particularly when the molars begin erupting. Dr. K. O. Palouse, on his website, reports that many teething babies experience loose bowel movements due to the extra saliva production. The pain from teething might spread up to your baby's ears and cheeks, especially when the molars start coming in, so your baby might tug at his ears or rub his cheeks Your child may suffer from nasal congestion and a runny nose while teething. Call your pediatrician if your baby has these cold-like symptoms for any longer than three days.
Chewing
Paulouse says that teething babies chew on almost anything because the pressure from gnawing on things counteracts the pressure from underneath the gums. Chewing temporarily numbs the teething pain. Give your baby a teething ring or cool down a washcloth in your freezer. The coolness combined with the pressure should relieve the teething pain for a while.
Easing Teething Pain
MayoClinic.com suggests rubbing your baby's gums with a damp, clean washcloth or a clean finger because this little bit of pressure might help alleviate the pain. Consult your pediatrician about giving your child over-the-counter pain relievers with ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Feed an older teething child soft, cool foods like yogurt, popsicles or frozen juice pops.
Teething Don'ts
Never tie a teething ring around your child's neck because it could become tangled or caught on something and choke your little one. Don't put rubbing alcohol on your baby's gums. Never give your child aspirin because it could cause Reye's Syndrome, a rare but deadly disease. Do not use over-the-counter teething medications that you rub directly on your baby's gums. The excess saliva typically washes the medicine away before it has a chance to work, so your baby just ends up swallowing it.
Baby Teeth Hygiene
The BabyCenter website suggests gently wiping off your baby's teeth and gums twice a day with a damp washcloth. Don't put your baby to bed with a bottle full of breast milk or formula, because the sugars in those liquids can cause tooth decay. If your baby's teeth fall out before the permanent teeth are ready to erupt, then the remaining baby teeth try to fill in the gaps and might come in crooked or in the wrong place.
