Teething can be a challenging experience for parents and a painful time for their babies as well. Teething can occur as early as three months after birth and last for up to three years, notes the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Be prepared for this stage of life by educating yourself on the various remedies medical experts recommend to make teething a little easier on you and your child.
Is Your Child Teething?
Although teething can occur early, Mayo Clinic experts note that most babies begin teething around the age of 6 months. Some of the symptoms you may notice, as reported in a 1999 study conducted by American Academy of Pediatrics, are increased drooling and biting, gum rubbing, and crankiness. Your baby may also exhibit texture aversion to solid foods. Other indicators include ear rubbing, a rash on the face and mildly elevated temperatures. However, some babies show no signs of teething.
Home Remedies
If your baby is teething, his gums are very sore. The Mayo Clinic suggests rubbing your child's gums with your finger or a moist piece of gauze or washcloth. Mayo Clinic experts suggest offering your child rubber teething rings or a water-filled bottle. Cool washcloths; a chilled (not frozen) teething ring; and refrigerated, pureed foods may also be helpful. To prevent excess saliva from irritating your baby's sensitive skin, keep a cloth handy to dry his face.
Drugstore Remedies
Use over-the-counter teething remedies with caution. Mayo Clinic experts indicate that topical teething medications that numb your baby's gums may hinder her gag reflex if you use too much. Oral pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may assuage the baby who's extremely irritable. However, the Mayo Clinic advises you to not give your child aspirin or a product that contains aspirin.
Cautions
Teething typically doesn't result in complications and can be managed with home care. The Mayo Clinic indicates that parents often associate unrelated signs and symptoms with teething. However, congestion, sleep disturbance, diarrhea, vomiting, cough, rash on other parts of the body, and a fever of more than 102 degrees are not typical signs of teething, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. If your baby shows extreme discomfort or other signs of illness, Mayo Clinic experts advise contacting his pediatrician.
What Happens Next?
Once your baby begins to show signs of teething, her first tooth could pop through her gum at any time. The AAFP indicates that usually the first teeth to emerge are the two bottom central incisors. Four to eight weeks later, the four upper teeth begin to appear. The two lower lateral incisors emerge a month after that. Most children have all 20 primary (baby) teeth by their third birthday. Teething is also a sign that it's time to get diligent about dental care; for more information, see the Resources section.
