Teething

Dental Health

What is Teething?
Teething happens when baby’s teeth begin to poke through the gums. This will often begin anywhere between 4 and 7 months. However, some babies may not have their first teeth come through until a year or later. With teething the gums may be swollen. Eventually little points of the white teeth push their way through.

When teething your baby may:

• Drool a lot
• Want to chew on things
• Have mild gum pain
• Become fussy and sleepless
• Have a decreased appetite
• Have a low grade fever of less than 101 degrees. If your child has a higher fever than this, talk to a doctor.
• Have a mild dose of diarrhea. This is not a direct symptom of teething. But sometimes diarrhea coincidentally occurs at the same time as teeth coming through.
  

How Can I Care for my Baby During Teething?

You can massage baby’s gums with a clean finger, a wet or frozen washcloth, or a wet gauze pad. Do this for about 2 minutes at a time, as often as baby needs.

Baby may like to chew on smooth, cool, hard things when teething. Let baby chew on something safe, like a cold teething ring. Avoid letting baby chew on fluid filled rings once teeth have erupted because the new teeth can possibly puncture them. You can also give your baby teething biscuits.

Avoid salty or acidic foods like lemons or oranges. These foods can bother baby’s gums. The acid can also break down the enamel of the newly formed teeth.

Mild pain relievers such as baby Tylenol or baby Ibuprofen or Motrin could also be used to help baby. Ibuprofen has anti-inflammatory properties which can help baby’s swollen gums. Never give your child aspirin because of its association with Reye’s Syndrome. Topical anesthetics available, such as BabyOrajel and Zilactin baby, may be helpful. Both of these products contain benzocaine as the active ingredient which is a surface numbing agent. Check with baby’s doctor before giving any medication. The doctor can help you know what will help the most and what dose to give.

Links about Teething

Teething
American Dental Association—http://www.ada.org/public/topics/teething.asp
American Family Physician—http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001001/tips/7.html
American Family Physician—http://www.aafp.org/afp/20041201/2113.html
Family Doctor—http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/kidshealthy/healthy-choice/834.html
Family Doctor—http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/510.html
KidsHealth—http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/teeth/teething.html
KidsHealth—http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/question/infants/easing_teething.html
Mayo Clinic—http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/teething/FL00102
University of Michigan Health System—http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_svteethi_hhg.htm