Parents think of teething as the few days of swelling, discomfort, and irritability before a baby’s tooth erupts, but tooth development actually begins before birth. “Baby” teeth start forming it the jaw below the gum around the sixth week of pregnancy, and they are erupting when a good part of the root is formed. Permanent teeth also begin developing with the baby teeth during pregnancy. You can get your child’s teeth off to a healthy start by following your doctor’s advice and eating a well-balanced diet, including calcium-rich foods such as yogurt and dark leafy greens.
Teething can begin as early as 4 months of age, but most babies don’t get their first tooth until 6 months. Teeth usually come in pairs with the bottom front two teeth called “incisors” typically showing up first, followed by the top ones. Then the side front teeth, “lateral incisors” erupt followed by the back teeth, called “molars” and then the eye teeth or “canines”, which are the pointy teeth next to the front teeth. The very back molars erupt last, completing the full set of twenty primary teeth by the age of 3 years.
Sometimes there can be variations in the sequence of eruption or the age the teeth erupt at, don’t worry. The first tooth can come out at anytime between 4 and 12 months. If a tooth hasn’t come in by 1 year, there’s probably still no reason to worry if your child is growing fine otherwise, the teeth may be just late. In rare instances, there can be lack of teeth, which may be a sign of metabolic disorder, but if that were the case, a child would have other growth problems as well.
The first signs of teething are drooling and chewing, but they may come as your baby starts to put objects into his mouth to explore them. But if you notice that your child is also cranky and fussy, and he tends to chew or gnaw on the breast or bottle more than suck, that sounds like teething. Another sign is when you see in his mouth the gum swelling and looking swollen and bumpy, and it may even be lighter or darker in color. Sometimes a bluish-red blister appears on the gum line before the tooth is coming out, and it may bleed a little when the tooth breaks the surface. But if the blister lasts for more than a week without the tooth poking through, especially if your baby develops fever, please call us or your pediatrician since the tooth may need help to erupt.
While your child is teething, excessive drooling can cause irritation around his mouth. Applying a little petroleum jelly on the skin around the mouth and on his lips can protect them. A frozen teething ring is very good for numbing the pain of teething and satisfying baby’s need to chew and rub his gums. Even something as simple as a wet washcloth that your baby can chew on will provide relief. To reduce the painful sensation you can use a topical teething ointment, these medications are meant to be applied directly onto the gums. The active ingredients numb the gums, providing teething relief. When you use the topical medication you may need to reapply often, make sure to follow the package instructions so you don’t give your baby too much. Or you can use the topical medication to help your child till an age-appropriate dose of liquid infant pain reducer can help. Ibuprofen( Advil or Nurofen) is a good pain relief for nighttime because it lasts six to eight hours and Paracetamol(panadol) is easier on a baby’s stomach, making it a good daytime option.
If you would like to know more about how to keep your baby’s teeth and gums healthy, please call Tooronga Family Dentistry, Phone number 98227006.