All The Facts on Teething (EPIC LIST)

Last Updated on August 22, 2019

The appearance of a baby’s first few teeth are momentous occasions for parents, but the pain caused by erupting teeth usually makes babies very cranky. Cutting and growing milk teeth is not a pleasant experience, and babies express their pain and discomfort by becoming more irritable. Babies may manifest a lot of symptoms while they’re cutting and growing teeth, but they’re not always due to the process of new teeth coming through.

Your tiny bundle of joy may develop many viral illnesses during their first year of life, so symptoms of these ailments may coincide with those caused by new teeth. Your new arrival is a source of joy and excitement, so parents do their best to make things better when the baby’s not feeling well. There are many ways to help babies feel more comfortable and ease their pain, but be prepared for lots of fussiness and sleepless nights in the interim.

Baby’s First Tooth

Babies can start their first growth of teeth as early as four months, but most will get their first tooth between 6-7 months. Some babies start much later and get their first tooth after their first birthday. An early or late start doesn’t signify problems with health or development; it’s simply a matter of genetics. Babies’ front teeth usually appear first. It may be the top two or the bottom two. The canine teeth will show up after the front teeth, which will leave the molars to complete the set. The process of cutting and growing milk teeth can take a few years, but the remaining teeth typically sprout up between your baby’s first and third birthdays. Check with your children’s dentist if you notice any problems with your child’s teeth. It’s the beginning of a road to dental health mindfulness. 

Know the Signs

Babies do a lot of drooling in the first few months of life. The first growth of teeth stimulates saliva, so babies usually drool when they’re cutting and growing milk teeth. The amount of drool has long been a topic of debate among healthcare professionals. If you notice excessive amounts of drool during the growth process, you should mention it to your pediatrician just in case it’s indicative of something more serious. Another sign of new teeth coming through is fussiness.

The cutting of milk teeth starts when the teeth begin to erupt, and that’s a painful process. You can actually feel the teeth under your baby’s gums before they start breaking through. Babies’ gums become swollen and tender, and this usually causes fussiness and crying. Some babies may present a change in eating or sleeping habits or try to chew or gnaw on anything they put in their mouths.

Signs of Other Illnesses During Teething

Babies do a lot of drooling in the first few months of life. The first growth of teeth stimulates saliva, so babies usually drool when they’re cutting and growing milk teeth. The amount of drool has long been a topic of debate among healthcare professionals. If you notice excessive amounts of drool during the growth process, you should mention it to your pediatrician just in case it’s indicative of something more serious. Another sign of new teeth coming through is fussiness.

The cutting of milk teeth starts when the teeth begin to erupt, and that’s a painful process. You can actually feel the teeth under your baby’s gums before they start breaking through. Babies’ gums become swollen and tender, and this usually causes fussiness and crying. Some babies may present a change in eating or sleeping habits or try to chew or gnaw on anything they put in their mouths.

Pain Medications

Pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used to ease the pain of cutting or growing milk teeth for babies who are six months or older. Medications such as Tylenol or Advil can be used sparingly and for a short period of time. Bedtime is a good time to give it to babies to calm them and help them to sleep better. Other medications include topical ointments that are rubbed on the gums, but many are not recommended because of dangerous ingredients. Medications should be administered in very small doses and only after checking with your doctor to make sure they’re safe.

Other Teething Remedies

Biting and chewing are very important to the process of cutting and growing milk teeth, and it helps the teeth to break through in a timely manner. It also helps the proper sequence and formation of teeth. Biting and chewing are natural instincts, and babies love to chew and gnaw on fingers, toys, and anything else they can get their little hands on. There are a wide variety of toys and gadgets on the market for helping babies through this difficult time, but some of them aren’t effective and others may be dangerous.

Chewing on something cold works well, and you can use a clean washcloth or teething ring to soothe aching gums. The washcloth or teething ring can be placed in the refrigerator to cool. Nursing moms can try rubbing their babies’ gums with cold fingers before feeding to prevent painful bites while nursing. Breast milk may also provide pain relief for your baby because of its relaxing properties and soothing abilities.

Potentially Dangerous Remedies

Products to be avoided include gels made with benzocaine, amber necklaces, and homeopathic tablets. Gels made with benzocaine, which is a numbing cream, can cause a serious condition called methemoglobinemia. This rare condition is a blood disorder that interferes with the release of oxygen into the body. These gels should not be used on children younger than two years old, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Amber necklaces and similar necklaces are a choking and strangling hazard.

In addition, there’s no definitive proof that the amber necklace actually works. Homeopathic gels and tablets should also be avoided. They contain an herb that can be toxic, and products that contain this herb were deemed unsafe by the FDA in 2016. Seizures were experienced by many infants and toddlers after taking the tablets or gels containing the toxic substance.

Contact Kinder Today

The growth of new teeth can be a painful process for both you and your baby, but it’s very manageable with the right tools and a bit of patience. Call your pediatrician if your baby has symptoms which may indicate something other than the growth of new teeth. Symptoms to watch for include diarrhea, vomiting, rashes on the body, a higher fever, or cough and congestion.

You can ensure your child’s teething is developing properly by making regular visits to a children’s dentist. KinderSmiles offers pediatric dental care for all your child’s needs. Dr. Engel and his team have decades of experience dealing with basic dental care and advanced issues in children. They accept all forms of Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare and offer affordable fees for uninsured families.

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400 Kinderkamack Rd.
Oradell, NJ 07649
Phone: 201-262-0211

All The Facts on Teething (EPIC LIST)

Darryl Engel

Dr Engel holds a speciality license in pediatric dentistry from New Jersey and New York. He also has attained sedation certification, which allows for in-office oral sedation options, and he’s on staff at Hackensack University Medical Center. As an attending pediatric dentist at HUMC, Dr Engel retains operating room privileges, allowing for an array of treatment modalities and anaesthesia options.