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Teething can be a miserable time for you and your child. Knowing what to expect and what can be done to minimize your infant’s discomfort can make getting through this milestone a little easier. The age at which the first tooth appears differs from child to child. In rare cases, children are born with one or two teeth, or have a first tooth emerge within the first few weeks of life. Unless the teeth interfere with feeding or are loose enough to pose a choking hazard, there is no need for concern. Generally, however, teething starts during the first four to seven months. The first teeth to appear are usually the two bottom front teeth, also known as the central incisors. These are typically followed four to eight weeks later by the four upper teeth, or the central and lateral incisors. Then, about one month later, the two lower incisors – the two teeth flanking the bottom front teeth – appear. Next to break through the gum line are the first molars – the back teeth used for grinding food, followed by the canine or eyeteeth, which are the pointy teeth in the upper jaw. Most children have all 20 of their primary teeth, including their second set of molars, at about age 20 to 30 months or by their third birthday. For some babies, teething appears to be painless. Others may experience brief periods of irritability, and some may seem cranky for weeks, experiencing crying episodes and disrupted sleeping and eating patterns. Teething can be uncomfortable, but if your baby seems extremely irritable, contact your pediatrician. Tender and swollen gums could cause a baby’s temperature to be a little higher than normal, but teething does not cause high fever, rashes, runny noses or diarrhea – despite popular belief. These symptoms could be an indication of an illness and you should consult with your child’s pediatrician. Admittedly, teething can be frustrating and worrisome for parents. Here are a few tips to help ease the teething process: • Wipe your baby’s face often with a cloth to remove the drool. • Give your child something to chew on. Make sure it’s big enough so that she can’t swallow it and that it can’t break into small pieces. A wet washcloth placed in the freezer for 30 minutes makes a handy teething aid – just be sure to wash it after each use. Rubber teething rings can also be good, but avoid ones with liquid inside, as they may break. Also, do not allow the teething ring to become “rock hard” by leaving it in the freezer too long. • Gently rub and massage your infant’s gums with a clean finger. • Teething gels may also provide some relief, but use sparingly and only on the site where the tooth is erupting. • Do not give acetaminophen to your child without first consulting his pediatrician. • Finally, don’t follow the “old wives tales” of placing aspirin against the tooth or rubbing whisky on your baby’s gums. Once those first teeth appear, be sure to brush them thoroughly with water twice a day. (You should already be wiping your child’s gums daily with a clean, damp washcloth or gauze, or with a soft, infant-sized toothbrush with water.) Even though the first set of teeth will fall out, tooth decay can hasten the process and leave gaps before the permanent teeth are ready to come in. The American Academy of Dentistry recommends that children see a dentist by their first birthday. Dr. Mohini Sinha is a Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) pediatrician. To find a CHOC physician, or to learn more about CHOC, visit choc.org. |
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