Parents always gush over baby’s first tooth, but what you don’t see in the precious picture are the miserable moments leading up to it. A teething baby is one of the most distressing problems that affect little ones and their parents.
You are probably aware of the fact that babies’ teeth start growing in a certain order. Front teeth, also called central incisors, on both the lower and upper jaws, emerge first. These are closely followed by the lateral incisors, the canine or cuspids, and then the molars.
When do Babies Begin Teething?
Most babies begin teething somewhere between six to twelve months. Usually, the last primary molar pops through by age three.
However, some children begin teething sooner, and the symptoms arrive about two to three months before the tooth actually does. Teething pains exacerbate the “terrible twos” as little ones do not understand why they hurt and certainly have not developed coping mechanisms to deal with the pain.
So they will often cry and throw tantrums almost daily while cutting teeth.Here are the symptoms that indicate teething and some simple remedies to help relieve your little one’s discomfort. The pain of teething can cause irritability, excessive crying, night waking, and even fever.
4 symptoms of a Teething Baby
1. Drooling And Teething Rash
As teeth push towards the surface of the gums, swelling occurs and causes drooling. Constant drooling moistens and irritates the skin often around their cheeks, chin, neck, and chest, creating reddish bumps and blotches. Keep your child’s neck and chest area covered and dry. A bib and onesie under the clothing will help, but change them as they become moist. Also, a little diaper rash cream will heal and protect their skin. It is made for sensitive little buns, so will be gentle on their upper areas as well.
2. Refusal To Eat
Plain and simple, pain curbs appetites. Especially for a teething baby. Offer your little one foods that will feel good on their teeth. They may enjoy hard foods they can gnaw on, like zwieback toast. This way you can simultaneously soothe your teething baby’s pain and hunger.
3. Biting
Though you may feel that your little one is acting naughty or mean when they bite, it may simply be an instinctual way for them to relive their sore gums. Before resorting to punishment, try simply offering them something to chew on, like a teether. Following this snack, remember to brush their teeth, even if there is only one; this will prevent cavities from forming on their new chompers while applying the pressure on their gums that they are craving. Afterwards, rubbing a little dab of Baby Orajel onto their gums to prevent or soothe soreness may also stop this unwanted behavior.
4. Crying, Irritability, Night Waking, And Fever
A Teething baby can create all sorts of mayhem! The pain of the teeth cutting through the gums causes children to act irritable, cry, and awaken during the night. However, the eruption of the teeth breaking through the gums and consequential swelling often create a rise in body temperature, sometimes high enough to be considered a fever. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics warns that teething does not typically raise the body temperature high enough to be considered a fever (100.4 degrees f) and so a fever could warrant a call into the pediatrician. On the upside, Infant’s or Children’s Tylenol and Motrin can be alternated to keep all four of these symptoms at bay. Though it may feel as if it will, remember that teething will not last forever. In the meantime, these simple remedies and some additional information from the ADA will offer you and your little one some peace and comfort while those little milestones pop through. Please download our baby teething chart.
If you have any concerns about your child’s teething symptoms, call Dr Brant Darby DDS today (907) 562-1003.
Not sure if you should bring your little one to a family dentist or a pediatric dentist? Read
Why Should Parents Choose a Pediatric Dentist?
