Teething
Teething, can be a frustrating time for many babies and their parents. It helps to know what to expect when your child
is teething, and what you can do to make the process a little less painful for you and your child. Teething can begin as early
as 3 months and continue until a child's third birthday. Around 4 to 7 months, you will notice your child's first tooth pushing
through the gum line. The first teeth to appear are usually the two bottom front teeth, also known as the central incisors.
These are usually followed 4 to 8 weeks later by the four front upper teeth (central and lateral incisors). About 1 month
later, the lower lateral incisors (the two teeth flanking the bottom front teeth) will appear. Next to break through the gum
line are the first molars (the back teeth used for grinding food), then finally the eye-teeth (the pointy teeth in the upper
jaw). Most children have all 20 of their first teeth by their third birthday. In some rare cases, children are born with one
or two teeth or have a tooth emerge within the first few weeks of life. Unless the teeth interfere with feeding or are loose
enough to pose a choking risk, this is usually not a cause for concern. If you have any questions or worries it's a good idea
to talk to your child's doctor.
When your child begins teething, you may notice that your child seems to dribble more, and seems to want to chew on things.
For some babies, teething is 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
very irritable, contact your doctor. Although tender and swollen gums could cause your baby's temperature to be a little higher
than normal, teething, as a rule, does not cause high fever or diarrhoea. If your baby does develop a fever during the teething
phase, it is probably due to something else and your child's doctor should be contacted.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when your baby is teething:
- Gently wipe your baby's face often with a soft cloth or cotton pad to remove the dibble and prevent rashes from developing.
- Give your baby something to chew on. Make sure it's big enough so that he or she can't swallow it and that it can't break
into small pieces. Rubber teething rings are also good, but avoid the ones with liquid inside because they may break. If you
use a teething ring, be sure to take it out of the freezer before it becomes rock hard you don't want to bruise those already
swollen gums!
- their are teething gels on the market that may help but always read the label carefully.
- Do not as many of our parents did rub whiskey on your baby's gums.
Oral hygiene
Keeping the emerging teeth clean is important for long-term dental health. Even though the first set of teeth will fall
out, tooth decay can hasten this process and leave gaps before the permanent teeth are ready to come in, the remaining primary
teeth may then crowd together to attempt to fill in the gaps, which may cause the permanent teeth to come in crooked and out
of place. Daily dental care should begin even before your baby's first tooth emerges. Wipe your baby's gums daily with a clean,
damp washcloth or gauze, or brush them gently with a soft, infant-sized toothbrush and water (no toothpaste!). As soon as
the first tooth appears, brush them with water. The use of toothpaste is OK once they gets old enough to spit it out. Another
important tip for preventing tooth decay: don't let your baby fall asleep with a bottle. The milk or juice can pool in their
mouth and cause tooth decay and plaque. For more advice speak to your dentist or a medical professional.
