Teething, the eruption of teeth through the gums, usually begins between 4-7 months of age, with 95 % of first teeth erupting between 6-8 months.Children may have eruption of their first tooth as early as 2 months of age. The two front teeth (central incisors), usually the lower two are the first to appear. Most children by age 30 months will have all 20 of their primary “baby” teeth (adults have a total of 32 teeth). As the teeth break through the gum line the area directly over the tooth may become red, swollen or even develop a little blood blister. Certain teeth may be more sensitive breaking through then others; molars have more surface area and less sharpness than other teeth decreasing their ability to “slice” through the gum line. Many children have no or very little problem with teething. The pain with teething is often intermittent, waxing and waning over a few separate periods. Teething may also cause the infant to bring his/her hands to the mouth, increased drooling, restless or decreased sleep secondary to tooth discomfort, rubbing of the cheek or ear as a consequence of referred pain and a desire to chew something hard.
Teething has not been shown to cause:
· Fever >101 degrees
· Runny nose, congestion or cough
· Diarrhea
· Rash
· Prolonged fussiness
If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms it is probably not teething and you should call the office to discuss them with your doctor.
To ease your baby’s discomfort, try gently rubbing or massaging the gums with one of your fingers. Teething rings made of firm rubber may be helpful. Freezing teething rings or other objects tend to get too hard and can cause more harm than good. Pain relievers and medications that you rub on the gums are usually ineffective as they wash out of the baby’s mouth within minutes. Some medication you rub on your child’s gums can even be harmful if too much is used and the child swallows an excessive amount.
Now that the teeth have come in how do you care for them? Simply brush them with a soft child’s toothbrush or gently wipe with a damp cloth after each feeding when you first start seeing the teeth. To prevent cavities, never let your baby fall asleep with a bottle, either at nap time or at night As your child gets older transitioning to a regular cup preferably by 12-15 months will reduce the risk of childhood caries as well. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children seeing a dentist around 6 months after the first tooth erupts but at least starting to see the dentist by age 3.
