Teething Tips
The emergence of your baby’s first tooth is a huge milestone. While it’s a big event in your baby’s life, it can be very uncomfortable him or her. The more you understand this phase and what you can expect, the more you help you are able to provide for your baby.
What can you expect during the teething process?
Many babies begin teething between 4 and 7 months. For some babies, it can happen at a much later stage.
Usually, the first tooth to emerge is one of the lower, central incisors. Some kids have a pattern of serial eruption while there are also those who experience multiple dental eruptions at the same time.
Some teeth can be more sensitive when they erupt. The larger molars are usually the ones that cause a significant amount of discomfort due to their larger surface area. They simply can’t ‘slice’ through the gum tissue as what erupting incisors can do.
Although the symptoms of teething could vary from one baby to another, many babies who are teething experience the following:
- Tender and swollen gums
- Fussiness
- Gnawing or wanting to chew on things
- Lots of drooling
- Changes in sleeping and/or eating patterns
- A slightly elevated temperature
What can you do when your baby’s teething?
If your baby seems uncomfortable with his/her teething, you can do the following to soothe his/her gums:
- Rub your baby’s gums
With the use of your clean finger or moistened gauze pad, you can relieve the discomfort from sore gums. - Keep it cool
Whether it’s a cold washcloth or chilled (not frozen) teething ring, anything that’s ‘cool’ can be soothing to your baby’s gums. - Try hard foods
If your baby is already eating solid food, try offering something edible such as slices of cucumber for gnawing. Keep an eye on your baby as any piece may break off and pose a choking hazard. - Use pain medicines
Make sure to consult your healthcare provider before giving any medicine to your baby. Over-the-counter pain meds such as acetaminophen could help but they could also mask symptoms that are important to know.
If you have other concerns regarding your child’s teething, you can call us. At Cakmes Dental Studio, we have a team who can help you. We take pride in providing the best dental care for our patients.
To schedule an appointment, you can call us (865) 584-6163.
References:
https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/teething-symptoms-remedies#1
https://www.emedicinehealth.com/teething/article_em.htm#what_are_teething_symptoms_and_signs
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