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

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/teething/art-20046378

Baby teeth may be temporary but they are important. If you lose them too early, the remaining teeth may move and may not leave any room for the adult teeth to come in. And if left untreated, tooth decay in babies may cause severe pain and life-threatening infections.

What causes tooth decay in babies?

Tooth decay in infants and very young children happens when the baby’s mouth is infected by acid-producing bacteria. The bacteria can be passed on from the caregiver to the baby through saliva. It could be through cleaning off the pacifier in the caregiver’s mouth or sharing spoons and cups.

The biggest culprit of tooth decay in babies is the sugar that clings to the infant’s teeth for a long time. This can happen when infants are handed with pacifiers dipped in syrup or sugar and giving a sugary drink at naptime or bedtime.

Why tooth decay in very young children is an issue?

Baby teeth play a significant role in speaking, chewing, and smiling. They also serve as placeholders for adult teeth. If they are severely damaged early on, they may need to be removed. 

When babies lose their teeth too early, he or she may end up having crooked teeth, poor eating habits, and speech problems. 

How to prevent baby tooth decay?

As a caregiver, there are things you can do to prevent this from happening:

• Don’t fill bottles with sugary drinks like fruit juice (even if it’s mixed with water) and soft drinks.
• Never allow your child to sleep with a bottle containing anything but water.
• Never dip your child’s pacifier in anything sweet.
• Reduce your child’s sugar intake especially before nap or bedtime.
• Wipe your baby’s gums teeth with clean gauze or washcloth after each feeding.
• When the first tooth comes in, begin brushing your child’s teeth with a toothbrush without toothpaste.
• Begin flossing when all the teeth have come in.
• Schedule regular dental visits. 

Cakmes Dental Studio takes pride in providing high-quality dental care for families. To request an appointment, you can call us at (865) 584-6163.

References:

https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/what-is-baby-bottle-tooth-decay

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/teething-tooth-care/Pages/How-to-Prevent-Tooth-Decay-in-Your-Baby.aspx