Once they are born, babies go through several stages to reach adulthood. Cutting a tooth, or teething, is one of those things that we have experienced in our life.
This stage of our life needs our attention. For this reason, in our article, we have prepared a complete view of the baby’s teething stage, signs, how to manage the pain, and some caring tips. If you have a baby waiting for its first teeth, you need to read this.
Cutting a tooth: when do the first baby teeth come out?
Though babies’ teeth begin to shape early in their mother’s womb, they need to reach six months of age for the first tooth to come out. This may vary from one baby to another. Earlier than six months or later is also one such difference.
Once teeth begin to grow and come out, there are some signs that appear, which we will explain in the following list.
What are the signs that babies’ teeth coming out?
The most important signs of growing teeth are:
- Crying
- Fussiness
- Being responsive
- Biting
- Pulling their ears or cheeks
- Not willing to be fed
- Constantly waking up, especially during the night
- Coughing
- Drooling
- Itchy gums
Let’s say not every baby may experience these signs and some babies may not have specific signs. The above signs are the most frequent ones.
When does teething begin to start?
Teething starts two or three months earlier than babies’ first milk teeth. These signs show that teeth are beginning to grow because babies feel itchy on their gums. Teeth are pushing the gums to come out. Unless the teeth come out completely, these signs seem to appear regularly. The pain can grow bigger when infants reach six months of age.
Eight ways to lessen the growing teeth pain
Naturally, every infant experience the pain of a growing tooth and that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be thinking of a way to relieve the pain. We should be prepared on how to take care of our babies during their initial challenge. Bellow, there are eight helpful tips to relieve the pain of teething that are worth trying.
Get your baby to be busy chewing
The more they chew, the less they feel the pain. Infants are born with this mechanism to decrease their pain. Get your babies a pacifier or soft toys to chew on. Make sure those toys are large enough to prevent that from getting into their throat.
Put those toys into the fridge Not the freezer and Not for a long time. Low-temperature toys can lessen their pain.
Do something yourself
Most of the time mothers can do a great favor. Wash your hands and let your baby chew on your fingers. Give their gums a soft massage or use a soft small toothbrush.
Give them a cool drink
As they drink something cool, they don’t feel the pain. Get them to drink water or something cool in a controlled way if they are old enough to drink that (definitely over six months)
Don’t forget cold food
Here we mean foods that we put into the fridge. Let that be cool enough for babies to eat. Yogurt can be a great example. Grated apples that are fresh and just out of the fridge are good, too. These are healthy and unique in relieving the pain.
Visit a pediatric dentist
When the above tips can’t help to treat the pain, and you see your baby is in a lot of pain which is not happening every time but maybe their initial teeth, try to see a pediatric dentist or a general dental practitioner.
Pay more attention to your baby
Help them forget the pain. Try to make them busy and play with them. Provide toys and feed your babies well. Be kind and kiss your baby.
Never use dental anesthetics!
Never use herbal or chemical anesthetics for making babies’ gums numb. These anesthetics must not be used for children under two years old.
Using anesthetics (whether herbal or chemical) can cause a shortage of oxygen, leading to cardiovascular diseases.
Never use alcohol in order to relieve the pain of growing teeth.
Get rid of pacifier necklaces
Instead of using normal pacifiers or soft toys, there are some people who use pacifier necklaces which are a great danger for babies and may strangle them. Try to avoid that for your babies.
Five tips that all parents should know about how to take care of baby teeth
Now that you know how to relieve the pain of teething, there are some more things you need to know about growing teeth. For those parents with their first children, this is a must.
The first thing is knowing the time for baby teeth
Those parents who have seen their babies’ challenges before are experienced in tackling most of the problems. With their first baby coming, most parents are dealing with questions like when is the teething? Read the following answers to your questions.
Add fluoride to the babies’ diet
Fluoride is a mineral substance great in making the enamel of teeth strong and preventing them from decaying. In most countries, fluoride is added to the drinking water. If you are not sure about yours, check out the ways of adding that to babies’ diets. Don’t forget your pediatric dentist’s opinion.
After teething, brush babies’ teeth
Parents should take care of their babies’ teeth. Brush them twice a day. For babies, the amount of toothpaste is different from that of adults. Use a much smaller amount (like a tiny grain of rice).
Upon reaching three years of age, they can use a little more toothpaste.
The most important tip to know is that parents should supervise their children during brushing. When children are seven or eight, they can brush their teeth by themselves and they should keep on doing that twice a day.
Having the first signs of growing a tooth, take your baby to a pediatric dentist
Almost all dentistry centers believe that parents should take their babies to pediatric dentists. They check the baby’s health, examine the normal teeth growing, and teach parents necessary instructions about teeth hygiene and caring tips about mouth and teeth. These visits to the dentists are educational, and medical check-ups or prescriptions can be taken into account.
Ask for advice about fluoride varnish
Fluoride varnish is a dental treatment that can prevent tooth decay. Ask your pediatric dentist whether this way is suitable for your children considering their age or not. Ask them when the best time for fluoride varnish is?
