Teething is the process in children in which the milk teeth appear cutting the gums.
Teething usually takes place between 6 months to 2 1/2years. Generally the fist tooth appears when the child is 6 months old. It develops the complete set of 20
milk teeth by the time it is 21/2 – 3 years of age. The milk teeth start falling and getting replaced by the permanent teeth when the child is 6 – 7 years old.
Teething Symptoms
Discomforts and pain is caused during teething because the tooth grows upwards pushing the gums and cutting the skin. The symptoms attribute to teething are
- The child cries more than usual and is irritated
- Swollen red gums and increased dribbling
- Chewing the fingers, rubbing the mouth and tugging the ears
- Loss of appetite and refusal to suck breast or bottle
- Frequent stools and bottom rash
How to Reduce the Discomforts of Teething
Sometimes the teeth come out without any problems. But in some cases
Teething causes a lot of discomforts to the child. Some remedies for the discomforts caused by teething are listed below
Home Remedies
- Rubbing the baby’s gums with your fingers provides immense relief to the baby
- Give the baby a plastic or rubber teeter that has been refrigerated. The cold teeter will help in soothing the baby’s gums
- If the baby is accustomed to having solids then a piece of cold fruit of vegetable can be given
- Rubbing lemon juice to the baby’s gums will help to certain extent
Alternate Treatments
- Teething gels containing anesthetics can be given under medical supervision if required
- If baby is very distressed and not able to sleep paracetamol syrup can be given. Just ensure that the syrup is sugar-free
What you Must Not Do
- Never dip the teeters in sugar or honey as this will lead to tooth decay
- Don’t mistake diarrhea or ear ache for a symptom of Teething. It is advisable to consult a doctor if the child cries incessantly
- Never give medicines without consulting the doctor. Self medication may become risky in the case of children. This is because certain medicines and soothing gels can numb baby’s throat and cause allergies
Caring for your Baby’s Milk Teeth
Milk teeth must be cared for just like the permanent teeth. This is important in
Teething for the development of proper speech and chewing technique. They help in proper jaw development and also make space for the permanent teeth that are to come later.
Dental decay, often referred to as nursing caries can lead to loss of teeth. This is caused by sugar remnants from milk and juices fed to the baby. If the mouth is not cleaned regularly it remains on the teeth causing decay. The following tips will help in taking care of your baby’s milk teeth and protecting them from decay.
- It is important to take care of the teeth from the time they appear. Wiping with a soft damp cloth can help initially
- When the baby gets more teeth start using soft bristled tooth brushed. Buy the ones that are specially designed for infants. It is important to use good quality toothbrush so that the gums are not damaged
- Limit the amount of harsh acidic food in the diet. Reduce the sugar content also. Be strict about giving artificially colored foods. These foods can cause decay and corrosion of the Teething
- Clean the teeth with water or non-fluoride toothpaste only till baby learns how to spit. Once he can spit you can clean his teeth with very minute amounts of fluoride toothpaste
- Make it a habit to visit the dentist regularly to avoid any problems
From the beginning of
Teething itself develop healthy brushing habits in the children. Instill in them the habit of washing the mouth after every meals and brushing the teeth twice a day. Then they will follow it throughout their life time. This will enable them to have healthy gums and sparkling teeth.
