Every baby will go through a teething phase, medically known as odontiasis. It’s when their teeth start coming out through their gums, causing them immense pain and irritation and showing symptoms that may cause distress for the parent.
A parent’s worry is understandable. However, since teething is inevitable, parents must know how to deal with its symptoms to ensure their baby’s comfort.
This article contains all you need to know about teething, from symptoms to look out for to ways to help your infant pass this period with the least amount of pain possible.
Order of Teething
The order in which a baby’s teeth come out may differ from one child to another; however, teeth do generally grow out in the following order from first to last:
- Bottom central teeth, or bottom incisors, start coming out at around 5 or 7 months.
- Upper central teeth, or top incisors, follow their lower counterparts shortly after, at around 6 to 8 months.
- The teeth on either side of the top incisors come out next at around 9 to 11 months.
- The teeth on either side of the bottom incisors start showing at around 10 to 12 months.
- Then, the first molars should start coming through at 12 to 16 months of age. Canines follow first molars closely, coming out at around 16 to 20 months.
- The last baby teeth to come out are the second molars at 20 to 30 months.
Most babies will have all of their milk teeth by the age of 2 to 3 years.
While your baby’s first teeth are a milestone to celebrate, it’s also important to start thinking about maintaining their oral health for the future. If misalignment issues arise later on, consider solutions like invisible braces in Dubai, which offer a discreet and effective method for straightening teeth.
Symptoms
There are indications that your baby’s teeth have started coming out; these signs may include the following:
- Sensitive, swollen, and red gums around the growing tooth
- Strange behavior, such as pulling their ears or rubbing their cheeks
- A low fever not higher than 38°C (100.4°F)
- Flushed face
- Excess drooling
- Teething rash around the mouth and on the cheeks caused by the excessive drooling
- Disturbed sleeping pattern
- Itching their gums with any object
- Irritable mood, crying, and fussy
Other symptoms are commonly believed to accompany teething, such as diarrhea, but these symptoms are not backed with scientific proof or studies.
In any case, no one knows a child as well as their caregiver, so if you notice any sign or symptom that sparks your concern, you should consult a medical professional at the best dental clinic in Dubai about the matter to ensure your child’s safety.
How to Soothe Your Baby’s Discomfort
It’s important to understand that during teething, the baby’s fussiness comes from their irritation and possible pain in the gums, and their cries are a literal cry for help. Nonetheless, it is a parent’s role to assist their baby through tough times even if the child cannot express their needs blatantly with words yet.
Here are the dos and don’ts that you should keep in mind when your baby starts teething.
Dos:
- Cool Soothers
A cold piece of fruit, a spoon, a pacifier, a rubber teething toy, or simply a clean and cold washcloth can help your infant rub their gums comfortably and safely without causing any harm.
- Water
If your child is older than 9 months, you can introduce a water-filled sippy cup to help soothe the irritation caused by teething.
- Gum Massage
You can offer your child some help by massaging their gums with a clean finger. If their teeth are not out yet, you can even allow them to nibble on your finger for a bit to avoid any further discomfort during breastfeeding.
Don’ts:
- Numbing Gels
Many parents may resort to over-the-counter teething medicines that numb the gums to save the baby the pain of the tooth tearing its way through the flesh. However, numbing gels can easily be over or misused, putting the child in danger and possibly choking the infant if the gel affects the back of the throat.
- Frozen Soothers
Whether they are fruits and veggies or toys, frozen teething soothers are too cold for a baby’s gum and do more harm than good.
- Liquid-Filled Toys
Anything liquid-filled probably requires freezing before a child can use it, which is harmful, as aforementioned. However, liquids have another hazard: the possibility of being torn and spilled inside the baby’s mouth.