Teething is a rite of passage for all new babies and parents, but this stage of your child’s development is often met with tears and sleepless nights for everyone. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help.
Signs of Teething in Babies
Most babies begin cutting teeth at around 6 months of age, but this can vary widely from child to child. Symptoms of emerging teeth include:
- Excessive crying
- Excessive drool
- Chewing on objects
- Sucking their thumb more often
- Mild rash on cheeks
- Pulling on one ear
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Wanting to be held more
Gum Care Tips When Your Baby is Teething
Consoling your baby when they’re in pain due to teething can be challenging on both a practical and emotional level. Here are some things you can do to help ease their discomfort:
Gently Massage Painful Gums
Start by washing your hands with baby-safe soap and covering your finger with a clean, damp washcloth. It’s best to use one that is designed for babies since these are softer and more finely woven than traditional kitchen or bath towels.
Then, gently massage your child’s gums and put gentle pressure on areas that look swollen or inflamed. This is completely safe, and you can do this as often as you need to relieve your baby’s pain.
Use Chilled Teethers
Chilled teethers are also a great way to reduce inflammation and soothe painful gums. Just make sure they aren’t frozen, as these can be too cold for your baby and lead to discomfort, crying, or injury.
Rings filled with a safe gel can get very cold, while silicone teethers can withstand more wear and tear. You may want to try a few different kinds to see which ones work best for your baby.
Try Children's Pain Relievers
In cases where your child is very uncomfortable or other methods aren’t working, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers like children’s Tylenol or Motrin. Be sure to contact your baby’s doctor to confirm dosage and ask about any potential side effects. However, these medications tend to be extremely safe when used as directed and can give your baby significant relief from pain and swelling.
What to Avoid
Not all treatments for emerging teeth are safe or helpful. Here are some things you should avoid:
Sugary Substances
Don’t use any teethers that are filled with frozen fruit or sugary popsicles that can cause cavities even in brand-new teeth. The last thing you want to have to deal with is fillings when your child is only a few years old.
Unproven Remedies
Store-bought tablets and homeopathic remedies are often attractive to new parents who may be nervous about giving their babies medication. But these products are poorly regulated and sometimes contain a natural ingredient called belladonna that can be dangerous in the wrong dosage.
Remember that many ordinary plants are poisonous, and organic remedies are not always safer than or superior to pharmaceuticals. Always check with your child’s doctor before giving them any medication or supplement.
Numbing Gels
While products like Baby Orajel are available and can give instant relief from tooth pain, this is dangerous for babies. These gels use numbing medications like benzocaine or lidocaine that have the potential to affect your baby’s ability to swallow or even cause a serious condition called methemoglobinemia. While rare, this reduces the ability of your baby’s blood to transport oxygen and can be fatal.
Necklaces
Amber necklaces and bracelets have been used by many parents to allegedly soothe their babies while they teethe, but these are also quite risky. While proponents claim amber releases succinic acid that is absorbed by the skin and helps to relieve pain, this has never been clinically established. Not only do these items have limited to no efficacy, they pose a critical choking hazard and strangulation risk.
How to Care for New Teeth
Once your baby’s first tooth can be seen, it’s time to start brushing. For the first year or so of your child’s life, it’s best to use a soft silicone “toothbrush” that can be fitted to your finger and used to massage your baby’s gums and teeth.
When they get old enough to start to learn how to brush on their own, you can use a toddler-sized toothbrush with extra-soft bristles. Always use fluoride-free toothpaste until your child can spit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do Babies Get Fevers When They Teethe?
Contrary to popular belief, babies who have emerging teeth shouldn’t have a fever. A fever is typically accepted by medical professionals as any temperature over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
While your child may have a slight elevation in body temperature, it shouldn’t go above this threshold if their teeth are the only issue. If it does, this is an indicator that your child may have contracted a virus or infection and likely needs medical care for an unrelated illness.
When Is My Baby's Pain an Emergency?
If your baby is crying and is difficult to console, this can be tough to deal with as a new parent. Almost always, emerging teeth can be managed at home.
That said, you can put in a call in to your child’s pediatrician when they start cutting teeth just to let the doctor know what’s going on. This makes it easier if you need to call back with questions or concerns.
You should call 911 or take your baby to the emergency room if your baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or if they are 3 to 12 months old and have a temp of 102.2 or higher.
Other signs of an emergency include choking, blue lips or fingers, and high-pitched screaming that can’t be soothed. These are usually indicators of another problem.
When Does My Baby Need Their First Dental Exam?
The best time to take your child to the dentist for their first exam is by the time they reach 12 months of age or 6 months after their first tooth has emerged, whichever comes first. But once your child has teeth, there’s really no need to wait. Getting into the habit of good oral care as early as possible sets the stage for your child to have healthy, beautiful teeth that they can be proud of.
Don't Baby Teeth Just Fall Out Anyway?
You might be wondering why it’s important to take care of your baby’s new teeth if they’re just going to fall out later when adult teeth begin to emerge. Remember that these small teeth hold space for larger ones while your child’s jaw develops. If they fall out or need to be removed prematurely, permanent teeth can drift, causing spacing or crowding that can only be fixed with braces.
If your baby is teething, it’s time to start thinking about the dentist. Schedule your child’s first dental cleaning and exam at 12 months old or six months after their teeth start to emerge, whichever comes first. Establishing a consistent dental routine with your child is crucial to promote good oral health and give them the best possible foundation for lifelong wellness.
Are You Seeking An Experienced Martinsburg Dentist To Take Care Of Your Children’s Teeth?
If you’re searching for an experienced dentist to help protect your children’s dental and oral health please feel free to contact us online or call our Martinsburg, West Virginia dental office directly at 304.267.6059 to schedule your appointment. We provide a wide range of general dentistry care as well as more involved dentistry services for patients throughout the Martinsburg area and look forward to you joining the Cornerstone Dental family.
