Babies and teething

Teething is the name for the process when your baby’s first teeth emerge.

There is no real set time when this happens but generally it starts between the baby’s first three to twelve months.



Most commonly teething begins when babies are between six to nine months old.

It takes 2-3 years for the entire twenty baby teeth to erupt. When the teeth come up the body sends out a special form of chemicals that makes the cells in the gums die and separate to make space for the erupting teeth.

The typical teething order is that the bottom middle teeth come first then the top middle teeth, then the teeth on the sides all the way back to the molar.

The molar come last around the baby’s second birthday. 1, 2

Teething Discomfort

The discomfort babies experience when teething is depended on each baby’s pain threshold. The teething process can therefore be very different between babies.

The discomfort has its roots in the sourness of the gums that swell considerably when the tooth is on its way up.  The baby can get very fussy three to five days before the tooth comes up but after it has broken the skin the pain goes away.

The bigger the tooth the harder it is for the tooth to go through the gums so most pain is often related to when the molars come up.

Some babies show no reaction to teething and therefore seem to have a higher pain threshold then those who do.

Most common baby teething symptoms

baby-chewing-fingerThere are a few symptoms you can look for if you think your baby is teething.

Increased drooling is often the first thing parent’s notice.
In most cases mood changes occur with the baby being more irritated and cranky then usual.
The gums can get red and slightly swollen.

Sleep can get erratic and sometimes babies have a hard time sleeping at all.
Low fever is common.

Sometimes soreness in the gum is followed by a blister filled with fluid.
When your baby starts chewing its fingers or toys it's most often for pain relief from teething. So when that happens you know teething has started.

If the pain is bad the baby can refuse to eat or drink.

Sometimes babies pull on their ears to help relief the pain they think is coming from their head so if you baby starts pulling its ear it can be a sign of teething.

How to ease the teething discomfort?

There are a few true and tested methods of relieving the pain that follows teething. Here are our best options.

You could give your baby pain reliefs, but be careful to have the right kind for your baby’s age. Consult a doctor for the right kind.
Babies love it when you rub your clean finger on their gums or use a cold chew ring to rub their gums. Don't get discouraged if they do not like it at first, if you continue they will in most cases enjoy it.

Babies love chewing on things when teething. Make sure to have plenty of baby safe things to chew on. Teething rings can be bought in any pharmacy and are often best served cold.
A cold washcloth is an old classic that babies love. If your baby has started eating solid food, cold refreshing foods like applesauce or yogurt can sooth the pain.

There are various kinds of teething gels available on the market, both over the counter and by prescription. It’s a good idea to consult with a doctor before giving your baby any tooth gel because there have been some safety issues and criticism from doctors.

source:https://baby.tips