Teething

Teething

Courtesy of March of Dimes, http://www.marchofdimes.org/baby/teething.aspx

Your baby’s first tooth is an exciting milestone! Most babies get their first tooth when they’re around 6 months old. But teething can start as early as 3 months. Teething is when your baby’s teeth come through the gums for the first time. The two front teeth on top or bottom usually come in first. Most children have all 20 of their baby teeth by time they are 3 years old.

What are signs and symptoms that your baby is teething?

Some babies have no trouble with teething. Other babies may feel pain for a short time. And others may be fussy for weeks because of teething pain. Signs and symptoms of teething include:

• Being cranky.
• Chewing on something hard.
• Crying.
• Drooling.
• Fever with temperature less than 38.5C.
• Stomach ache.
• Swollen gums or gums that hurt when they’re touched.
• Call your baby’s doctor if she seems sick, seems to be in constant pain, or has a temperature higher than 38.5C. These signs may mean that something else is wrong.

How can you help your baby feel better during teething?

To help your baby feel better:

• Give her something to chew on, like a rubber teething ring, a cold spoon or a cold washcloth. Chewing on these things can help ease pain. Clean these items to avoid infection. Some parents find that a chilled teething ring lessens their baby’s pain. If you chill your baby’s teething ring in the freezer, take it out when it’s cold but before it becomes really hard. A frozen solid teething ring can hurt a baby’s tender gums.
• Rub her gums with a clean finger to help with the pain. But don’t give your baby any pain medicines and don’t rub any medicines or alcohol on her gums. Some medicines can harm your baby if she swallows too much. Other medicines wash out of the mouth before they can help with pain.
• Wash any drool off her face to avoid development of a rash.

How to ensure good dental health for baby

Babies can have dental health problems like tooth decay, toothache or tooth loss. Around 10% of 2-year olds have one or more cavities, and nearly 50% have some cavities by age 5. So it is important to start caring for your baby’s gums and teeth. Here’s how:

• Feed your baby only breastmilk for at least 6 months. Don’t give your baby a bottle with sugar water, juice or soda.
• Clean your baby’s gums after every feeding using a wet washcloth or water on a baby toothbrush with soft bristles.
• Wash your baby’s pacifier with water only and keep it clean. Don’t clean the pacifier with your mouth. Never dip the pacifier in sugar or honey.
• Don’t put your baby to sleep with a bottle. Let your baby finish feeding before bedtime or naptime. This can help prevent baby bottle tooth decay.
• When your baby starts eating solid food, feed her healthy meals, limit the amount of fruit juices (water is better) and only at mealtimes only.
• Brush your baby’s teeth twice each day, as soon as the first tooth comes in.
• Take your baby to the dentist when she gets her first tooth, or by her first birthday and thereafter every 6 months.
• Teach your baby to drink from a cup by his first birthday. Children should stop bottle-feeding at 12 to 14 months of age.

Source:

www.marchofdimes.com