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Whether you’re a new parent or you have years of experience, teething symptoms can be difficult to recognize because every baby is different. It can be hard to tell if your child is really teething or if something more serious is going on. On their own, signs of teething can be difficult to distinguish from other issues. The following explains what teething looks like and what it doesn’t look like so you can properly ease your baby’s teething symptoms and recognize whether or not your child’s discomfort is something more serious.
When do babies start teething?
Recognizing teething symptoms can go a long way in alleviating new parent concerns that something may be wrong or off with their baby. Knowing when to expect certain baby milestones to occur can make those long, sleepless nights just a little easier to deal with.
“The eruption of milk teeth begins around 6-8 months with the appearance of the lower central incisors. The process finishes at about 26 months with the canines’ and molars’ eruption,” New York pediatric dentist, Joseph Salim recently explained to Mom.com.
Exhausted parents may also find themselves asking ‘how long does teething last?’ in hopes that the old adage, ‘this too shall pass,’ is actually true. Rest assured, there is an end in sight.
“Each baby has his (her) own timing, so not all of them complete their teething in the same period, but generally, at around 30 months, they have all 20 teeth (10 for each arch),” Salim clarified.
Teething symptoms to watch out for
Teething symptoms can vary from one child to the next, but there are typical signs to watch out for that may indicate your child is teething. Drooling is a common sign of teething, as is excessive chewing, putting the hands and fingers in the mouth, and crankiness, and sometimes an elevated temperature. But of course, symptoms will vary among children.
Some parents say they notice an increase in diaper rash and diarrhea when their baby is teething, though there is no data to prove that these symptoms are caused by teething. A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics indicates that misinformed parents may be on the lookout for these symptoms and thus attribute them to teething, but as we know, correlation does not imply causation.
Similarly, because saliva production increases in infants at around 3 months, it’s common for parents to mistake that developmental change for teething. This is why it’s important to err on the side of caution and consult with your child’s pediatrician if something seems off.
“Any other symptoms like rash, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, and a general departure from a child’s normal activity usually indicates an illness and not teething,” Concierge Pediatrician, Dr. Edward A. Kulich explained to Mom.com.
How to relieve teething pain and make your baby more comfortable
Products like Baby Orajel are sometimes used to ease your child’s teething discomfort but according to Kulich, they don’t work for the long haul. Consuming them can also irritate a baby’s digestive system which can contribute to loose bowels, skin iritation, and diaper rash; which could be partly why parents notice this as one of their baby’s teething symptoms.
“Topical anesthetics have been shown to be washed away by saliva in five to six seconds and are generally not effective,” says Kulich, who advises parents to give teething children refrigerated — not frozen — teething toys. He also sometimes recommends acetaminophen or ibuprofen to parents of teething tots; still, you should speak to your pediatrician before giving your child any medication.
“Our go-to method of helping lessen discomfort was to give them a damp washcloth to chew on. The texture was great for their gums and the cool dampness helped relieve pain,” mom of four Katie Reed told Mom.com. “We also would give them a clean toothbrush to chew the bristles. It helped the tooth to break through more quickly. It has to be a soft bristle brush and the baby has to be supervised at all times.”
