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If you have a teething baby, you might be at your wits end trying to figure out what to do and how to help them alleviate the pain and discomfort. Most babies will teethe before you’ve had a chance to develop a relationship with a pediatric dentist, so you must rely on your pediatrician, friend, and family to help you navigate what the signs and symptoms are and what to do.
We asked pediatric dentists to sound off on what you can expect and how you can help your teething baby.
When does a baby start teething? It varies
We asked New York City pediatric dentist, Joseph Salim when kids should start teething. According to Dr. Salim, teething is one of the most painful and critical steps in development. “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," he told Mom.com. "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).”
Because all kids are different, you can’t really rely on a teething baby chart to tell you when any particular tooth will erupt.
What are the symptoms of teething?
There’s a lot that goes on for a little one teething and it seems as if everyone who has had a child has a different experience. We asked pediatric dentist from Portland, Staci Whitman, what you can expect. She told us that most children will drool a lot and will start to put toys or fingers in their mouths. All in all, children will experience more mucus, diaper rash, diarrhea, and malaise.
Can a child get a fever from teething?
Although there seems to be controversy about whether babies get fevers during teething, I recall my son getting a slight fever during this time. Dr. Whitman concurred. “Children can absolutely get a fever when teething," she told Mom.com. "Not always, but teething children will often get fevers during the nighttime.
"Our immune system cleans house at night, which is why we notice a lot of issues when the sun is down. A lot of professionals say there's no scientific literature on this, but I have seen these patterns in thousands of children over my years of practicing pediatric dentistry.”
How to help a baby when teething?
There are a lot of teething gels for babies. These are just one way to help your baby when she is struggling with teething. Dr. Whitman had some suggestions for alleviating the pain using things you probably already have around the house. “Cold breast milk, ice chips, frozen berries, or a frozen washcloth,” she suggested to Mom.com.
Make sure you are watching your baby and aware of any choking hazards. “Use OTC anti-inflammatories, arnica, and chamomilla,” Dr. Whitman said. Another thing that you can count on helping according to Dr. Whitman is snuggles and love. This goes a long way to soothing your baby in pain.
Are teething necklaces safe?
Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strong warnings about avoiding teething necklaces because of a strangulation risk, Dr. Salim said the safety of the teething necklace is contingent on how it is made. “Teething rings, necklaces, and toys can be helpful. The silicone ones on the market are specially designed for the little ones and are safe to bite.”
It might be safer to consider a teething necklace that mom wears – as this French study states, “putting necklaces on young children is dangerous” and cited an increased risks of strangulation and aspiration of small beads. Also, experts agree that you should avoid amber teething necklaces altogether.
As with anything with anything with your baby, use caution and supervise at all times.
When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?
Good dental hygiene habits start early and you really want to get started brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as possible. We asked Dr. Greg Grillo about this and he had some helpful advice. “When the first tooth appears, start cleaning with a soft brush or washcloth. Continue helping your child brush until they're old enough to manage on their own," he told Mom.com. "Also, consider making your baby’s first dental appointment at this time. It’s a simple visit, but it sets the stage for the right habits and strategy for long-term health.”
