Skip to main content

Children - Teething

Teething



Teething refers to the eruption of the deciduous (baby teeth) and permanent teeth. It's a natural occurrence and usually happens without any problems. However, some children may feel discomfort before their first tooth erupts (at about 6 months); some may feel discomfort with the eruption of each of their 20 baby teeth.


Teething occurs between 6 months and 24 months of age although it can occur earlier. Normally the bottom two incisors (lower front teeth) will come in first, followed by the top four incisors (upper front teeth). When teething, children may be irritable and may place objects or fingers in their mouth and bite on them. Drooling may increase and the child may be very choosy about foods or even refuse foods altogether. Their gums may appear tender and swollen; often the cheeks near the affected gums will become red. For some children, their teeth appear without much fuss at all. But all toddlers are not so lucky. Some may become extremely irritable.


Some parents worry excessively that their child’s teething is either too early or too late. Relax. There is absolutely no evidence linking when the child’s teeth come in with how strong their teeth will eventually be. The timing of teeth is genetic. If you were late getting your teeth, it’s likely your children will be as well.

Signs That Your Child May Be Teething:


1. Increased saliva/drooling
2. Irritability
3. Loss of appetite
4. Rash on cheeks
5. Red cheeks
6. Restlessness
7. Ear pulling - may be  a sign of teething or possibly an ear infection. If they display this sign, please see your pediatrician immediately.









Suggestions:


  • Massaging your child's gums with a clean finger or the back of a small cold spoon can  aid in reducing their discomfort. 
  • Chilled teething rings are great. The coldness helps ease their discomfort and the hardness of the ring will speed up the tooth's eruption. Just make sure it’s chilled and not frozen. A frozen teething ring will damage their gums.
  • Teething ointments can be used to numb the gums. 
  • Soft foods  
  • Using lemon juice on the gums to relieve discomfort is not recommended if any teeth are present. Lemon juice is very acidic and can dissolve tooth enamel, especially newly erupted baby teeth.
  • Stay away from the frozen bananas and teething biscuits; they promote decay and are a possible choking hazard.  
  • A cold, wet cloth for your baby to suck on can soothe gums. 
  • Thumb sucking also brings relief, however, dentists recommend this practice should cease upon the arrival of the first set of permanent teeth or by age 3, so that the habit doesn’t interfere with the normal development of their permanent teeth and oral cavity.




We're out participating at educational conventions and seminars throughout the year and we'd like to use this blog as a dental resource for our community of Phoenix, AZ (and beyond). Of course, we welcome you to join the conversation. Suggest topics and ask those burning questions about dentistry that keep you up at night. Please feel free to contact me through the Morse Family Dental  website. Remember, the advice provided here is intended to aid you in understanding some of the treatment options available. It is important to note that before beginning any course of treatment you should always see your dentist. 
Labels:
Location: 2805 W Carefree Hwy #101, Phoenix, AZ 85085, USA

Popular posts from this blog

Cracked Tooth Syndrome

Cracked Teeth Below are some answers to common questions patient's have about cracked teeth:  Why Do Teeth Crack? Will My Grinding Habit Make It Worse? Why Does It Hurt To Bite On It? Why Is It Sensitive to Hot and Cold? What Will Happen If I Just Do Nothing? What's The Usual Treatment for A Cracked Tooth? Is It Possible That The Nerve Is Already Dead? Is It Safe to Leave A Tooth With a Dead Nerve? If The Nerve is Dead, Do I still Need a Crown? Doesn't The Nerve Always Recover? Why Do Teeth Crack? Cracked tooth syndrome is a very common problem usually affecting teeth that have large amalgam (silver) fillings. Large fillings weaken the remaining tooth structure. Like all materials, teeth are subject to forces of stress fatigue.  Will My Grinding Habit Make It Worse? Yes. Almost everyone, at some point in their life, grinds their teeth. Grinding can increase the stress and strain on a tooth by 200 to 300%, especially if you'
Read more

Nocturnal Bruxism and Nightguards

Teeth Grinding  Wearing of the chewing surfaces if your teeth occurs normally throughout life at a slow pace. Just the friction of the upper and lower teeth moving against one another wears away your enamel. You don't notice it because it is such as low process. Though, you might notice that the biting surfaces if your lower incisors appear more yellow than they used to. Depending on your age, the yellow you are looking at is probably dentin (the layer under enamel). You may have also noticed that your upper front teeth are beginning to chip.  The normal process of attrition can become greatly accelerated if your teeth don't fit together properly. In other words, if your normal bite is off to one side and not evenly balanced with the teeth interlocking, you can have problems with excessive loss of tooth structure. One out of every four adults falls into this category a some level. Grinding and clenching are usually a physical manifestation of stress. It occurs at night
Read more

Your Teeth Whitening Questions ... answered!

How can I make my teeth whiter? Bleaching or veneers are typically the best choice unless you have existing dental work. If you currently have crowns, you may have to have them replaced to whiten your smile. If you have bonding or tooth colored fillings, you may need to change them following bleaching.   Which bleaching method is the best? If your teeth are receptive to bleaching, all methods will eventually lighten your teeth to a similar result, though, some methods may take longer than others. The in-office treatments offered by your dentist will give you the quickest result. The tray method will also whiten your teeth over a longer period of time (generally about 2 weeks). Are there any reasons I shouldn't bleach my teeth? Yes. You shouldn't bleach your teeth if your pregnant, nursing, or have any infections related to your teeth or gums. You might also consider avoiding bleaching if you have excessively sensitive teeth.  So, How long w
Read more