Teething Information

Fun quiz: How much do you know about teething?

Teething is a bit of a mystery, but we all survive

Teething can be blamed for many symptoms

No one can prove or disprove whether teething really causes an infant to have symptoms. Scientific studies are impossible to do. While there will probably always be mystery and debate about teething, there are some facts we do know. A baby will typically get his/her first tooth between 6 and 8 months of age, although the first teeth can appear as early as 3 months or as late as 15 months. The youngster will get another 19 teeth in the first two years--which means that they'll be spending an awful lot of their time teething! Typically, the bottom two central incisors arrive before the upper two, followed by the four lateral incisors (next to the central ones). The rest of baby teeth usually erupt in the following order: the first molars (a space away from the incisors), then the pointy cuspids, or canines (in the spaces next to the incisors) and, finally, the second molars. The child's teething is generally complete by age 3. Folklore asserts that early teething is associated with higher intelligence, and delayed teething signals later learning difficulties. There is little medical evidence to support either of these myths.

Teething begins at least three months before the tooth makes its half centimeter trip through the gums to the surface. The symptoms this journey causes will be the subject of debate among mothers, grandmothers and the medical profession for years to come. Some physicians feel that teething produces nothing but teeth! Others believe that tooth eruption can produce some minor disturbances: low-grade fever, crying, sleeping less peacefully, irritability, diarrhea, stuffy nose, facial or diaper rash, shaking their head back, pulling on their ears, and gnawing on just about anything they can get their mouth on, including their own hands. There are many different opinions about what symptoms teething really causes but very little scientific proof either way. The greatest danger of inaccurately ascribing various symptoms to teething is that parents might delay medical treatment of a serious illness.

Some parents will notice that their baby begins to drool around the age of 3 months, and assume that this signals the start of teething. This may not be the case! All babies start to drool around this age as the salivary glands become increasingly active and the child is unable to swallow all the saliva completely. Drooling is probably only related to teething by the fact that both originate in the mouth!

One thing is known for sure, never blame a fever of over 101 [degrees] F on teething. While recent studies have confirmed that tooth eruption can cause a low grade fever, the height of the temperature is not impressive. In addition, teething does not cause infections. Colds and other viral infections are only coincidentally related to teething because of the reduction in the infant’s antibody level that occurs at the same time teething starts.

A tooth doesn't have a smooth and steady ride through the gums. Since it moves in spurts, teething infants have good and bad days. Just before the tooth erupts, parents may notice that the gums become swollen and black and blue. And when the tooth finally cuts the surface of the gum, parents may notice a little bleeding. In some babies there are no outward signs of teething. They simply wake up one morning with a brand new tooth - a total surprise since there was no change in behavior.

Parents cannot prevent tooth eruption, but there are many things they can do to help their infant survive the teething experience. Furthermore, the degree of discomfort a baby experiences will even vary from one tooth to another. Since teething is sometimes more annoying than painful, try offering your baby distractions. For example, playing with crib toys, going for a walk in the park, listening to music, or a little extra cuddling may be all that is needed.

Parents can make their baby feel more comfortable by providing something to chew on. A teething ring filled with water and kept in the freezer overnight works great. Ice acts as a local anesthetic by directly numbing the baby's gums. In addition, the pressure seems to soothe the gums. Be sure to choose a safe toy made for this purpose. Avoid teething biscuits and other foods, such as crackers and pretzels. They can break into small pieces and can cause the baby to choke. Even a frozen bagel becomes a choking hazard when it defrosts.

Check with your child’s physician to see what they suggest for pain relief. Many pediatricians recommend over the counter gum numbing medications that contain a local anesthetic such as xylocaine or lidocaine. Well-meaning friends or relatives may advise the use of a pacifier dipped in whiskey or wine. Alcohol can be toxic if used repeatedly and offers only a short period of relief since it washes away when the baby swallows. It is better to use painkillers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to calm a teething baby. Remember, the pain associated with teething typically comes and goes and will often go away by itself.

Benjamin Spock’s "Baby and Child Care," the mainstay on advice of child rearing, offers some commonsense advice to parents. The best treatment of teething is time and patience. Just like other milestones in parenting, teething will have its difficult moments, but the child will survive and so will the parents.

Category: Parenting Twins Information