Live Life Team
The milk teeth or deciduous teeth are a baby’s first teeth, and these develop inside the womb itself. When the baby is about six to nine months of age, these teeth start to materialize through the child’s gums. This process of teeth formation is called teething. When the teeth are emerging through the gums, a special type of chemical is let out from the body which result in few of the gum cells dying to separate enough to let the teeth get through.
The teething process starts with the baby’s bottom front teeth coming through, followed by the upper front teeth, and later by the incisors on the top and bottom either side of the front teeth. The back teeth start to come out at about 12 to 14 months after birth, the canines are next at 16 to 18 months, and lastly come the 2nd molars at 18 to 30 months of age. By the time the child is around 2 and half years old, the entire set of teeth would have come out.
Symptoms of Teething
The teething process can be painful to some babies, while some others might not feel the discomfort. The pain is due to movements inside the jaw bone, because the teeth make their way through the gums. However, once the tooth is completely out, the pain generally stops.
The major symptoms of a baby teething are: a small increase in temperature, warmth and reddening of cheeks, reddening of the gums, increase in dribbling, loss in appetite, increased chewing of things or the tongue, irritability, restlessness. Some believe that diarrhoea and high fever are also symptoms, but this has not been proved as yet.
Making teething easier for the child
The most commonly used treatments for teething are –
Teething gels: – these contain a very mild form of anaesthetic that numbs the pain and the discomfort that the child feels, and also prevent soreness and infections in the mouth.
Teething rings: – these are used by the baby to chew on, so that their discomfort is eased out. Some of these rings are cooled prior to being given to the child, making it feel soothing when the baby chews it.
Painkilling medicine: – in case if the baby is experiencing severe pain or has a very high temperature due to it, painkillers can be given which contain a very small amount of analgesic.
Cool drinks: – these should be completely sugar-free when given to the baby.
Comfort: – while the baby goes through the teething process, playing with the child or comforting it will often be very helpful in the child forgetting about the pain.
Recommendations for Teething
The baby’s teeth should be cleaned from the moment they appear, using soft brushes that are specially designed for them. The toothpastes used should contain only a very small amount of fluoride.
The teething rings or bottles used to feed the baby should never be put into things that contain sugar, as this can lead to harmful acids causing the tooth to start decaying.
Dental check ups should be made according to the dentist’s advice on when and how often they should be made.
