Teething can be a very uncomfortable and even painful experience for babies. Many new parents are very surprised by the amount of crying and sleepless nights that are associated with teething babies. It can take two to three years for your child to cut every tooth, so be prepared for many nights of rocking and applying cold compresses to sore gums. The whole experience may seem miserable but remember that this will pass. Your child will soon have a beautiful smile to show for all the difficulty you are experiencing now. Hang in there and do the best you can to help your little one cope with the teething pain.
When do Babies Start Teething?
The journey of teething actually begins in the womb. During pregnancy, a baby starts to develop tooth buds (milk teeth) which are the groundwork for baby’s teeth. However, it is estimated that only one in 2,000 infants are born with teeth. A larger percentage of them usually start sprouting those choppers somewhere between 4 to 7 months. Some babies are early bloomers though and you may actually see their first white cap around the bottom middle section of the mouth, as early as 3 months. The last teeth, usually the final molars located in the back of the mouth, top and bottom will complete this rite of passage when a baby is around two years old. Once again, somewhere around three years old your child should be willing and ready to practice daily hygiene with his/her favorite toothbrush and toothpaste.
Some babies will breeze through the teething process from the beginning to the end with no problem; however many will struggle through with a host of teething problems, which could include excruciating pain and discomfort. Just like any other discomfort a child may experience, there will be tell-tale teething symptoms.
Baby Teething Symptoms
Some of the most common of all baby teething symptoms include excessive drooling, cold, stuffy nose or runny nose. Many babies also suffer from teething fever.
First, be on the lookout for drooling because if it’s not properly treated, it can lead to excessive saliva accumulating in the infants’ mouth which could drip down the back of their throats giving rise to a persistent coughing. So keep a watchful eye on your child during the teething process especially if you’re laying them on their backs. Drooling is not uncommon and contrary to what many may believe, drooling has a valuable purpose in the teething process. All that saliva which is produced through the gums during drooling is designed to actually moisten and lubricate your baby’s tender gums.
Although there are no home remedies for drooling, the best solution is to have a rubber suction device to suck the excess saliva from the baby’s mouth. The gums will go through a process of swelling and sensitivity as well, and this is normally what causes the most inconvenience and pain for your child.
Teething gums take on a few appearances that will make it obvious your child is experiencing the teething process. There may be swollen and red or even bruised gums in some cases. There could even be small white dots on the gums or small openings where teeth will eventually grow in a day or two.
Because of the drooling and swallowing, your baby may emit loose stools. Loose bowel movements could be a teething symptom, but if you notice anything else unusual like a fever, mucous or blood in the stools, you should immediately contact your doctor. Sometimes diarrhea can be associated with teething but not violent cases of diarrhea. If your child is experiencing violent cases of diarrhea, you should definitely take your child in for evaluation.
Treating Baby Teething Symptoms
The best solution for soothing sore gums will be to allow your bundle-of-joy to chew or suck on chilled baby teething toys such as teething rings or even a chilled carrot but if it has gotten to the point where the teething pain causes sleeping problems then over-the-counter baby teething tablets will do the job. If you do choose to use medication, you should use one medication at a time. Do not combine the medications in a day; wait to see how he/she responds to one medication at a time.
A teething gel has also been proven to be tremendously effective for alleviating the pain.
When all else fails, try a home remedy that always helps a teething baby. Gently massage your child’s gums with your finger or even with a cool, wet cloth. This has proven to alleviate the tooth pain by equalizing the pressure on the gums as the tooth below is pressing upwards. There are homeopathic treatments for teething, this one is available at Amazon.
These are only a few of the symptoms associated with teething, there are others; however, the most important thing to remember during the teething process is to not take anything lightly. Irritability or fussiness, biting behaviors, the refusing of foods and sleep problems can all be associated with teething. A rule of thumb: If you notice that your child has symptoms that seriously worry you, don’t just right it off nonchalantly as teething. Teething can be serious enough to cause major problems in your child’s life. Remember to be sensitive to your baby’s teething pain even when you feel frustrated.
