Being a new parent isn’t easy and neither is growing in your first set of teeth. Babies begin sprouting their primary teeth between three to twelve months of age. This process is long and sometimes painful for your little one. Our team has some useful things you should know about the teething process and helpful ways that you can offer relief.
Common Symptoms
If your baby has begun teething, you may notice that they:
- Become restless or irritable: If your baby is experiencing pressure, or soreness caused by the onset of a new tooth, they may be fussier than usual.
- Refuse to eat: Babies who are experiencing discomfort from teething will commonly refuse to eat.
- Develop swollen red gums: It is normal for gums to appear sore and swollen just before a new tooth breaks the skin. This usually occurs between three to five days before the new tooth appears and should disappear shortly after its arrival.
- Drooling excessively: It’s common for babies to drool when teething, it is the body’s way of cooling off the inflamed gums.
- Develop rashes: Excessive drooling can cause the baby to develop rashes on their face, chin or chest.
- Are constantly biting or sucking: You baby may begin biting or sucking on just about anything they can get their hands on to help relieve the pressure in their gums.
Easy Solutions
To help ease the pain and symptoms of teething for your baby, you can try:
- Rubbing their gums: Use a clean finger or a chilled teething ring to rub against their gums, it will provide some temporary relief from the pressure.
- Providing them with something to chew on: Chewing and applying light pressure on the gums may help relieve your baby of some discomfort. There are a variety of teething rings available on the market for this purpose. Avoid products that are liquid-filled and opt for solid silicone-based teething rings instead. They are more easily sterilized and do not pose the risk of leaking if punctured. Depending on the age of your child, you can also try soothers or frozen fruits and veggies. Cold things to chew on will help in numbing the pain and inflammation.
- Pain relievers: There are a variety of over-the-counter pain relievers and teething gels available on the market. Although they are approved and considered safe, many professionals like The Canadian Dental Association advise against them. Before offering any medications to your baby, consult a medical professional and ensure that the product is appropriate for your child’s age.
For more information or advice on caring for your baby’s teeth, please give us a call at (416) 927-9085.
