TEETHING

Teething is the process of a baby's teeth erupting through the gums. Teeth usually first appear in the mouth 5 to 10 months after the baby is born. The onset of teething varies from child to child. For most children, the teeth have broken through the gums before the end of their first year.

Symptoms starting as early as 4 or 5 months, include:

increased saliva
drooling
the need to chew on things
restlessness
crankiness
thumb sucking
loss of appetite and
gum rubbing

Generally, signs of illness, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and fever are not symptoms of teething. However, some children may develop a low-grade fever, not over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Centigrade), as a symptom of teething. Consult your healthcare provider if the fever is higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Centigrade).

To help soothe your baby's teething discomfort, follow these guidelines:

Gently massage the swollen gums with one of your clean fingers.
Give your child something cold to gnaw on like a popsicle, or chilled teething ring (not a frozen one). A wet washcloth frozen for 30 minutes is also helpful to relieve pain.
Do not use whiskey, lotions, or ointments made to reduce teething pain. They may contain an agent that could numb the throat and cause the baby to choke or that could poison the child if too much is used.
Use acetaminophen for a few days if the baby is uncomfortable.
Avoid hard foods that the baby might choke on.
Avoid salty or acid foods.

Clean the new teeth with a soft child's toothbrush, or wipe them with gauze. Never allow your baby to fall asleep with a bottle. This will lead to tooth decay.

Most children will have all 20 of their primary teeth by age three. These teeth are replaced by permanent teeth starting around age 5 or 6. Permanent teeth usually appear with the two front teeth on the lower jaw coming in first. Four to 8 weeks later, the four upper front teeth appear, and the molars are last.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File CHIL3088.rf2 VRS# 7763 Data Version 7.0