Teething is often a painful and unsettling time for your baby and new teeth can explain why your baby is discontent and apparently unwell. Parents generally accept that teething can be difficult, but they also want to know how long this phase will last and what remedies exist that will assist babies in distress caused by teething.
Could it be teething?
A baby’s first tooth generally emerges any time between the first five to seven months of their life. However, your child may cut their first tooth before the age of five months or still be toothless until after their first birthday. By the time your child is three, he or she will likely have all their milk teeth.
There is also no telling how long it will take for a tooth to make its way through the gum. Some babies are unsettled and unhappy for only a few days before a tooth is visible, while it is a more prolonged experience for others.
After the first teeth are through (and you have breathed a sigh of relief), your baby may experience another difficult time around the age of one when their molars come through. Molars can cause significant discomfort and pain because they are situated at the back of the mouth and are the largest of all the teeth.
Severity and duration of teething symptoms
For most toddlers, symptoms of teething are quite minor and infrequent. The pain of teething tends to last for a few days, but if multiple teeth come through simultaneously, the pain can continue for longer.
The range of symptoms and their severity varies between babies; your baby may cut teeth with no complaints at all or teething may bring lots of pain and tears for your bub.
If symptoms of teething last for longer than a few days with no sign of a tooth, it’s possible that your baby’s pain and distress may be due to other causes.
If your baby is teething, you may notice:
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Swollen red gums
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Cheeks that are flushed red
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A rash on the face
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Excessive drooling
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Biting, rubbing or sucking the gums
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Tugging at the ear on the same side as the tooth that is erupting
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Wakefulness during the day and night-time sleeplessness
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Reluctance to feed
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Mild fever
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Irritability and unsettled behaviour
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The appearance of a blister on the gum
Ways to treat teething pain and discomfort
Quite a few methods will soothe the painful gums of your teething baby, before you turn to pain relief products and teething gels, those are:
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Rubbing a finger over your baby’s gums as this can temporarily numb the pain.
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Giving your baby a silicone-based teething ring; refrigerating the teething ring before giving it to your baby adds even more relief.
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Providing your baby with a soft face washer, which they can chew on.
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If your baby is old enough, try giving them chilled water in a bottle or cup. Older babies eating solid foods can also be offered cold fruit purees or plain yoghurt, which all assist in numbing the pain somewhat.
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If your baby has a facial rash, use a soft cotton cloth to gently wipe the drool away from their face as often as possible. Take care not to rub the inflamed area and use a barrier cream to provide protection from further irritation.
What about teething gels and infant pain relief?
Teething gels can offer some relief from the pain of teething because they contain local anaesthetic and antiseptic. Applying a small amount of teething gel to your baby’s sore gums may help, but it is important to use a gel that does not contain sugar, alcohol or aspirin. If you are still breastfeeding your baby, do not apply teething gel beforehand as sucking can be more difficult for your baby if their tongue is numb.
If your baby is over one month of age, you can give them the appropriate dose of infant paracetamol. Or if your baby is over three months of age, you can give them the appropriate dose of infant ibuprofen. Make sure you do not combine these two types of medicine. You should always seek advice from your health professional or your trusted local pharmacist.
Should you be unsure your baby is teething or whether there is another cause of your baby’s distress, it is worth taking him or her to the doctor. Sometimes ear infections are confused for teething.
Looking after baby’s new teeth
Even before you can see your baby’s first tooth it’s a good idea to get into the habit of wiping their gums with gauze or a soft wet wash cloth during bath time. The easiest way to wipe your baby’s gums is to wrap the gauze or washcloth around your index finger and rub gently over their gums. Bacteria in the mouth usually can’t harm the gums before the baby teeth emerge, but it can be hard to tell when the teeth are starting to push through, so you’ll want to start early. Getting your baby used to having their mouth cleaned as part of their daily routine should make it easier to transition into tooth brushing later on, too.
Once baby’s tooth has fully emerged it’s time to start looking after their new teeth. Baby-suitable toothpaste should be used from the time the first tooth appears. Toothpaste that is specifically designed for babies (not children or adults) ensures the appropriate amount of fluoride is provided and they are not as abrasive. As your baby’s teeth start to appear, look for a baby toothbrush with a small head and grip suitable for your hand. Use a tiny amount of babies’ toothpaste. A dot the size of a grain of rice or a thin smear is all you need. Twice a day, gently brush on the inside and outside of each of your baby’s teeth to dislodge bacteria that can cause bad breath. Replace the toothbrush as soon as the bristles start to look worn or splayed.
The appearance of your baby’s first teeth may be a painful experience but it is also a momentous time. Your teething baby will need plenty of love and lots of cuddles as their new pearly whites push through their little gums.
How did you get through your baby’s teething phase?