Teething: 4 to 7 Months

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Ages & Stages

Ages & Stages

​Teething usually starts during these months. The two front teeth (central incisors), either upper or lower, usually appear first, followed by the opposite front teeth. The first molars come in next, followed by the canines or eyeteeth.

The timing of teething: 

There is great variability in the timing of teething. If your child doesn’t show any teeth until later than this age period, don’t worry. The timing may be determined by heredity, and it doesn’t mean that anything is wrong.

How to ease your baby’s discomfort:

Teething occasionally may cause mild irritability, crying, a low-grade temperature (but not over 101 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.3 degrees Celsius), excessive drooling, and a desire to chew on something hard. More often, the gums around the new teeth will swell and be tender. Try gently rubbing or massaging the gums with one of your fingers. Teething rings are helpful, too, but they should be made of firm rubber. (The teethers that you freeze tend to get too hard and can cause more harm than good.) Pain relievers and medications that you rub on the gums are not necessary or useful since they wash out of the baby’s mouth within minutes. Some medication you rub on your child’s gums can even be harmful if too much is used and the child swallows an excessive amount. Stay away from teething tablets that contain the plant poison belladonna and gels with benzocaine. Belladonna and benzocaine are marketed to numb your child’s pain, but the FDA has issued warnings against both due to potential side effects.​ If your child seems particularly miserable or has a fever higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius), it’s probably not because she’s teething, and you should consult your pediatrician.

How should you clean the new teeth? 

Simply brush them with a soft child’s toothbrush when you first start seeing her teeth. To prevent cavities, never let your baby fall asleep with a bottle, either at nap time or at night. By avoiding this situation, you’ll keep milk from pooling around the teeth and creating a breeding ground for decay.

Last Updated

10/6/2016

Source

Adapted from Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, 6th Edition (Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Pediatrics)

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

At what age do babies start teething?

There are a lot of exciting milestones in your baby’s growth and development. There’s when they roll over for the first time. Then crawling, their first step, their first word, and on and on. And one of the biggest events is when your baby’s smile starts to turn into a toothy grin.

But when do babies get their first tooth? Do teeth come in a certain order? How do you soothe a baby’s sore gums?

Below, we answer these questions, explain other teething symptoms and answer common questions about cleaning baby teeth.

At what age do babies start teething?

The average age for a baby’s first tooth to come in is around 6 months old, but every child is different. Girls’ teeth usually come in a little earlier than boys’ do. But by the time a baby is 12 months old, they typically have 2-4 teeth. And by 3 years old, most kids have all of their primary or “baby” teeth.

How many baby teeth do kids have?

Children have a total of 20 primary teeth.

What order do baby teeth come in?

Baby teeth don’t always come in the same order for each kiddo. There are typical ranges for when certain teeth come in or “erupt,” but those ranges overlap. For example, many babies get their bottom central incisors sometime between 6 months old and 10 months old, and their top central incisors between 8 months old and 12 months old. But it’s also possible that a baby can start teething as early as 2 months old.

Baby teeth chart

Again, the exact timing and order that babies’ teeth come in can vary. But here’s when they generally tend to come in:

• Bottom central incisors: 6-10 months
• Top central incisors: 8-12 months
• Bottom lateral incisors: 10-16 months
• Top lateral incisors: 9-13 months
• Bottom canines: 17-23 months
• Top canines: 16-22 months
• Bottom first molars: 14-18 months
• Top first molars: 13-19 months
• Bottom second molars: 23-31 months
• Top second molars: 25-33 months

How do I know if my baby is teething? Watch for these baby teething symptoms

Not all babies show signs of teething. But common teething symptoms can include:

• Increased fussiness
• Increased drooling, which can cause coughing and lead to a rash on baby’s face, chin or chest
• Chewing on their hands or gnawing on objects
• Rubbing their cheek or ear
• Red or swollen gums that appear to be bulging
• A low-grade fever (less than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)

Usually, signs of teething will start a few days before a new tooth comes in, and go away once it has.

Is teething painful for babies?

Some babies will experience discomfort or pain while teething, which helps explain some of the teething symptoms you’ll notice. Gum soreness and swelling can lead to fussiness, or cause your little one to rub their cheeks or chew on anything they can get their hands on. The good news is that most discomfort will pass quickly.

Which are the most painful teeth for babies as they come in?

Typically, the first teeth to come in are the most uncomfortable for babies, as the feeling of a tooth coming in is new and unfamiliar. The molars can also be painful because they’re larger than other teeth.

How long does teething fussiness last?

If your baby is fussy during teething, you can expect it to last for a couple days to a week before the tooth erupts through the gums. If it lasts longer than this, check in with your child’s doctor.

When to talk to a doctor about teething concerns

Again, teething symptoms are usually mild and improve in a couple of days. But talk to your child’s doctor if:

• Symptoms are prolonged or get more severe (such as constant irritability or especially aggressive chewing)
• Your child has a fever higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit
• Your child gets diarrhea alongside teething symptoms

How to soothe baby’s gums during teething

If your baby is showing signs of discomfort when they’ve got a tooth coming in, there are a few different things you can do to make them more comfortable.

• Wipe away drool from their chin regularly – This can help prevent skin irritation and rashes.
• Massage your baby’s gums – You can simply use a clean finger or chilled teething ring.
• Give your baby a cold washcloth or chilled teething toy to chew on – If your baby has already been introduced to solid foods that can be chilled, you can also use those. Only use a fridge to chill things (rather than the freezer), and don’t use toys that have liquid in them.
• Talk with your child’s doctor about over-the-counter pain relievers – Medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve pain and inflammation. Just make sure you’re using one that is meant for babies, and you follow all the instructions on the label.

Don’t try to relieve your baby’s symptoms with teething gels or teething tablets, as they may contain harmful ingredients. If you have questions about a method or teething product that isn’t listed above, talk to your child’s doctor.

Baby oral care: Answers to frequently asked questions

With the arrival of teeth comes the need to keep them clean. Here’s what to know to get your baby’s dental health off to a good start.

When should I start brushing my child’s teeth?

Start brushing as soon as the first tooth has come in.

How do I brush my baby’s teeth?

Use a small, soft toothbrush or washcloth twice a day. Start with water or a fluoride-free training toothpaste. Once your child is around 3 years old, you can start using small amounts of fluoride toothpaste.

Flossing should start when your child has teeth that have come in next to each other. If regular floss is too tricky, try using a floss pick.

Why do I need to brush my baby’s teeth?

Even though baby teeth will fall out, they’re still important. Healthy baby teeth support the health, spacing and alignment of the permanent teeth that come in after them. And getting your child used to regular brushing early on will help them form good oral hygiene habits.

Plus, tooth decay can start at a very young age. Children with tooth decay are more likely to have ear and sinus infections, and develop conditions like obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Healthy teeth help children speak quickly and clearly, too, which can give them more confidence as they grow up.

What else can I do to keep my baby’s teeth healthy?

If your child is still nursing or drinking a bottle at bedtime or overnight, talk with their doctor about when it makes sense to wean them from these feedings. This is because the sugars in your own milk or formula can sit on your baby’s teeth for prolonged periods of time overnight.

Most babies are able to sleep through the night without needing to eat sometime between 4 and 6 months old. And once they’re around 12 months old, nighttime bottles before bed can usually be stopped as well.

You can also take steps to reduce or discourage pacifier use or thumb sucking. Pacifiers specifically can be helpful early in your child’s development. They can provide comfort and have even been shown to reduce the risk of SIDs. But as your child gets older, pacifiers – and aggressive thumb sucking – can cause issues with tooth alignment.

When does my baby need to visit the dentist?

Along with brushing and flossing, regular dental visits are key to your baby’s dental health. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that kids see a dentist by their first birthday, or within 6 months of their first tooth coming in.

During these visits, the dentist will examine your child’s soft tissues, gums and jaws. The earlier your child sees a dentist, the more likely they are to have good oral health in the future.

Teething of the first teeth in children

The first teeth in a baby appear most often at the age of 5-6 months. This is such a generally accepted average standard. Although it is quite possible that the first tooth will appear in a child at 3 months , and even in a month or two.

Mom notices with surprise that two pretty little white teeth are peeking out from the lower gum. The joy is great, but then anxiety begins – is this good, is it right? We want to quickly reassure the parents – this is quite normal. Every child is different and goes through different stages of development in their own way. And so it turns out that the intrauterine development of the tooth germs passed quickly, the child received a sufficient amount of the necessary elements and minerals for the growth of milk teeth. The rudiments of teeth are formed approximately at the 10th week of pregnancy, by the time of birth the teeth are already mineralized, although they are located under the gums. Why is that? The answer is in the article “Why children are born without teeth.”

Signs of teething in children

An important role is played by the nutrition of the baby, as well as the factor of heredity. That is why the age of the baby at the time of the appearance of the first teeth can vary greatly. By the way, our ancestors had many beliefs related to teeth. The first tooth in a child – signs : if the baby teething very early – within a year he will have a brother or sister. And yet, it was believed that children with early teeth are very smart. This is true, such children in everything develop faster than others. They also have an early replacement of milk teeth with permanent ones. Parents should be responsible for their health, because the early appearance of milk teeth and their early replacement cause an increased risk of hypoplasia and caries, and children are more prone to anemia and hypovitaminosis.

Parents are very worried about the question: Are children born with teeth? Yes, such cases occur, although quite rarely. Once this fact scared people very much, a child born with teeth was considered the embodiment of dark forces, and it was very difficult for him in life.

Today we declare with responsibility – these are all prejudices and nonsense. It’s just that in the formation of the body there was such a failure. Unfortunately, sometimes there is an incorrect development of certain organs, their absence or a paired number is observed. So it is with teeth. It happens that a child’s teeth grow out of order, crooked or erupt second row of teeth . Often this is a hereditary trait – many members of the same family can have similar problems. This, of course, is unpleasant, but not fatal.

Modern dentistry treats various anomalies of the dentition without consequences for the overall development of a person. No need to be frightened, fill your head with various bad thoughts and experiences. And if the child was born with teeth , then the only trouble is that at first it can hurt the mother when the baby sucks the breast until she gets used to it. Don’t even talk about it to anyone. Your children are wonderful, full-fledged people, they will grow up big and healthy. And our experts will help you professionally and quickly get rid of all problems. In the next article, we will tell you which signs of teething in children, how to help your baby easily survive the difficult period of teething, and how to keep them healthy and beautiful.

A child’s teeth grow out of order – what to do, who to contact?

The first teeth are a long-awaited and exciting event. It brings with it joy – and anxiety if it doesn’t go according to plan. Any pediatric dentist will say that teething not according to the established pattern is a variant of the norm. But parents are still worried: maybe this is an alarming symptom?

Among the reasons why teeth erupt out of order and out of time, there can really be serious illnesses: rickets, dyspepsia. But they are always accompanied by more characteristic symptoms.

For example, with rickets, the baby sweats a lot, especially in the head area, lags behind in physical development, is naughty a lot, is afraid of bright light. Dyspepsia is accompanied by a distinct disorder of the gastrointestinal tract: the child’s stool changes, severe colic is observed. It is impossible to miss these symptoms.

Therefore, problems in pediatric dentistry are not a reason to suspect a serious diagnosis.

When you should definitely not worry:

• If the family has already had a case of “wrong” teething. The timing and order of the appearance of milk teeth are genetically determined. If a child’s teeth grow out of order and the parents or grandparents had the same feature, there is nothing to worry about.
• In difficult childbirth and if the child was ill in the first days or months of life. While he is recovering, temporary problems in pediatric dentistry may appear – the body simply does not have enough resources to compensate for all birth disorders at once.
• If the child is generally healthy, eats fully and walks. This makes it possible to exclude complex disorders in the development and formation of the skeleton.

The order of appearance of teeth was formed in the course of evolution. To date, pediatric dentistry has accumulated a lot of data on this interesting topic. Marine predators have the same teeth – conical, so that it is convenient to grab slippery prey. And in land mammals, they were divided into incisors, canines, premolars and molars.

Ask a pediatric dentist to tell your child how teeth have changed depending on their purpose. Fangs served for protection, sharp incisors helped to bite off food, and powerful molars helped to chew. Depending on the species, the order of the appearance of teeth developed: for example, in puppies and wolf cubs, fangs appear first, because they are predators.

Man quickly became an omnivore, mastered hunting and farming. This is one of the answers to the question why baby teeth in children can erupt out of order. We are no longer tied to the evolutionary code, so we have many variants of the norm.

Science does not yet know the exact answer. But it is known for sure that it is impossible to influence the order of appearance of teeth. No pediatric dentist will be able to prescribe medications or procedures to make teeth fit “correctly” or to speed up their growth. The only working strategy is to wait and monitor the health of the child as a whole.

Sometimes parents are concerned not with the order, but with the timing of eruption. On average, milk teeth appear about 6 months. Deviations of three months in both directions are normal. You can show your child to a pediatric dentist if the baby got teeth at three months or did not appear at eight, but both situations fit into the norm.

Possible reasons for the delay:

• heredity;
• difficult childbirth, diseases of newborns;
• congenital or genetic diseases (always have other, more characteristic symptoms).

It is believed that the rate of appearance of teeth is influenced by the method of feeding and complementary foods. However, it has not received official confirmation in pediatric dentistry. The child needs good nutrition, and from what source is not so important.

Can teeth not erupt at all? They can. In 1% of cases, pediatric dentists diagnose congenital adentia. It is associated with ectodermal dysplasia, a serious tissue pathology, which is also accompanied by underdevelopment of hair and nails, skeletal deformity, and other noticeable problems. If your child does not have the listed signs, then the delay in teething is temporary and they will definitely appear soon.

So, the timing and order of appearance of milk teeth is very variable. And their mutual arrangement in the oral cavity is not. If your teeth grow crooked, uneven, you should contact a pediatric dentist. Crooked teeth are a sign of malocclusion, which can lead to serious problems.

Why malocclusion is harmful:

• The risk of caries increases due to the fact that adjacent teeth press against each other.
• Diction is broken, it will be difficult for a child to master sounds.
• Possible pain in the jaw area due to muscle strain.
• Smiling looks unaesthetic.
• In severe cases, the oval of the face changes, headaches develop.

Most bite defects can be easily corrected in a pediatric dental clinic with plates or braces. Usually, correction is started at the age of 5-6, after the change of teeth to permanent ones. But if the location of the milk teeth (milk bite) is significantly outside the norm, the pediatric dentist will offer a plate or cap.

Why correct milk bite?

• It will be easier for a child to master speech and put diction.
• The masticatory muscles and articulatory apparatus will develop correctly.
• Reduces the risk of misalignment of permanent teeth.

• Individual features, heredity.
• Complications during childbirth and during the neonatal period.
• Chronic diseases (always have other, more characteristic symptoms).

Let’s summarize: the timing and order of appearance of teeth may differ from the generally accepted ones. This is normal, not dangerous and will not cause problems in the future.

It is worth contacting a pediatric dentist if the teeth grow unevenly, as this indicates an abnormal bite. The bite is usually corrected after 6 years, on permanent teeth. Milk bite is corrected only in case of severe pathologies that affect the health and development of the child as a whole.