How early can teething begin. Early Teething in Babies: Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions

20.11.202024.07.2023 by alexxlab

When do babies typically start teething. What are the common symptoms of teething. How can parents provide relief for teething discomfort. What is the typical teething timeline for infants. Are there any risks associated with early or late teething. How does teething affect breastfeeding.

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The Teething Timeline: When Do Babies Start Cutting Teeth?

Teething is a significant milestone in a baby’s development, marking the emergence of their first teeth through the gums. While the timing can vary widely among infants, most babies begin teething around 6 months of age. However, it’s essential to understand that there’s a broad range of what’s considered “normal” when it comes to teething.

Some babies may start showing signs of teething as early as 2 or 3 months, while others might not get their first tooth until after their first birthday. This variation is often influenced by genetic factors, with some families tending towards earlier or later teething patterns.

The Average Teething Timeline

4-7 months: First tooth typically appears
6 months: Most common age for teething to begin
12 months: Many babies have several teeth
3 years: Full set of primary teeth usually complete

It’s worth noting that premature babies or those born at a low birth weight may experience delays in teething. If you’re concerned about your baby’s teething progress, it’s always best to consult with your pediatrician.

Recognizing the Signs: Common Teething Symptoms

Teething can be a challenging time for both babies and parents. While some infants may breeze through the process with little discomfort, others may experience a range of symptoms. Recognizing these signs can help parents provide appropriate comfort and care.

Typical Teething Symptoms

Excessive drooling
Irritability and fussiness
Swollen or tender gums
Increased chewing on objects
Changes in eating habits
Disturbed sleep patterns
Slight increase in body temperature

It’s important to note that high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea are not typically associated with teething. If your baby experiences these symptoms, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional as they may indicate other health issues.

Soothing Strategies: Effective Teething Remedies

While teething is a natural process, it can cause discomfort for your baby. Fortunately, there are several safe and effective ways to alleviate teething pain and provide relief.

Teething Relief Methods

Gently massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger
Offer a cold teething ring or washcloth to chew on
Provide safe, rubber teething toys
Use over-the-counter pain relievers (consult your pediatrician first)
Try chilled (not frozen) fruits in a mesh feeder for older babies

It’s essential to avoid teething gels or tablets containing benzocaine, as these can be harmful to infants. Always supervise your baby when using teething toys to prevent choking hazards.

Teething and Breastfeeding: What to Expect

For breastfeeding mothers, teething can bring about some unique challenges. Understanding these changes can help you navigate this period more smoothly.

How Teething Affects Breastfeeding

Changes in latch or sucking patterns
Increased frequency of nursing for comfort
Potential biting or gnawing on the breast
Temporary refusal to nurse due to gum discomfort

If you experience persistent pain or difficulty during breastfeeding while your baby is teething, consider consulting a lactation specialist for personalized advice and support.

Early Teethers: When Babies Start Teething Before 3 Months

While it’s less common, some babies may begin showing signs of teething as early as 2 or 3 months old. This early teething is usually not a cause for concern and simply indicates that your baby is developing at their own unique pace.

Managing Early Teething

Monitor for any signs of discomfort
Implement gentle soothing techniques
Consult your pediatrician if you have concerns
Be prepared for an extended teething period

In rare cases, some babies are even born with one or two teeth, known as natal teeth. While this occurs in only about 1 in 2,000 to 3,000 births, it’s important to have these teeth evaluated by a pediatric dentist to ensure they don’t pose any risks.

Late Teethers: When Babies Haven’t Started Teething by 12 Months

Just as some babies are early teethers, others may not get their first tooth until after their first birthday. This delayed teething is often nothing to worry about, but it’s always a good idea to discuss it with your pediatrician.

Factors That May Contribute to Late Teething

Genetics and family history
Nutritional factors
Certain medical conditions
Premature birth

Your pediatrician may recommend a dental x-ray to ensure that the teeth are developing properly beneath the gums. In most cases, late teething is simply a variation of normal development and not a cause for concern.

The Teething Order: Which Teeth Come in First?

While every baby is unique, there is a general pattern to how teeth typically emerge. Understanding this order can help you anticipate your baby’s teething journey.

Typical Order of Tooth Emergence

Bottom central incisors (bottom front teeth)
Top central incisors (top front teeth)
Top lateral incisors (either side of top front teeth)
Bottom lateral incisors (either side of bottom front teeth)
First molars (back teeth)
Canines (pointed teeth between incisors and molars)
Second molars

Remember that this order can vary, and some babies may have teeth emerge in pairs or in a different sequence. By age 3, most children will have a full set of 20 primary teeth.

Dental Care for Teething Babies: Starting Good Habits Early

As soon as your baby’s first tooth appears, it’s time to start thinking about dental care. Establishing good oral hygiene habits early can set the foundation for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Tips for Early Dental Care

Clean gums with a soft, damp cloth before teeth emerge
Use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush once teeth appear
Introduce a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste around age 2
Schedule the first dental visit by the first birthday
Avoid putting your baby to bed with a bottle to prevent tooth decay

Remember that baby teeth play a crucial role in your child’s development, affecting everything from speech to proper nutrition. Taking care of these primary teeth sets the stage for healthy permanent teeth in the future.

Teething is a significant milestone in your baby’s life, marking the beginning of their journey towards a full set of teeth. While it can be challenging at times, understanding the process, recognizing the signs, and knowing how to provide comfort can make this period easier for both you and your baby. Remember that every child is unique, and their teething timeline may not follow the average. Whether your baby is an early teether or a late bloomer, what matters most is that they’re growing and developing in their own special way. By staying informed, patient, and attentive to your baby’s needs, you can navigate the teething process with confidence and help your little one smile through it all.

When Do Babies Start Teething? Symptoms, Remedies, and More

Teething is when a baby’s teeth start to come through their gums. Most babies will start teething around the age of 6 months, but some may start sooner or later.

You love watching your baby hit those sweet milestones — the first smile, first giggle, and rolling over for the first time. But one that’s sometimes not so sweet (for you or for them) is teething.

Although this is a typical part of growing for babies, it is one of those milestones that can bring discomfort, tears (from you and baby), and even sleepless nights (yep, more of those!).

As for when your baby will actually start the process, it depends.

Catherine ConellyMOTHER OF ONE

The worst timing

My baby suddenly started fighting naps so hard and waking up crying in the wee hours of the morning. Of course, he’d had crying fits before, but never moments like this where he was basically inconsolable. He had always been a great sleeper, but of course, this kicked in when I was on vacation visiting my family in Florida. I didn’t see any gum swelling or other signs. I really didn’t think it was teeth. I figured it was just growing pains. But sure enough, two bottom teeth popped up about a week later.

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A baby’s teeth can sometimes emerge with no pain or discomfort, so you might not realize they’re teething until you see the first sign of a tiny white tooth. For other babies, though, teething does cause discomfort.

Common symptoms of teething may include:

drooling
face rash from drooling
chewing on different objects
irritability and crankiness
crying
refusing to eat
swollen, sore, or tender gums
trouble sleeping
flushed cheeks
pulling on their ears
slightly elevated temperature to around 99°F (37.2°C)

Note

On the other hand, a rectal temperature 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, vomiting, or diarrhea are not usually signs of teething. If your baby has these symptoms, contact their pediatrician.

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Symptoms of teething in breastfed babies

Teething symptoms can occur whether you breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby. But if you breastfeed or chestfeed, you might notice other changes, too. For example, gum pain or soreness might cause your baby to latch on differently.

Before a tooth emerges (and even afterward), you might feel your baby gnaw or bite down on your breasts. And since breastfeeding is soothing for babies, they might feed more often while teething.

Keep in mind that teething symptoms occur before a tooth breaks through the gum, so don’t be alarmed if you notice these changes in your baby but don’t see any sign of a tooth.

Most babies get their first tooth between 4 and 7 months old.

But there’s a wide range of when it’s considered “typical” to start teething. So don’t panic if your little one hasn’t cut a tooth by 7 or 9 months old. If you’re concerned, you can always speak with their pediatrician at their next checkup.

To get even more specific, most infants begin teething at around 6 months old. Your little one will likely have a full set of their first teeth by age 3, and all the joys of the teeth-brushing routine will have been long established.

But “typical” doesn’t mean “best” or “all.” Exactly when your baby will start teething may even be hereditary.

And though it may seem impossible, some babies are born with one or two teeth! This occurs in about 1 in 6,000 to 1 in 800 cases — so it’s uncommon. It makes for some incredibly adorable pictures, but let’s be honest — toothless grins are pretty darn cute, too.

Infants born with teeth should have them closely monitored since they can present a choking risk.

Some infants are early teethers — and it usually isn’t anything to worry about! If your little one starts showing signs of teething around 2 or 3 months old, they’re simply ahead of the curve in the teething department. And if your baby is a late teether, try not to worry about this either (easier said than done, we know).

Every baby is different, so don’t be concerned if all your child’s little friends have started to cut teeth already — yours will too, in their own time. In fact, if you’re going to compare at all, it’s better to consider when their siblings (if they have them) got their first tooth.

The bottom two teeth are usually the first to appear, followed by the four upper teeth. So keep an eye on that area and prepare for cuteness overload when they do.

Next, their teeth may come in two at a time, one on each side of the mouth. But this pattern can vary, and many factors can influence the timeline (like if your baby was born early or at a low birth weight, for example).

On average, babies have:

4 teeth by 11 months
8 teeth by 15 months
12 teeth by 19 months
16 teeth at 23 months

Those sometimes distressing (but always perfectly usual) teething symptoms may come and go during this time period. Or they may be more consistent as your little one cuts new teeth or starts to feel the first symptoms of a tooth emerging.

If your child doesn’t have any teeth by 18 months, see a pediatric dentist for evaluation. In rare cases, an underlying medical issue may cause a delay in teething. These may include:

malnutrition
vitamin deficiency
underactive thyroid

If you’re concerned that it’s been a while since your child cut their last one or two teeth, speak with their pediatrician.

When your little one is teething, you may feel more inclined to reach for that bottle of wine or chocolate bar because it’s tough to see your baby in pain. (No? Just us?)

Well, baby needs some soothing, too.

Home remedies

These are some tried and true — and most importantly, safe — home remedies you can try:

Gently massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger, knuckle, or moistened gauze pad.
Hold a cold washcloth, spoon, or chilled teething ring on your baby’s gums.
Use plastic or rubber toys that are chilled — never frozen solid (ouch!).
Offer cold foods like a chilled little slice of cucumber if your baby is already eating solids — but always keep a watchful eye on them, because this could be a choking hazard.

Medical treatment

Currently, there aren’t any medical treatments to soothe teething pain in a baby. The good news, though, is that babies typically respond positively to home remedies.

If these remedies don’t relieve symptoms, feel free to ask your pediatrician about the occasional use of over-the-counter baby acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Your pediatrician can advise whether this is an OK treatment and provide guidance on proper dosing.

And an important note: No matter how attractive the item or the claims of its manufacturers, avoid teething necklaces or bracelets — worn by adults or babies — made of amber, wood, or silicone. These can quickly turn into choking hazards, and it’s just not worth it.

Also on the no-go list: homeopathic teething tablets and medicated topical gels. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings against using both of these products.

Medicated topical gels contain the ingredient benzocaine, which is an anesthetic. It’s found in products like Anbesol, Orajel, Baby Orajel, and Orabase.

Benzocaine is linked to a rare but serious condition called methemoglobinemia.

Keep in mind that good oral health isn’t important for only older children, teens, and adults. Your baby’s oral health matters too. So start brushing those pearly whites as soon as the first tooth grows in.

How do you keep their tiny, delicate teeth healthy? There really isn’t much to do at this age, but the first step is to buy an infant toothbrush that is soft and gentle. You’ll brush their teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once at night.

And yes, it’s OK to use a fluoride toothpaste, but not too much. You only need a small grain-size amount until they’re 3 years old; then, increase to a pea-sized amount.

Brushing helps prevent tooth decay, which can occur when sugar from milk, juice, or formula remains on their teeth and damages the enamel.

Have questions about teething? Here are answers to a few frequently asked questions.

What are the first signs of teething?

The teething experience can differ for each individual baby, but some of the first signs include:

drooling
gnawing
trouble sleeping
irritability or crying
a mild increase in body temperature

Some babies also develop flushness around their cheeks or a rash. And if you breastfeed or chestfeed, teething might change the way your baby latches, or they might feed more often to soothe themselves.

How early do babies show signs of teething?

Teething typically occurs around 6 months of age. However, some babies start teething as early as 2 or 3 months. Then again, some babies teeth later and don’t cut their first tooth until 8 or 9 months (or later).

How long does teething last for babies?

The teething timeframe differs for each baby. But regardless of whether a baby starts teething at 6 months or 9 months, they typically stop teething before age 3. Some babies stop teething around 24 months, while others don’t stop until 36 months.

Do babies get sick when teething?

Even though your baby may have physical discomfort, teething doesn’t make them sick. So if your baby has a runny nose, productive cough, diarrhea, vomiting, or a high fever, these symptoms aren’t associated with teething. This could be a sign of an infection, so speak with their pediatrician.

When your baby cuts their first tooth usually says nothing about their development — as with most things baby, there’s such a wide range of totally OK. Most infants end up with a full set of baby teeth by the time they’re 3 years old, regardless of when they cut that first tooth.

But if your baby hasn’t cut a tooth by the time they’re 18 months old, talk with your dentist. Ideally, you’ve already brought your baby to a pediatric dentist by age 1, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (and the American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, too).

So if you haven’t seen a dentist yet, this would be a good time to have your sweet babe’s mouth and gums checked out.

While visiting the dentist for the first time may sound scary, remember these two things: Your baby hasn’t yet had a negative dental experience to create dread, and pediatric dentists are great at making the visit comfortable — it can even be even fun.

Once your little one does cut a tooth or two, be sure to take good care to clean around the area each day with a damp, cool washcloth or soft-bristle baby toothbrush. Before you know it, they’ll (hopefully!) be brushing their teeth on their own.

When Do Babies Start Teething? Symptoms, Remedies, and More

Teething is when a baby’s teeth start to come through their gums. Most babies will start teething around the age of 6 months, but some may start sooner or later.

Although this is a typical part of growing for babies, it is one of those milestones that can bring discomfort, tears (from you and baby), and even sleepless nights (yep, more of those!).

As for when your baby will actually start the process, it depends.

Common symptoms of teething may include:

drooling
face rash from drooling
chewing on different objects
irritability and crankiness
crying
refusing to eat
swollen, sore, or tender gums
trouble sleeping
flushed cheeks
pulling on their ears
slightly elevated temperature to around 99°F (37.2°C)

Note

On the other hand, a rectal temperature 100. 4°F (38°C) or higher, vomiting, or diarrhea are not usually signs of teething. If your baby has these symptoms, contact their pediatrician.

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