Teething Necklaces and Beads: A Caution for Parents

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Ages & Stages

Ages & Stages

​​​​​When parents see their baby suffering, they just want a solution. Teething necklaces and beads have become an increasing popular alternative treatment to ease
teething pain.
But, are they effective and safe? The answer is no.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an

official warning in December 2018 after recieving reports of children choking on beads that break off and an 18-month-old being strangled to death by an amber necklace during a nap.

Why These Teething Necklaces and Beads are Choking and Strangulation Hazards:

“The risk is two-fold — strangulation and
choking,” said pediatrician Natasha Burgert, MD, FAAP. It occurs when the necklaces are worn around a child’s neck, especially when unsupervised (such as while sleeping) or if the child were to break the necklace and swallow the beads. However, those risks are not only for these teething necklaces.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend that infants wear any jewelry. Suffocation is the leading cause of death for children under a year old and among the top five causes of death for children between the ages of 1 and 4.

Parents who choose to use these necklaces are advised to:

• Always supervise your child when he or she is wearing the necklace or bracelet.

• Have your child wear the necklace on a wrist or ankle and not around his or her neck.

• Remember to remove the necklace or bracelet when your child is unattended, even if it is only for a short period of time!

• Remove the necklace or bracelet while your child is sleeping (day or night).

• Consider using alternate forms of teething pain relief (see suggestions below).

• Talk to your child’s pediatrician if you have concerns or questions about your child’s health.

Safer Ways to Soothe a Teething Baby:

There are many teething-pain relievers that can soothe your baby’s sore gums safely. Here are a few worth trying:

• 
  Chew toys. Plastic and rubber toys are great for soothing aching gums.

• 
  Cold things. For help numbing and easing the ache and inflammation, try using damp washcloths that have been twisted and frozen (tie one end in a knot for better gnawing). Avoid teething rings that are frozen solid; they are too hard for children’s mouths.

• 
  Massage.  A light, gentle rub or massage might give your little one a lot of relief. Remember to wash your hands, then massage the sore areas in your baby’s mouth with your finger or knuckle.

• 
  Medicine. When your baby is having a really tough time, ask your pediatrician about giving a dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol).
  Note: Numbing gels or creams that contain benzocaine are not recommended for infants.

Additional Information:

• 
  Baby Teething Pain

• 
  Baby’s First Tooth: 7 Facts Parents Should Know

• 
  Teething: 4 to 7 Months

• 
  How to Help Teething Symptoms without Medications

• 
  Prevention of Choking Among Children (AAP Policy Statement)

• To review recalls and safety information, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) website.  ​

​​

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Last Updated

12/20/2018

Source

American Academy of Pediatrics (Copyright © 2018)

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.

Fluoride for Children: FAQs – HealthyChildren.org

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Healthy Living

Healthy Living

​Fluoride from drinking
water and other sources like toothpaste and mouth rinse can help prevent
tooth decay (dental caries for cavities) and make your child’s teeth stronger.

Here are some common questions parents ask about how fluoride helps protect children’s oral health.

Q: Why do children need fluoride?​

A: Fluoride is a natural mineral that can slow or stop cavities from forming. Bacteria in the mouth combine with sugars and make acid that can harm the outer layer of the tooth (enamel). Fluoride protects teeth from damage and helps rebuild the enamel. Many communities have added fluoride to the tap water to help fight cavities. Children should drink plenty of water and brush with toothpaste that has fluoride in it.

Q: Is fluoridated water safe for my children?

A: Yes. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree that
water fluoridation is safe and works to
prevent tooth decay. Community water fluoridation has been shown to reduce tooth decay by 25%.

Q: When should my child start using fluoride toothpaste?

A: The AAP recommends using a “smear” of fluoride toothpaste twice a day when the first tooth appears and until age 3. Once your child has turned 3, a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste can be used.

Q: What if we live in a community where the water is not fluoridated? What can we do?

A: Check with your local water utility agency to
find out if your water has fluoride in it. If it doesn’t or you have well water, ask your pediatrician or dentist if your child is at high risk for cavities. The doctor may recommend you buy fluoridated water or give you a prescription for fluoride drops or tablets for your child.

Q: Should my child get fluoride varnish?

A: Yes.
Fluoride varnish is used to help prevent or slow down tooth decay. Your pediatrician will apply the varnish starting when your baby is 6 months old at
well-child visits. It is painted on the top and sides of each tooth and hardens quickly. Then, it is brushed off after 4 to 12 hours. It is recommended that children have varnish applied 2 to 4 times per year until they are 5 years old.

Q: What should I know about fluoride if I am breastfeeding or using infant formula?

A: When they are younger than 6 months old,
breastfed babies and babies fed infant formula do not need fluoride supplements or formula mixed with water than is fluoridated. It is safe to use fluoridated water to
mix the formula if your baby is younger than 6 months old, but there is a small risk of “fluorosis.” (See more details, below.) Ask your pediatrician or
dentist if you need more advice.

If you prefer not to use fluoridated water with formula before your baby’s first tooth emerges, you can:

Q: What is dental fluorosis, and will fluoridated water mixed with infant formula increase the risk?

A: Fluorosis usually appears as very faint white streaks on the teeth. Often it is only noticeable by a dental expert during an exam. Mild fluorosis is not painful and does not affect the function or health of the teeth.

Although using fluoridated water to prepare infant formula might increase the risk of dental fluorosis, most cases are mild.

Once your child’s adult teeth come in (usually around age 8), the risk of developing fluorosis is over.

More Information

• 
  Good Oral Health Starts Early​
• 
  Fluoride a Powerful Tooth to Prevent Tooth Decay​

Last Updated

11/30/2020

Source

American Academy of Pediatrics (Copyright © 2020)

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.

Timing of teething – Articles

Author:

Marbery Gedrean
| Checked by: Shteba Victoria Petrovna

| Last revised: October 18, 2020.

Most parents are very concerned about how teething (and gums) affects their babies in everyday life. Although we cannot fully predict exactly how each baby will react to their first tooth. However, we can learn about teething symptoms and how to soothe your baby during this difficult time. In general, the more we know about teething, the better we can help our babies get through it. Let’s figure it out.

Timing of teething

One of the most common questions parents ask is, “How long does it take for babies to teeth?”. It is useful to know both the time frame for the appearance of the first tooth and the time frame in which all teeth erupt. In general, teething is an ongoing process that occurs between the ages of 6 and 24 months. Although your baby has twenty milk teeth that will appear within two years, teething, fortunately, only causes pain and irritation at the time when the tooth is about to break through the gum. It is not known exactly how long it will take for a tooth to fully erupt, but on average experts say it can erupt within 1-7 days per tooth. However, teething symptoms usually only last a couple of days, so if a baby experiences discomfort for an extended period of time, it’s safe to assume it’s not teething.

Chronology of teething

In most babies, the first teeth are erupted at the age of 6 to 7 months, but this can happen earlier or later. Typically, your baby’s teeth are likely to appear in the following timeline windows:

6-7 months

During this time, the first teeth begin to erupt. The first teeth to erupt are usually the lower central incisors, which are the two middle teeth at the bottom. Children at this age become more active. They begin to grab and pull objects towards them, transfer objects from one hand to the other, and may even begin to crawl. It’s important to keep an eye on small objects within your baby’s reach, as he’ll want to put everything in his mouth during teething!

8 to 13 months

Between 8 and 12 months your baby will have upper central incisors. In addition, sometime between 9 and 13 months they will have upper and lower teeth next to their upper central incisors (these are called lower and upper lateral incisors). In addition to teething, it is important to understand that other important milestones in gross motor development are also achieved during this developmental window. Most babies are able to sit up, stand up unassisted, take their first steps, pick up and throw objects, roll a ball, and grasp objects.

13 to 20 months

Typically, between 13 and 16 months of age, your baby’s first molars appear at the bottom and top at about the same time. Shortly thereafter, their fangs will appear in both the top and bottom rows, between about 16 and 20 months.

From 20 to 30 months

At the final stage of teething, the back teeth or second molars appear in the bottom row of the baby. While most teething symptoms appear the same in both toddlers and babies, there are some differences as your baby grows older. First of all, your baby can now tell you about their discomfort and pain, unlike non-verbal babies. On the other hand, many toddlers will not show any signs of discomfort and will not complain of pain at all during the passage of molars. For other babies, the pain can be significantly worse because their first molars are larger than their other molars. They may even complain of a headache or jaw pain!

Toys that can help

Teethers – Teething toys that help to significantly relieve the symptoms of teething in children, while keeping them occupied during play. Because teething babies are always looking for something they can chew on, teething toys are specifically designed to soothe gums and temporarily ease teething.

“6 months? But my 3 month old is teething right now!”

Some babies start teething early at 6 months – and usually it’s a minor thing to worry about!

Many babies begin to drool more often and explore their world by bringing their hand to their mouth to chew at about 3-4 months. This is completely normal and is often accompanied by teething after some time.

If you suspect that your little bundle of joy, which can be much less joyful during gum pain attacks, is teething, look for symptoms such as:

• saliva, the surest sign;
• capriciousness – unfortunately, also a frequent indicator of common childhood worries;
• slight temperature increase approx. 37.2 – 38 ° C.

The bottom two teeth usually appear first, so keep an eye on this area and be prepared to be over-the-top when they appear.

When your child has their first teeth, you can use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush. You can also wipe your child’s gums daily with a clean, damp cloth.

Remember that your child’s pediatrician is your ally! Let him know about your child’s teeth at your next appointment. The doctor can make sure that everything is in order and, if necessary, recommend visiting a pediatric dentist.

It’s really impossible to tell exactly how long teething lasts, but fortunately, regardless of your baby’s age or stage of teething, one of the best ways to help your little one is to provide a variety of fun and lovable teething toys.

To help relieve discomfort to the child, you can use special gels during teething. One of the best and safest is the Italian gel Dentinale natura. It is harmless if swallowed. It does not contain synthetic anesthetics and analgesics. The herbal ingredients that make up the gel relieve pain and inflammation from irritated gums. After its application, a protective film forms on the baby’s gums. At this time, the baby can safely eat or sleep.

Timing of teething

The birth of a baby is happiness for any family. The first smile, the first step always brings happiness to parents. The moment of teething in a child’s first teeth may not be the most pleasant for the crumbs. The child is naughty, the temperature may rise, the child becomes restless, cries often and does not sleep well. To exclude diseases that are much more difficult to diagnose in babies than in adult children, you should consult a doctor. Very often, such conditions occur at the time of eruption of the first teeth.

Due to the fact that many parents do not know at what age their children’s teeth are cut, panic sets in and children are even given, in fact, unnecessary medicines for various diseases. According to statistics, this time falls on the 6th month of a baby’s life. The order of teething is the same for everyone, but the timing is approximate. It happens that these boundaries are expanding, both in one direction and in the other. Sometimes a baby can be born with teeth, and sometimes they begin to erupt after a year. It all depends on genetic characteristics and the absence or presence of various diseases associated with bone tissue.

Which teeth are cut first? Usually, incisors appear first – sharp front teeth from below, then, after about a month, upper incisors appear. Next – the lower lateral incisors, then the upper ones. After all the incisors, fangs and chewing teeth appear. This period is from one to two years. It is difficult to say the timing of the eruption of milk teeth – it is very individual. By the age of three, the baby should have all the milk teeth.

Timing of teething – what mothers need to know

In general, the timing of teething is the same for all babies. The first front teeth appear at 6-8 months of a baby’s life. How to understand that a child is teething, and the temperature has risen not from a cold? Look at the mouth. The gums turn red, and in places of eruption it becomes white. Saliva flows profusely, the child pulls toys and hands into his mouth, because the gum itches. These are the main symptoms that will tell every mother about the first teeth.

Another symptom may be indigestion. When the gums swell, it can be difficult for the baby to suck on the breast or bottle. He may throw food, not gorge or pass. As a result, bloating and other problems are possible, which go away as soon as the teeth erupt.

What to do when teething – tips for young mothers

First of all, if the child has a fever, the baby is naughty, and the parents cannot determine the cause, you should consult a doctor. If everything shows that these are teeth, do not panic.

Children’s doctors recommend choosing a gum chew toy for your child. They are sold in children’s stores and pharmacies. Most often, they are made of transparent material. When buying a chew toy, be sure to ask for a quality certificate and do not buy in spontaneous markets or kiosks. It is best to purchase it at a pharmacy, where the quality of the material will be guaranteed.

However, you should not get carried away with this toy. Milk teeth have a very short root, and strong pressure can damage it. When carried away with a teether, an incorrect bite may form, which, in turn, will interfere with the proper development of speech and chewing.

Gum creams and gels

To relieve pain and discomfort, your baby can be rubbed with a gum paste recommended by the dentist. Such gels have a general analgesic effect, relieve inflammation and soothe the baby. It is worth using gels only after consulting a doctor, weighing all the pros and cons of the drug. Applying a cool compress to the gums can soothe the baby a bit if the gums are swollen.

May, but not necessarily, disturb sleep. The baby often wakes up and cries. Some mothers immediately begin to feed the child, which is not the right choice. If the baby is not hungry, he will still suck on the breast or nipple from a bottle of milk to soothe the gums. When teething and you know for sure that the child is not hungry, use other methods to soothe the gum.

Bibs and skin creams

A child may cough when teething. This is because the baby is constantly running saliva, which he does not have time to swallow. To exclude another inflammatory process, it is worth showing the child to the doctor.

Another point that young mothers should take into account is that due to excessive salivation, redness and diaper rash may appear around the mouth and on the chin. The baby’s bib should be soft so that the saliva gets wet, and does not rub and cause more irritation. To dry and soften the skin, you can use a greasy baby cream.

Choose a cream that is hypoallergenic, oily and moisturizing. In order not to harm the baby, you should choose a cream based on natural herbs. When buying, be sure to pay attention to the composition. Some herbs can individually cause allergies. It is worth using only children’s certified cosmetics, and in no case should you use adult cosmetics.

Oils specially designed for the delicate skin of babies give a good effect. Of the brands, JOHNSON’S Baby cosmetic oils are the most famous and popular. They will not cause allergies, soften the skin and neutralize peeling.

We take care of teeth from the first days of life

It is worth noting that not always, when teeth are cut, all symptoms become aggravated. It happens that this process is completely painless and without problems. The main thing is to start proper care of milk teeth in order to avoid caries and the formation of malocclusion.

Pastes for babies have not yet been invented. You can teach your child to use a toothbrush after two years. Until that time, you can use a bandage or gauze wound around your finger. It is worth wiping the baby’s teeth without pressing or damaging the gums twice a day, gently removing milk plaque. There are also silicone brushes that can be worn on the finger.

When choosing your first toothbrush and paste, buy them from reputable companies and manufacturers. These products have been tested and will not harm your child.