Teething symptoms: When do babies start teething?

Babies usually start teething between 4 and 7 months old. Signs of teething include drooling, a facial rash, swollen and sensitive gums, irritability or fussiness, trouble sleeping, a desire to chew on everything, a low-grade fever, rubbing the face, and a bump visible on the gum. Teething symptoms may last a week or longer. The signs of teething vary from baby to baby, though, and some babies don’t experience teething symptoms at all.

From when your baby’s first tooth emerges to how distressing it is, teething is a different experience for every child. Here’s how to spot the signs that your baby is teething.

When do babies start teething?

Teething symptoms can start as early as 3 months old, but they’re more common between 4 and 7 months of age. Baby teething symptoms usually intensify a few days before a tooth comes in, and continue for a couple of days after the tooth breaks through the gum. That said, teething pain could make your baby crankier for up to a few weeks before a new tooth appears.  

Your baby’s teeth begin developing (as tooth buds) before they’re born. Babies usually get their first teeth between 6 and 12 months of age, although there’s a wide range of normal. Some babies don’t have any teeth at all by their first birthday, and a few infants are born with teeth, known as natal teeth. 

The first teeth to appear are usually the bottom two center teeth, followed by the top four center teeth. (See all the details on our baby teeth chart.) You can expect all 20 of your child’s baby teeth to have erupted by the time they’re about 3 years old.

There’s no strict list of teething symptoms, and not all babies experience them. For many babies, teething isn’t bothersome and simply causes swollen, tender gums. But for others, there are obvious signs a new tooth is on the way.

Common signs a baby is teething include:

1. Drooling

Drooling is one of the most common signs of teething. Some experts think the increased saliva serves a purpose – it may ease teething pain. However, teething isn’t always the cause of drooling. Babies often drool more between 3 to 6 months of age, which also happens to be the time they start eating solid foods.

2. A facial rash

All of that excess drool can irritate your baby’s sensitive facial skin and lead to redness, usually on your baby’s chin. To prevent a teething rash, wipe drool gently and frequently. You might also want to dab a bit of petroleum jelly on your baby’s chin before bedtime to protect the skin from irritation overnight.

3. Swollen, sensitive gums

For many babies, one of the main signs of teething are swollen and tender gums where a new tooth is about to erupt. You may notice that gently rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger helps to relieve the discomfort.

Advertisement | page continues below

4. Irritability or fussiness

If your baby seems extra fussy, teething may be to blame. After all, wouldn’t achy and sore gums make you grumpy, too? For a few days before your baby’s tooth arrives, you may find it’s nearly impossible to cheer them up. Sometimes crankiness can last longer than a week.

5. Trouble sleeping

Many parents swear that an emerging tooth leads to worse sleep, but it can be hard to tell what’s behind sleep regressions. If you suspect that teething is causing your baby’s rough nights, look for other signs of teething, such as drooling, cheek rubbing, or swollen gums.

6. Trying to bite, chew, and suck on everything

Babies use their mouths to explore the world, and they begin to put everything in their mouths sometime between 3 to 6 months old. But if you notice that your baby wants to gnaw on anything hard within reach, it may be a sign of teething. That’s because pressure on the gums helps relieve some of the discomfort related to the imminent arrival of a tooth.

7. Low-grade fever

A low-grade fever (100.4 degrees F or less) may be linked to an incoming tooth – especially when combined with other signs of teething, such as drooling or swollen gums. According to the American Academy of PediatricsOpens a new window (AAP), a baby’s body temperature may rise slightly during teething. However, a fever higher than 100.4 degrees F isn’t associated with teething and instead points to an illness or infection.  

If your baby has a fever for more than 24 hours, or if they have other suspicious symptoms (such as lethargy, an unexplained rash, or vomiting and diarrhea), check in with your baby’s pediatrician to rule out other potential causes.

8. Rubbing the face, ears, and gums

In addition to causing pain in the gums, a budding tooth can cause shooting pain in the cheeks and ears. (This is especially true if it’s a molar.) Your baby may try to ease the ache by rubbing at their cheeks or ears. Ear-pulling, however, is also a sign of an ear infection. If you’re concerned, reach out to your child’s doctor, especially if your baby has a fever or continues to pull at their ear and seems unusually upset.

9. A visible bump below the gum

Shortly before a tooth pushes through the gum, you may notice a bluish or brownish, translucent bump in the gum known as an eruption cyst. (It’s different from Epstein pearls, which are smaller and tend to appear in groups.) While they might look painful, eruption cysts usually don’t cause any pain and disappear with tooth eruption.

Do babies get sick when teething?

Some parents report their baby had diarrhea, high fever, congestion, coughs, vomiting, rashes (other than on the face), or a runny nose while teething. You might have even heard the theory that the extra drool your baby produces while teething can cause loose stools or diaper rash. But experts, including at the AAP, say these symptoms aren’t linked to teething.

One of likely explanations for these symptoms is simply that babies get sick more often between 6 to 12 months of age – which is, of course, the same period when they’re teething. Also, teething babies frequently put things in their mouth to soothe their gums, which puts them in contact with lots of viruses and other germs.

What’s more, the antibodies babies get from Mom at birth wane at around 6 months. As their still-immature immune systems take over, they may have a harder time fighting off infections such as ear infections and urinary tract infections.

How can I soothe my teething baby?

• Give your baby something to chew on, like a firm rubber, wooden, or silicone teething ring. Or give them a cold washcloth that you’ve chilled in the refrigerator (not the freezer).
• Rub your clean finger gently but firmly over your baby’s sore gums for one to two minutes to ease the pain temporarily.
• Offer cold foods if your baby is old enough for solid foods. For example, your baby may get some relief from eating chilled applesauce.
• If your baby is at least 6 months old and nothing else is helping, their doctor may suggest an infant pain reliever. See our dosage charts for acetaminophen and ibuprofen, but be sure to double check the correct dose with your baby’s doctor before giving any pain reliever to a child younger than 2.

What isn’t safe to give a teething baby?

The following over-the-counter pain relievers and teething products aren’t safe to give your baby or toddler:

• Aspirin: Don’t give your baby aspirin (or rub it on their gums) to ease teething pain. It can lead to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition.
• Teething creams and gels: The U.S. Food & Drug Administration advisesOpens a new window parents not to use teething creams and gels, especially those with belladonna, benzocaine, or lidocaine. Potential side effects in infants and children can include seizures, breathing problems, and dangerously low blood oxygen levels. What’s more, these products quickly rub off in the mouth and therefore aren’t effective.
• Teething necklaces: They’re choking and strangulation hazards.

What helps a teething baby sleep?

Many parents say a new tooth caused their baby to frequently wake up crying throughout the night or even led to a full-blown sleep regression. If you’re struggling to help your baby sleep through the night again, here are a few tips:

• Stick to your usual routine. Switching up the time your baby goes to sleep, even for a few nights, can lead to bigger sleep issues. Stick to the same hours, and follow your usual soothing bedtime routine.
• Try not to start new habits. If your baby wakes up frequently, rocking or nursing them back to sleep several times throughout the night might start a new sleep habit that can be tough to break. Wait a minute or two before responding to your baby’s cries to see if they’re able to fall back asleep on their own. If you do check in, try to keep interactions calm and to a minimum. You may even find that a quick back rub and comforting words, without picking your baby up, is enough to help soothe your baby back to sleep.
• Remember, it’s temporary. Not getting enough sleep is rough for babies and sleep-deprived parents alike, but like all phases, this too will pass. Hopefully, everyone will be back to their normal sleep schedule in a few days.
• Talk to the doctor. If your baby is consistently having sleep problems, talk to their doctor to rule out any underlying health conditions. Also, ask the doctor if you can give your teething baby pain reliever before bed. A dose of children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen at bedtime may be enough to help your baby fall – and possibly even stay – asleep.

When to call the doctor about teething

Call the doctor if your child has a fever that lasts for more than 24 hours, or if your baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees F.

Also call if your child has concerning symptoms such as lethargy, an unexplained rash, lack of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea. Watery stools and vomiting can quickly lead to dehydration, which can be dangerous in young babies.

When do Babies Start Teething?

Ah, teething: the nightmare that all parents expect and dread. But once it’s passed, many realize that it wasn’t that bad. Although every child has a different schedule for teething, there are some commonalities you can expect. Most children begin around the same time and have the same duration and severity of teething symptoms. If you think your child might be suffering beyond expectations, reach out to one of our pediatric dentists at Treehouse Dental care for a free consultation.

Keep reading to find out more about soothing your baby’s teething symptoms.

When Do Babies Start Teething?

You can expect your child to develop teething symptoms around 6 months of age. This can vary by a few weeks, so don’t be surprised if your child starts early or late. Usually, the front bottom two teeth (the lower central incisors) pop up first followed by the two top front teeth (the upper central incisors). This is a universally painful experience and is often a child’s first real experience with pain and soreness at this level. Remember that this can be very challenging and frightening for a child, so our first tip for soothing teething symptoms is patience.

Are you looking for more information about when your child loses their baby teeth? Check out this article!

Teething Symptoms

So your child is approaching the age when teething begins. What can you expect? Check out this quick list of the most common teething symptoms:

• Irritability or fussiness
• Drooling
• Chewing on firm objects
• Sore and sensitive gums

Many parents also report diarrhea and fever, but the evidence on these claims remains unclear. Keep reading to find out more about signs of teething in a baby.

Baby Teeth Chart

Check out this image as a reference for your child’s teeth! In just 25-33 months, your child will develop each of these. Every stage is unique and comes with different expectations.

Let’s take a look at the timeline for this teething chart!

5 Stages of Teething

Did you know that teething happens in five stages? It lasts a long time and can be really hard for both parents and children. Knowing what to expect during these stages will help parents ease their stress and their child’s physical discomfort.

Baby Teeth Stage 1: 0-6 Months

From birth, babies actually have the full set of their baby teeth embedded into their jawbone. If you saw an x-ray of this, it would look a bit strange. These are commonly called, “milk teeth,” because, during this time, a baby only feeds on milk. There’s not much pain or discomfort to be expected at this stage. That occurs when your child’s teeth first emerge.

Baby Teeth Stage 2: 6-8 Months

The teeth are coming– the teeth are coming! Ready or not, here they come! At around 6 months, the lower and upper front teeth emerge. Teething symptoms can actually occur before this though, so keep an eye out for drooling or discomfort. The drool can irritate your baby’s skin, so make sure to attend to it carefully, with a soft touch and gentle products should you choose to use any.

Baby Teeth Stage 3: 10-14 Months

We’re halfway there! During this stage, the first molars erupt. These teeth come in the back of the mouth, both lower and upper. This stage is very similar to stage 2, but you will likely notice more drooling and irritability. It’s at this stage that many babies start chewing anything they can get their hands on, so be prepared with soothing techniques. Pressure on the baby’s gums can help alleviate pain, but we’ll get into pro-parenting tips in a bit.

For now, let’s take a closer look at the final stages of your baby’s teething symptoms.

Baby Teeth Stage 4: 16-22 Months

We’re almost there! Following your child’s molars are the canine teeth. The recommendations for this stage are the same as stages 2 and 3. However, you can expect your child’s irritability to increase as time goes on. It’s a lot of work pushing bone and enamel through gums!

Baby Teeth Stage 5: 25-33 Months

33 months– Did you read that correctly? Yes, teething is a long process! And the worst news? The final stage is without a doubt the most painful. During this time, large molars appear. These are the biggest teeth found in the back of your mouth. It’s likely at this point that many of your soothing techniques will fail, and you will have a very unhappy child. Try freezing vegetables and allowing your child to suck on them under supervision. The mixture of coldness and firmness can provide some relief.

Think you’re on your way to becoming a pro parent? Now that we understand the answer to, “when do babies start teething,” let’s take a look at what you can do as a parent to alleviate teething symptoms.

How to Soothe Teething Symptoms

Check out this guide for soothing your baby’s teething symptoms:

• Massage your baby’s gums. You can try your finger. The pressure on the gums can alleviate the baby’s pain.
• Hard rubber teething devices, like a rubber ring. Don’t get a liquid-filled object, as these can break.
• Cool washcloth. Don’t freeze it or make it too cold!
• Hard foods to suck on. Solid peeled vegetables work really well!
• Prevent drool irritation.
• Teething medicines. Ask your doctor first!

Remember that the Canadian Dental Association strongly recommends against rubbing painkillers directly on your child’s gums. Have your child’s teeth grown in? Check out this article on how to make brushing your child’s teeth fun!

TLDR: Patience is the Best Response to Teething Symptoms

Teething can be a daunting task for babies and parents alike. The good news is that with the right information and techniques, you can ease through this transitional period. Remember that every child is unique in how they teethe. Your child may start earlier or later. Maybe they’ll have an easier or harder time than most. As a parent, all you can do is stay updated on information, stay calm, and stay prepared.

And now, you have everything you need to manage your baby’s teething symptoms! Looking for more information? Check out this article on how pacifiers affect your baby’s teeth!

Treehouse Dental offers a range of pediatric dentistry services to fit any smile. Find one of our pediatric dentistry offices nearest to you and book your next appointment with us today.

we study home and pharmacy remedies for teething — MAMA PRO

All about gels, herbs, teethers, raw apples and even amber beads

Teething of the first teeth is a test not only for the baby, but also for the parents. Sleepless nights, restless days, whims … For what means to run to the pharmacy, and whether to run at all in order to somehow help the little one? Enlisting the advice of a pediatric dentist, MamaPro.by has compiled the top most popular pharmacy, store and home remedies designed to ease teething.
– When a baby starts teething (usually this happens at 5-6 months of age), parents should not immediately run to the doctor. Pharmaceutical products are sold without a prescription, and if you use them according to the instructions, they will be safe for your baby, – tells children’s dentist Anna Savelyeva . – About However, when using preparations in the form of syrups or suppositories, it is better to consult a doctor, and at the same time get advice on bringing down the temperature. After all, high temperature is a frequent companion when the first teeth appear. The choice of means to alleviate this hectic period is an individual matter, so trial and error is indispensable here. I propose to consider them in more detail.

Anna Savelyeva
Dentist
instagram @stom.savelyeva gel

Quite effective and convenient option. The teether simultaneously cools, helps teeth erupt and relieves pain. There are no contraindications to this remedy. The teether is not a drug. And therefore safe for any child. Combined with gum massage, this is your first lifesaver. If that doesn’t help, you can try products based on herbal extracts.
Nuances: before use, the teether must be washed without fail (you can pour boiling water over it) and put in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to cool, but not in the freezer.

Cooling gels

These gels usually contain various plant extracts that have anti-inflammatory and soothing effects. For example, chamomile, calendula, echinacea, marshmallow root, anise oil. The latter, however, has a rather specific smell. Please note that your child may not like it. There are options with more serious components in the composition. For example, a gel with choline salicylate in the composition, which has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Nuances: when using herbal extracts, which, it would seem, cannot harm the health of the baby, carefully monitor the reaction of the child, because he may have an allergic reaction to each of them (rash, inflammation of the gums). As for gels with salicylates, with extreme caution, doctors ask them to use them for children under the age of 1 year and babies who have already been identified sensitivity to other salicylates.

Homeopathic drops, suppositories and balls

Here, again, everything is purely individual. Many mothers say that homeopathic remedies are not the most effective. And, to be honest, many doctors also have an ambiguous attitude to homeopathy, because officially homeopathy is not recognized as medicine, and experts from the World Health Organization note that the use of homeopathic remedies has no evidence base. Therefore, to trust them or not is a personal matter for everyone.

Painkillers with lidocaine

Lidocaine, unlike all other herbal remedies that have a mild anti-inflammatory effect, has a purely analgesic effect. And, of course, it is better to resort to it already when all other “vegetative” methods were powerless. Of course, in children’s gels, the concentration of lidocaine is low – only about 0.3-0.4%, however, for example, in the same America, even such products for children are prohibited. It is believed that children can lick off the gel, and if it is used frequently in this way, it can act not only locally, but also have a general effect on the entire body of the child, which is highly undesirable.
Nuances: remember that the gels should be used carefully, no more than 2-3 times a day, and better – only at night. You should also understand that the effect of such a remedy will not be long, but this is often enough for the child to fall asleep.

Ibuphen/ibuprofen

This medicine is taken by mouth, so it affects not only the teeth, but the whole body. Doctors believe that ibufen should be used only if no other methods help. Or if, against the background of teething, the child’s temperature rises above 38 ° C. Also, before using it, you should consult a doctor: ibuprofen, like any drug, has contraindications.

Folk and home remedies

Finger gum massage

First of all, I must say that this is an excellent method. In addition, any parent can do gum massage for a baby. The technique and rules of this massage are simple: first, we thoroughly wash our hands, and then with our index finger, gently, in a circular motion, we begin to massage in the places of teething. There is even a special silicone brush for gum massage. She, by the way, is also used to clean the first children’s teeth. This massage has no contraindications, so you can do it as much and whenever you want.
Nuances: the main thing – no long nails and excessively pressing movements on the baby’s gums!

Herbal decoctions

In fact, home remedies with herbal extracts are a combination of the same pharmacy and store remedies that we discussed above. They act as sedatives, antiseptics, and anti-inflammatory agents. For the desired effect, they can lubricate the baby’s gums, and if you soak a towel with them, put it in the refrigerator for a while, and then give it to the child to gnaw, you can also get a cooling effect. Suitable extract of sage, chamomile, calendula, echinacea.
Nuances: method can be safely used if the child does not have an allergic reaction to herbal extracts.

Weak solution of soda, valerian

Some parents advise treating the baby’s gums with such solutions, however, whether it will give any analgesic effect remains in great doubt. Moreover, the soft tissues of the baby can swell even more from soda. A solution of valerian, as an anesthetic, is also not particularly trusted by doctors. But they are not opposed to its use.
Nuances: if you decide to use a valerian solution, make sure that the tincture is not alcohol based.

Honey

Doctors strongly do not recommend giving honey in any variation to children under the age of one year. Reason: honey is the strongest allergen. Plus, it can contain bacteria that can lead to some serious diseases. Like botulism, for example.

Amber beads

Yes, on some forums moms offer this kind of pain relief. But only the doctors do not really approve of him. No proven effect of amber on teething officially exists. And it is better not to give objects with small details to children in their mouths. Tip: it’s better to get a special teether. The effect of it will be clearly better.

Raw carrots, pears, apples, crackers and dried

If your child is already over 6 months old and you are already feeding him, and he is not allergic to the same carrots or cucumbers, you can safely let him nibble on these vegetables. So he scratches the gums and cools them at the same time. Dentists do not recommend replacing vegetables with crackers, dryers and cookies, as mothers often do. There are too many carbohydrates in these products, besides, they also stick to the teeth, and this is already a big risk of developing caries.
Nuances: so that the baby does not choke on a piece of vegetables, do not leave him unattended. If you pre-cool vegetables in the refrigerator, make sure that they do not overcool.
And what means did you use?
Photo: unsplash.com, pinterest.com

Children’s dentist: what to do when the baby started teething | HEALTH

09/29/2021 14:15

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

400

Vladimir Anin / AiF

Tver, September 29 – AiF-Tver.

Children’s dentist: what to do when the baby starts teething. Irina Chalova, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Leading Dentist at the Mother and Child Clinic, told about this.

Babies usually start teething after 4-5 months, but no one can guarantee the exact timing, according to Irina Chalova. Usually the process depends on heredity and a number of other factors. This process is painful for the child, as the teeth injure the gums.

Parents need to be prepared that the baby may also begin active salivation, which leads to skin irritation, loose stools, a slight increase in temperature, peeling around the mouth, including from constant wiping of saliva with napkins.

“All this is the reason for frequent awakenings of the child at night, screaming and crying, which, of course, worries parents,” the dentist notes.

What can be done? Some parents tie a cotton bib under the chin of the baby, and when he sleeps, put a towel under his head. Excess saliva is carefully removed with warm water and a blotter.

“But in no case do not rub the child’s face with napkins. Gently treat the skin around the mouth with softening baby milk or a natural cream, such as coconut or almond oil, ”the doctor emphasizes.

When an infant lies on its back, saliva may run down the throat, causing a reflex cough. To avoid this, you can turn the baby’s head on its side.

In today’s world, there are a wide variety of teething toys designed to be chewed by a child.

“However, I would recommend that parents not get too carried away with such devices and carefully monitor how much time the baby spends on this activity. Since the roots of milk teeth are small, and when the very first teeth erupt, they have nothing to rely on, so to speak, since the neighboring ones have not yet grown, the baby can simply damage his tooth by accidentally pressing too hard on it. You can use teethers every 3-4 hours, after washing them with clean water. To eliminate inflammation and relieve pain, it is necessary to use an agent that has both an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. You can consult a doctor about using Kamistad gel,” Chalova said.

The dentist also explained what not to do when their child starts teething. First of all, you should immediately seek advice from a dentist and periodically bring your baby for an examination. This is very important in order not to miss deviations in the formation of milk bite.

“Secondly, as I said, do not get carried away with teethers for gums, but approach their purchase responsibly. The teether should not be too soft or hard, it should not include non-food colorings, it should be made of a material strong enough so that the child cannot tear off a piece from it and inadvertently swallow it. Well, and thirdly, to avoid the appearance of caries, properly care for the first teeth: wipe them with special cleaning wipes or use silicone fingertip brushes. And later, carefully choose the toothpaste and brush (should have super soft bristles – ed.) with which you brush your child’s teeth – pay attention to the special mark on the recommended age on the package, make sure that the the brushes were not too hard and did not injure the baby’s sensitive gums. If possible, brush your baby’s teeth twice a day, in the morning – after breakfast, in the evening – after dinner, thereby accustoming the child to this procedure. From the beginning of the complementary feeding period, when, in addition to breast milk, you begin to introduce the child to “adult food”, make sure that he gets enough calcium and vitamins that help strengthen teeth and tooth enamel, ”concluded the physician.

Despite the desire of the crumbs to gnaw something, Irina adds, there is no need to irritate the gums by scratching them with a piece of sugar or the handle of a spoon. This can damage delicate milk teeth and cause infection.

“Be careful with bagels, bread crusts, bagels too: crumbs can get stuck in the respiratory tract. When a child’s first teeth begin to cut, “mother’s dairy factory” closes in 75% of cases. If you are not ready to stop feeding because of this, buy special breast pads that will take on the onslaught of a small critter. When the first teeth are cut, children often have a fever – this is normal. But if she jumped above 38.3 ° C, he refuses more than two feedings in a row, or is malnourished for several days, see a doctor urgently.