Babies, Teething, and You

All parents know their baby will grow teeth, but there is no set pattern to know when a baby will begin teething, nor is there a set pattern as to how long a baby will teethe, or how painful it will be. One baby might painlessly and easily cut a tooth over the course of one night, while another might have to go through a protracted, painful experience. You may see a rise or lump in the gums for several weeks. Other times there may be no visible hint until you can actual see the tooth.

Teething most likely will follow hereditary patterns. If the mother and father teethed early or late, there is a good chance that the baby could follow that same pattern. On average, the first tooth is likely to come around the sixth month. It can, however, arrive as early as the third month or as late as one year. In rare cases, it can be even earlier or even later; there is a wide range of normal and there is just no way to predict when this will occur.

There are a total of twenty primary teeth. A full grown adult has twelve more teeth than the full complement of primary teeth. Most children have all their primary teeth by the time they are 2 or 3 years old. Primary teeth usually remain until the child is approximately 6 years old. That's when they start getting loose and coming out, as the permanent teeth grow in to replace them. The primary teeth continue being replaced by the permanent teeth through about the age of twelve. Again, bear in mind that these are only averages, and different timing is not an indication of abnormal development in your child.

Teething symptoms vary widely from one child to anther. Because of this, parents and physicians don't always agree as to how severe the symptoms of teething are, and how painful they are. Check with your pediatrician to make sure your baby is not ill if your baby is experiencing these symptoms.

Irritability is a common symptom of teething. The rise of the new tooth causes the baby's gums to become more and more painful, and this will make your baby very cranky. The pain and discomfort is worse when the first teeth are coming in, and later when the molars come in (they are the largest teeth). Babies can become accustomed to teething, so they are less cranky after the first few teeth.

Babies also drool and cough more during teething. The extra saliva caused by teething can result in some coughing. As long as there are no signs of a cold or flu, this extra saliva and drooling should be nothing to worry about. Your baby may also develop a chin rash during teething, especially if he or she drools a lot. To help prevent chin rash, gently wipe your baby's chin and mouth at intervals throughout the day.

Some ways to help ease teething pain are chilled teething toys or teething rings, or even frozen bagels. Cold water can also help. Additionally, you can do activities that can distract your child to help him or her 'forget' the pain of teething. Keep in mind that teething is a phase and will not last forever, and the end result will be a wonderful smile for your child.