Teething symptoms are often a cause for worry and concern. This article will help you understand what teething symptoms are, how long they last, and how to manage them.
A Child’s Teething Stages
Milk teeth – Anytime from 0 to 6 months, the baby’s milk teeth start to emerge just below their pink, swollen gums. Expect constant drooling, lots of discomfort and even fever from babies.
Chipmunk – at 6 to 10 months, teeth begin erupting. The upper and lower central incisors (like a chipmunk) emerge at this stage. Breastfeeding can be very uncomfortable at this time too.
Molars – at 10 to 14 months, molars emerge in this particular baby’s teething stage. This is the point where sleep is almost non-existent, and pain is constant for both parties.
Vampire – at 1 to 2 years, the canine teeth, aka vampire fangs, will emerge. As usual, pain, discomfort and fever should be expected.
Molars part 2 – the last baby’s teething stage occurs when the baby is about 2 to 3 years old. The big molars will emerge, which equals double the pain and discomfort.
Permanent teeth – Your child’s permanent teeth won’t be ready to come in until around 6.
Try getting teethers to help the pain!
Baby and Teeth
While a baby’s teeth typically emerge around 6 months of life, there isn’t a solid timeline for when a tooth would come out. In rare cases, a baby can be born with a tooth while another could get their first one at the age of 1 year. Babies born with a “natal tooth” isn’t a big deal.
However, it must be extracted to prevent choking risks if the tooth doesn’t fall out. Babies who don’t have teeth by age must see a paediatric dentist to double-check their progress. These no-teeth babies are perfectly normal as babies born with natal teeth.
Signs of Teething in Babies
If you’re a parent, you probably have a pretty good idea of what teething looks like. It can start with drooling, crying, fussiness, and even fever. But some things might surprise you about teething. Here are just a few signs of teething in babies:
Babies may not be able to tell you that they’re feeling nauseated. Still, suppose they seem to be trying to vomit or are generally uncomfortable after eating or drinking something cold. In that case, it could be because their gums are sore from the new teeth. Try giving them something warm or room temperature instead!
Teething makes babies fussy—it’s not just in their heads! The pain can make it hard for them to sleep at night and focus during the day. If your child is usually an angel but suddenly seems extra cranky lately, check their gums for signs of teething pain.
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This one isn’t always obvious at first glance because it happens inside the mouth instead of on the surface, like other symptoms like redness or tooth bumps under the gums.
You can check your baby’s gums by gently pressing them with your finger or with a clean washcloth. If you can see that the gum line has changed colour (usually reddish), your baby may be teething!
Your baby might cry when you touch his or her gums, which means that your child feels pain in those areas. If this happens, try giving him or her something cold to suck on—it will help ease the discomfort.
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Change in sleeping habits
If you’ve noticed a change in your baby’s sleeping habits, it could be a sign of teething. They tend to be more awake at night or need more sleep.
The first sign is that your baby will wake up at night. This is because teething causes pain and discomfort, so they’ll wake up to try to relieve it.
Another sign is that your baby might be fussy during the day. Teething can cause them to have trouble eating or sleeping, making them more irritable.
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Increased chewing or biting behaviours
Signs of teething in babies include increased chewing or biting behaviours. If your baby is starting to bite or chew more than usual, this may be a sign that they’re working through their first teeth. It can also mean they’ll soon be getting their teeth!
Image Source: iStock
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Diarrhoea or Constipation
One of the baby’s most common signs of teething is diarrhoea or constipation. This is because when your baby’s teeth are coming in, they can be sore, which can cause cramping or pain and make them uncomfortable.
This is why some babies will be constipated during teething, and others will have diarrhoea—it’s all about how their bodies react to the discomfort!
Babies who are teething often refuse to eat or drink because of their new teeth’ discomfort. If your baby has never been picky about food before but suddenly turns up their nose at every meal, it could be a sign that they’re in pain.
The salivary glands in your baby’s mouth get swollen when they’re teething, which causes them to drool more than usual. This can cause extra laundry or even soggy car seats if you don’t keep up with cleaning them off!
Rash From Teething
A rash from teething is widespread. It can be itchy and uncomfortable, but it’s not something to worry about.
The rash will usually appear in the area where teeth are coming in. It can also appear on the chin or cheeks if you have a drooly baby.
An allergy or irritation doesn’t cause the rash—it’s the result of the gums becoming irritated as they grow in and push against the skin. This makes sense because babies tend to put just about everything in their mouths!
You can best try to keep your baby’s gums clean when they show signs of irritation by gently wiping them with a damp cloth or toothbrush.
You can also try giving them frozen teething rings so that they have something to bite down on that won’t irritate their gums or make them swallow too much fluid at once (which could result in increased drooling).
Can Teething Cause a Fever
Yes! Teething can sometimes lead to a mild or moderate fever. Your child may experience restlessness, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and increased saliva production due to pain in their mouth while they’re teething.
If your baby has a high fever, you should call their doctor immediately. Depending on how high their temperature is, there are different treatments for fevers (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen).
In general, it’s best not to give any medication unless your doctor says so—especially if your baby is under 6 months old.
How long do teething symptoms last
Teething symptoms can last anywhere from a week to six months, depending on the child’s age, the severity of the symptoms, and other factors. It’s best to talk with your doctor about how to manage teething symptoms in your child.
The average duration of teething symptoms is about 5–6 weeks. The first tooth usually comes between 6–8 months, and each new tooth follows at about six-week intervals.
That’s why it’s not unusual to start seeing signs of teething at about 4 months old—and it can continue until the child is almost 2 years old.
How to take care of your teething baby
It can be tough to know what to do when your baby is teething. Here are some tips for keeping your baby happy and healthy as they grow their teeth:
If your baby is rubbing their gums, try putting a dab of a teething gel on their finger or pacifier. Some teething gels contain benzocaine, which can help numb their gums.
If the teething gel doesn’t work, try rubbing a cold washcloth on your baby’s gums—it can also numb them!
Baby feeling growing teeth
Put an ice cube in a mesh feeder or mesh baggie and let your baby chew on it!
There are lots of toys specifically for baby teething—you can find them online or at the store!
These are great for babies to chew on something and soothe their gums. These toys are designed specifically for teething babies and often feature ridges or bumps that provide extra relief as your baby chews on them.
Updated by Pheona Ilagan
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