One of the major milestones in a baby’s life is teething. It’s when their tiny teeth start to rise from their gums. During this time, babies experience discomfort and even pain. This necessitates parents to understand more about teething to provide them relief and smoothen this exciting yet challenging period. Especially as new parents, it may be confusing to understand what your baby’s going through. But with proper research, you can help your baby during their teething.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Nikhita Gune, Junior Consultant, Paediatric Dentistry at Narayana Health SRCC Children’s Hospital in Mumbai, shared a comprehensive guide on understanding a baby’s teething period, including signs you need to watch out for so you are prepared to common myths.
Dr Nikhita Gune shared this detailed guide for teething that covers all the essentials:
What is teething?
Teething, medically known as Odotiasis, is a natural milestone in a baby’s development. This process typically begins between the sixth and 24th months, during which a baby’s teeth start to emerge from the gums. The first teeth to appear are usually the top and bottom central incisors, followed by the lateral incisors, canines and molars. The teething process can cause discomfort and irritability in babies. While some babies experience minimal pain, others may have a more challenging time.
Signs of teething
The duration of teething symptoms varies; some babies experience discomfort for a few days, while others may show symptoms over several months, especially if multiple teeth are erupting simultaneously. Here are some common signs of teething:
- Excessive drooling due to gum inflammation.
- Irritability and crankiness.
- Swollen gums.
- Mild fever (below 38°C/ 100.4°F).
- Increased gnawing and chewing tendencies.
- Disrupted sleep patterns.
Order of tooth eruption
While every baby is different, most follow a general pattern in tooth eruption:
- Central incisors (bottom front teeth): around 6–10 months
- Central incisors (top front teeth): around 8–12 months
- Lateral incisors: around 9–16 months
- First molars: around 13–19 months
- Canines: around 16–23 months
- Second molars: around 23–33 months
By the age of three years, most children will have all 20 primary teeth.
Common myths
- Teething causes high fever: While mild temperature elevation is common, a fever over 38°C /100.4°F is usually due to an infection, not teething.
- Diarrhoea is caused by teething: Persistent diarrhoea is not a direct result of teething and should be checked by a paediatrician. Diarrhoea could be a result of the child constantly picking up foreign objects from the floor and placing it in their mouth.
- Teething is painful: Some babies experience severe pain while teething, while some babies may go through teething with little to no discomfort. The pain level depends.
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Tips to relieve the teething discomfort
- Gum massage: Gently rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger can provide relief.
- Silicone teethers: Giving your baby a soft silicone teether can help soothe sore gums. The child should not be given teethers that contain a liquid gel, as it may be ingested if the baby bites sharply into it.
- Cold cloth: A clean cloth dipped in cold water and given to the baby to chew on can provide cooling relief.
- Hard vegetables: Offering hard pieces of carrot or peeled cucumber (large enough to prevent swallowing) can help with the urge to chew. Do ensure that the baby has been introduced to solid foods before giving hard vegetables to chew.
Dr. Nikhita Gune concluded the guide with an important caveat, advising parents to consult a pediatric dentist or pediatrician if their baby experiences extreme distress, prolonged fever, or other concerning symptoms.
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Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
