Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Neeraj Kumar
MD, DCH
Being a parent, even a minute developmental change in your baby may feel like a milestone. One of such important events in your baby’s life is teething. Teething is when your baby’s teeth begin to erupt through their gumline. Seeing your baby’s tiny teeth may bring happiness to your face. It is, however, not so happy for the baby.
When a baby’s teeth begin to emerge, it can be extremely uncomfortable for them. A lot of people think that the baby’s teeth cut through the gums and cause pain which is not true. Surprisingly, your baby’s gums are broken down by hormones way before the teeth crown appears. These hormones cause the gums to swell and become tender leading to pain.
When Do Babies Start Teething?
Teething in babies is a long and uncomfortable process. For some babies, teething can begin as early as 3 months. Most likely, however, you will notice the first tiny tooth emerging out of your baby’s gum line between the ages of 4 to 7 months.
Usually, two bottom front teeth or central incisors are the first ones to erupt. Followed by these, the upper front teeth or lateral incisor appear after 4 to 8 weeks. About a month later, the lower lateral incisors or the two teeth in the bottom front teeth appear.
Followed by front teeth, molars or back teeth appear and the eyeteeth or pointy teeth in the upper jaw are the last ones on the list. In general, your kids should have all of their 20 primary teeth by their third birthday. If the tooth development of your child is slower than this, consult your doctor immediately.
In rare cases, kids are also born with one or two teeth or have a tooth emerge within a few weeks of their life. Unless the teeth interfere with feeding or are loose enough to cause a risk, it should not be a concern.
5 Stages of Teething in Children
Teething in children occurs in 5 stages and can be a difficult time for both parents and the kids. Knowing what to expect during this time can help you in easing the discomfort.
Stage 1 (0-6 months): At birth, babies have a complete set of 20 primary teeth in their jawbones called “milk teeth” or baby teeth.
Stage 2 (6-8 months): During this stage, the first teeth begin to erupt. Starting with the lower and upper front teeth, the incisors emerge around 6 months. Before this, the teeth may push against the gums and cause the baby to chew toys, hands, or other solid objects. The baby may also drool more and cause pain.
Stage 3 (10-14 months): This is the stage when the baby’s first tooth symptoms start showing up. During this stage, the primary molars emerge in the lower back and upper jaws. The babies may experience loss of appetite, fever, and diarrhoea. Moreover, their sleep cycle may also be disturbed due to pain. If you notice severe pain and discomfort, consult your doctor immediately.
Stage 4 (16-22 months): During this stage, the canine teeth develop and you may need to comfort the baby with certain pain remedies.
Stage 5 (25-33 months): For a lot of children, teething symptoms peak during this stage. At this stage, the large molars begin to erupt. Since these are the biggest teeth, the normal soothing techniques may not work. During this stage, you can probably give them a hard vegetable to chew on which is also a healthy option.
Signs of Teething
A common sign of the first teeth of a baby is an increase in saliva. Babies tend to drool more and want to chew on solid things when their teeth begin to erupt. For some babies, the teething problems may not be apparent. Others may show a wide variety of symptoms such as irritability or crankiness.
Teething Symptoms
The common teething trouble symptoms in babies include:
- Swollen and tender gums.
- Fussiness and crying.
- Fever.
- Drooling.
- Coughing.
- Wanting to chew on hard things.
- Rubbing their cheek.
- Bringing their hands to their mouth.
- Changes in eating or sleeping patterns.
Although teething symptoms are common, these can also make your baby sick with fever, diarrhoea, and vomiting. If you notice such symptoms, call your doctor immediately.
Teething Remedies
You cannot completely avoid teething troubles in your babies. You can, however, help them in managing these symptoms:
- Wipe your baby’s face often with a cloth to remove the drool as it can cause rashes around the mouth.
- Rub your baby’s gum with a clean finger.
- Give your baby something to chew on. Make sure that the object is big enough that it cannot be swallowed or choked on. For instance, you can give a frozen wet washcloth. However make sure that the cloth is not rock hard as it can bruise the swollen gums.
- Give teething biscuits or frozen food only to kids who are used to eating solid goods.
- Do not place aspirin against the tooth and don’t rub alcohol on your baby’s gums.
- Do not use teething necklaces made of amber as these can cause strangulation or choking.
- Do not use teething tablets or gels that are not safe for babies.
Teething Toys
Giving teething toys to your baby is a great way to engage and distract them from the pain. Mostly, a solid and refrigerated teeth toy or ring is best for babies. For instance, a cold pacifier, spoon, clean wet washcloth, or a rubber teether can also help in soothing their sore gums. However, avoid teethers filled with liquid as these can leak or freezable teethers that are too cold or hard for your baby’s mouth.
How Should I Care for My Baby’s Teeth?
Teething is a significant change in your baby’s life and ensuring good health of baby teeth is important. A good oral hygiene can never go wrong. You can start this practice even before your baby has teeth:
- If your baby is bottle-fed, don’t allow them to fall asleep while drinking as milk or juice can accumulate in their mouth and cause tooth decay.
- Clean your baby’s gums with a wet washcloth or a piece of gauze at least once a day until their teeth begin to erupt.
- Once your babies have teeth, clean their mouth in the same way at least twice a day preferably after feeding.
- After the first birthday, you can start using a soft-bristled baby toothbrush with water and a small amount of toothpaste without fluoride.
In addition, make sure that you at least visit a paediatric dentist once before their first birthday or when their tooth begins to erupt.
Teething typically occurs in stages, beginning around 6 months of age. The first stage involves the eruption of lower central incisors, followed by upper central incisors. Subsequently, lateral incisors, first molars, canines, and second molars emerge. This process usually completes by around age 3.
There are several methods to alleviate teething discomfort, such as gently rubbing your child's gums with a clean finger or a cold, damp cloth. Chewing on chilled teething rings or toys can also provide relief. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen (appropriate for age) may be used under pediatrician guidance.
Home remedies include giving your child a chilled, non-frozen teething toy or a clean, damp washcloth to chew on. Offering cold foods like yogurt or applesauce (if they are eating solids) can also provide soothing relief. However, always monitor your child closely to prevent choking.
Continue gently cleaning your child's gums with a soft infant toothbrush or damp cloth twice a day. Once teeth start erupting, use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) to brush their teeth twice daily.