Baby teething begin around the age of five or six months. Teething is a difficult process for babies. They experience discomfort and may try to relieve it by chewing or drooling. They may also experience fever and become irritable. Therefore, mothers should be mindful of their babies’ teething.
1. When does the baby start to grow teeth?
When babies are born, they have no teeth in their mouths;
Normal babies start to grow teeth at an average age of 6 months;
There are great individual differences in the timing of tooth eruption according to the baby’s different physiques. Teeth eruption before the age of one is considered normal.
If the first deciduous tooth has not erupted after the age of one, it is called late eruption of deciduous teeth . It is a pathological phenomenon, often caused by rickets or other reasons, and should be treated by a doctor.
If your child is still a “toothless child” around 18 months old, it is recommended to check his thyroid function .
2. The five stages of baby teething
How to deal with the discomfort of your baby during teething
The baby’s “signs of teething” usually appear 1 to 2 months in advance. If handled promptly and appropriately, parents can successfully help the baby get through this period smoothly.
1. Excessive saliva (Baby teething)
The eruption of the first tooth stimulates the gum nerves , which in turn increases salivary gland secretion. Some babies may develop rashes or even rough, cracked skin around their mouths due to constant exposure to saliva.
Care: Prepare a soft cotton cloth and wipe away the saliva with a soft towel dipped in warm water. Be gentle when wiping to avoid scratching the skin and causing infection. If the drooling area has become ulcerated, be sure to take your baby to see a doctor.
2. Gum discomfort (Baby teething)
The eruption of teeth stimulates the gum nerves, causing discomfort in the baby’s gums, such as itchy and painful gums. Some babies even bite their own hands, their mother’s nipples, or even strangers’ fingers. Biting hard can release the pressure inside the gums and make them feel more comfortable.
Care: Gently wipe your baby’s gums daily with gauze dipped in cool water. Parents should pay close attention to their baby’s behavior and stop them immediately if they notice them biting their lips. If your baby refuses to bite, don’t force them; gently scratch their lips to loosen them.
3. Irritability (Baby teething)
As the baby teeth slowly push out of the gums, the pain may intensify and the baby may experience symptoms such as crying and irritability.
Nursing care: Generally, just let the baby chew on a teething stick to distract his attention, and he will usually calm down. In addition, you can also give your baby a facial massage to relax the facial muscles during teething, which can also achieve better results.
4. Poor appetite (Baby teething)
A teething baby often becomes fussy when feeding. He may appear eager to suckle because he wants something in his mouth, but once he starts sucking, the sucking action can cause pain in his gums, which can cause him to refuse food.
Care: Because of swollen and painful gums, give your baby some cool food. For bottle-fed babies, enlarge the nipple hole to make it easier for them to drink without choking. If they refuse to suck, use a cup or spoon instead. If your baby refuses to eat severely, see a doctor.
5. Diarrhea in Baby teething
Some babies experience diarrhea when teething. If your baby’s bowel movements increase in frequency but are low in water, temporarily stop adding other complementary foods and focus on easily digestible foods like porridge and thin, soft noodles. Ensure that tableware is disinfected. If your baby’s bowel movements exceed 10 times a day and are high in water, seek medical attention immediately.
Care: Have your baby drink plenty of water. Clean their mouth or have them rinse their mouth after every feeding. Clean thoroughly every morning and evening, especially before bed. If your baby has severe diarrhea, seek medical attention immediately.
6. Sleep may be affect in Baby teething
The situation where teething affects sleep is most likely to occur when the first tooth and molars erupt. The pain will cause the baby to wake up suddenly at night. At this time, do not rush to coax him or feed him. See if he can settle down by himself.
Care: This situation will not last long. Please be patient and use the above methods to comfort your baby as much as possible.
TIPS: After the baby teeth erupt, be sure to pay attention to the cleaning of the baby teeth. Rinse the baby’s mouth with clean water after meals and brush the baby’s teeth with a toothbrush with soft bristles. After the first baby tooth erupts, you should start seeing the dentist on time.
4. How to help your baby brush his teeth during Baby teething
☆ Gauze period (babies who have not yet grown teeth)
Because babies haven’t yet grown teeth, their saliva acts as a natural mouthwash. Even if some milk remains on the mucous membranes after feeding, the baby’s own saliva can rinse it out. Alternatively, mothers can use a sterile cotton swab dipped in water and gently clean their baby’s mouth.
☆ Toothbrushing period (after 1 year old)
Use one hand to slightly pull the baby’s cheeks apart to see the situation inside the mouth clearly; hold the toothbrush with the other hand and brush each side of the teeth horizontally.
☆ Brushing time
The best time is after the baby has eaten and before going to bed;
If it is inconvenient to brush teeth, you can feed your baby some boiled water after drinking milk to dilute the milk in his mouth;
You don’t need toothpaste when you first start brushing. Avoid mint-flavored toothpaste, as it can be too irritating for your baby. Also avoid overly sweet fruit-flavored toothpaste, as it can cause your baby to swallow it.
5. Frequently Asked Questions about Baby teething
Q: My baby’s teeth do not come out in the usual order. Is there a problem?
A: As shown in the teething chart, most babies’ teeth erupt in this order. However, teething varies from person to person, and each baby has his or her own teething order. There’s nothing wrong with teeth erupting out of order.
Q: Is it easy to treat a “pacifier-shaped” mouth?
A: If a child uses a pacifier for too long every day, even while sleeping, it can affect future tooth growth and may result in a “pacifier-shaped” mouth (protruding front teeth). If the pacifier is removed early, a more normal mouth shape can return after two years of age. Because children’s bones are highly plastic, they can return to their original shape as they grow. However, it’s best to wean them off the pacifier before age four, otherwise it will affect their future tooth formation.
Q: Should I fill my broken baby teeth?
A: If a baby tooth has a cavity, it should be treated promptly at a hospital, and the sooner the better. Otherwise, the cavity will grow larger and deeper, eventually invading the dental pulp (dental nerve), causing the child to suffer from toothache and be unable to eat, directly impacting their overall development.
6. Baby teething recipes
2-tooth period
Between 4 and 8 months old, a pair of primary central incisors quietly erupt in the lower jaw, marking the end of the toothless life. During this period, babies enjoy chewing anything they can get their hands on, often imitating adults by chewing on chopsticks and spoons.
During this period, mothers can try giving their babies some semi-solid foods, such as mashed potatoes, egg yolk paste, and oatmeal, to help them experience the transition from a liquid diet to a mushy one. Slightly thicker solid foods can help babies realize that their food is starting to change, laying the foundation for chewing with their teeth when solid foods are introduced later.
4-tooth period
Around 8 to 12 months, the baby’s upper jaw will grow two or more teeth. At this time, the baby’s nutritional needs are getting higher, and during this period, the mother should provide the baby with more choices, such as pureed meat, minced meat, tomatoes, tofu, etc.
However, if the baby’s chewing ability is not good and the baby’s digestive function is weak, the lumpy food will not be crushed by the teeth and enter the digestive system, and the nutrients will not be easily broken down and utilized. Therefore, parents should consciously use solid food to guide the baby to practice chewing during this period.
6~8 teeth period
The upper lateral incisors erupt between 9 and 13 months, and the lower lateral incisors follow between 10 and 16 months. During this period, babies gradually begin to adapt to solid foods, and their digestive functions mature.
During this period, mothers can give their babies solid food, such as steamed eggs, vegetables, etc.
8-12 tooth period
Around 13 to 19 months, your baby’s first molars (deciduous teeth) will appear.
After the baby’s primary molars appear, their chewing ability is greatly improved. During this period, the baby will be very enthusiastic to put food into his mouth with a spoon. Even if the food is all over the table, it is worth encouraging the mother. This will also have an impact on the baby’s future personality.
During this period, you can reduce the intake of liquid food and increase the intake of solid food, such as soft rice, bread, vegetables, meat slices, etc.
12~20 teeth period
During the 16th to 20th month, the baby’s 20 deciduous teeth gradually grow in, completing the entire eruption process of the deciduous teeth series. During this period, the baby can not only swallow food by himself, but also his feeding skills are gradually becoming perfect. The mother can give him ordinary slightly soft food, such as rice, noodles, soybeans, etc.
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