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Teething occurs when a baby’s teeth emerge from its gums for the first time. It’s a trying moment for both babies and their parents. Teething symptoms usually appear several days before you actually see a tooth coming in.
While a baby’s first tooth can appear anywhere between 4 and 10 months of age, it commonly erupts around the age of 6 months.
Teething is an unavoidable aspect of your child’s development, and it may be a stressful period for parents as their children battle to cut their first few teeth. It can be helpful to know what to expect during teething and how to make it a little less uncomfortable.
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Some infants will have a series of teeth erupting in sequential order. Others will experience many dental eruptions at once.
The area around the tooth may appear slightly red or inflamed when it penetrates the gums. Over the erupting tooth, a fluid-filled region resembling a “blood blister” may appear.
When teeth erupt, some may be more sensitive than others. The most sensitive and painful tooth to erupt is the first one because their bigger surface area can’t “slice” through the gum tissue as an emerging incisor may, the larger molars can sometimes cause more discomfort.
A fussy baby who is teething can be difficult to quiet at any time of day. But, at the very least, you’ll expect to be awake during the day.
In this article, I will tackle the symptoms and relief for teething to ease and provide comfort for your baby…
Symptoms And Relief For Your Teething Baby
Symptoms of Teething
Toddlers who are teething may drool more and desire to chew on objects.
Teething is not painful for some babies. Others may be irritable for a few days, while others may be irritable for weeks, with weeping bouts and altered sleeping and eating habits.
Teething can be a pain, but if your baby is being particularly irritable, consult your doctor.
Although your baby’s temperature may rise somewhat due to sore and swollen gums, teething rarely results in a diarrhea and high fever.
If your infant develops a fever during the teething period, it is most likely caused by something else, and you should call your doctor.
Most Common Symptoms of Teething
Drooling
It’s tough to imagine that such a small mouth can produce so much fluid, yet teething can cause a lot of drooling.
Most babies start drooling between the ages of 10 weeks and 4 months, and drooling can last as long as your baby’s teeth are still coming in.
If your baby’s clothing is always wet, put a bib on him to keep him more clean and comfortable. To avoid chapping, softly wipe the infant’s chin gently.
Crying and irritability
A significant change in your baby’s behavior is another clue that he or she is teething.
Even the happiest infant can turn irritable at any time. Your child may cry more frequently or become easily irritated as a result of this.
This mood shift is usually more noticeable in the weeks immediately up to the eruption of their first tooth, and it gradually improves with subsequent teeth.
When their molars appear in their second year, you may notice that they become irritable once more.
Biting
Teeth pressing through under the gums cause a lot of pain in babies, which can be alleviated with counter-pressure (aka chewing and biting).
Teething kids will chew on toys, their hands, your nipples if you’re breastfeeding (but if this happens, remove them from the breast and give a cool towel or other kinds of relief), your fingers, stroller guards, and crib gates.
Cheek rubbing and ear pulling
During the teething process, a teething baby may massage their cheeks or pull on their ears.
The neural pathways in the ears, mouth, and cheeks are all connected. Teething pain can be felt in the cheeks and ears as well as in the jaws.
These sensations are particularly strong in babies who are cutting their first molars.
Because this teething symptom can also be a sign of an ear infection, you should see your pediatrician if it lasts more than a few weeks, particularly if it’s followed by other cold or flu-like symptoms like fever and congestion.
Teething rash
Drooling from your teething infant can cause irritation, redness, chapping, and rashes around his cheeks, lip, and even chest and neck.
You can also use Vaseline or Aquaphor to build a moisture barrier and moisturize with a light, unscented skin cream like this one as needed.
Baby Teething Relief
These parent-tested teething solutions can help relieve your baby’s teething discomfort:
Offer a cooling treatment
Teething discomfort can be relieved with a cold cloth, which is a very common and simple cure.
You can put a variety of safe items in the freezer for your baby to chew on.
Just keep in mind that whatever you offer your baby to chew on must not be a choking hazard, and you should only give your baby something when you can keep an eye on what’s going on.
A chilling sensation can be extremely beneficial to sore gums.
This approach is simple to perform and requires no additional equipment – all you need is the foresight to store a few washcloths in the freezer so you don’t have to scramble at 2 a.m.
Place a clean washcloth in the freezer for at least 30 to 60 minutes after soaking it in water.
While you should inspect for tears or strings, these washcloths can be used for two purposes. Your kid can munch on these for as long as they want, as well as promptly cool their sore gums.
This muslin blankie teether made from organic cotton is a fan favorite.
Teething Rings
Teething newborns enjoy chewing for a reason: the gumming activity creates counter-pressure, which reduces the discomfort as the teeth push up and into the mouth.
Bumpy rubber teething toys, your clean finger, or a soft, wet toothbrush (without toothpaste) pressed firmly on your baby’s gums can all give calming counter-pressure.
These can be chewed by babies to relieve discomfort.
Your infant may protest at first because it hurts, but it’s usually the best natural cure for teething pain and provides relief quickly.
If possible, chill a teething ring in the fridge before using it. This applies pressure to the gums while also providing a cooling sensation. The ring should never be frozen because it could break and suffocate your child.
Give gum massage
Your baby’s gums are sensitive and uncomfortable, which could explain the fussiness at night.
So, if they wake up sobbing, give them a soothing gum massage with a long-lasting teething ring.
By gently rubbing those aching, small gums, you can assist provide some baby teething relief.
Sit with your baby and softly massage the gums in circular patterns after cleaning your hands.
Provide refrigerated treats
Cold or frozen foods like bananas, carrots, or apples are suitable for your baby to chew or gum.
Foods should be carefully regulated and given in a mesh or silicone teether to keep larger parts out of your baby’s mouth.
Chilled or frozen snacks, such as yogurt, pureed peaches, and applesauce (once introduced), can be more appealing than room-temperature snacks.
Alternatively, pureed frozen fruits such as plums and berries can be given in a baby feeder mesh bag to prevent choking, but only under parental supervision and with your baby sitting upright.
Wipe down the drool
Drooling is one of the most common indications of teething.
Soft bibs like these, which can also be used to wipe your baby’s chin, can help protect your baby’s clothes.
Make sure your baby’s face is clean and dry by wiping away drool. Wipe gently enough to help avoid irritation and discomfort.
Tea for teeth
Chamomile tea is recommended by several natural parenting websites to help with teething and is used as a natural teething treatment.
Chamomile is used as a herbal treatment in a variety of civilizations for thousands of years. If you’re giving your child tea, be sure it’s caffeine-free.
Due to the risk of botulism, you should never give tea produced from garden plants.
You can chill chamomile tea in these mesh teethers, spoon a few chilly sips, or touch your baby’s gums with a chamomile tea-dipped finger.
Extra Cuddling Time
Extra snuggle time is sometimes the best approach to treat a baby who is in pain.
Great ideas include rocking your baby in a big chair or carrying your kid around the home (in a baby carrier).
The extra cuddling time will help you both get some much-needed slumber. If you’re breastfeeding, don’t be scared to give your infant more nursing sessions if he or she is uncomfortable.
It is critical to offer a peaceful environment for your infant to rest and fall asleep.
Soothe a Teething Baby at Night
Teething is a common reason for a baby’s sleep regression. Give your baby a few minutes before administering comfort to see if they can go back to sleep due to teething discomfort.
If they are still agitated, calm them down with a few soft pats and an “it’s all right” before gently leaving. Try one of the teething solutions suggested above if that doesn’t work.
As babies generally start or begin a night waking habit quickly, they may be encouraged to wake up a few nights, even when the discomfort is over.
To prevent the cycle from starting, keep comfort brief and non-habit forming. It includes avoiding overnight feedings.
If your child appears to be in discomfort, talk to their pediatrician about giving them a dosage of baby ibuprofen or acetaminophen before they go to bed.
Medical Teething Remedies
Teething rings and frozen washcloths may not be appealing to toddlers in the final phases of teething, such as a 2-year-old who is getting his or her molars.
In this event, consult your pediatrician, who may advise you to give your child over-the-counter pain medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin).
Aspirin is not recommended for children due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome, an uncommon but dangerous and life-threatening illness.
Ibuprofen should only be given to newborns who are at least 6 months old.
After that, either medication is fine if given in the proper dose and administered with care, but parents should first consider if their child truly requires the medication.
Talk to your pediatrician if chewing, massaging, and sucking chilled foods isn’t working, especially if teething is keeping your infant up at night.
If your kid is over two months old, you’ll most likely be permitted to use infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen (for babies over 6 months). Make sure you follow the dosing recommendations to the letter.
Keep in mind that a teething infant seeks consolation in the form of extra snuggles, kisses, and patience.
Teething Creams
Parents and caregivers can also try applying numbing cream on a teething baby’s gums to help reduce the pain.
However, the FDA is against using any topical treatment to relieve teething pain in children, including prescription and over-the-counter lotions and gels, as well as homeopathic teething tablets.
They provide little to no benefit while also posing a significant risk.
Benzocaine, a local anesthetic, is the active ingredient in some over-the-counter oral health treatments, including Baby Orajel, Chloraseptic, and Topex.
These products should not be used for teething since they are potentially hazardous and ineffective because they wash out of a baby’s mouth in a matter of minutes.
The Takeaway
Teething takes approximately 18 months from start to finish, though the interval between each set of teeth will provide you and your child with occasional breaks throughout this time.
When teething begins, parents frequently worry that their baby will be in discomfort. The teething relief mentioned above will help you lessen and alleviate your child’s discomfort.
If your infant appears to be in pain, there are a few things you may do to ease their swollen gums. Just make sure you’re aware of the warning signs of something more serious, and if you’re ever in doubt, seek advice from your baby’s doctor.
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