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Babies typically are born with 20 primary teeth below their gumline. These primary teeth, commonly called baby teeth, make their appearance when your baby is around 6 months old – though a few months before or after that date is not unusual. And your little one will likely have their full set of baby teeth in place by or around the time they celebrate their third birthday.
Signs that a baby is teething
The first teeth you’ll see are usually the two bottom teeth at the front of your child’s mouth. But you’ll likely notice some signs that teething is underway before you see that bit of white at their gumline. Your baby will probably be cranky and fussy, may not sleep well, and may start mouthing (or biting) on anything they can get into their mouth. You may also notice them rubbing or pulling on their ears, drooling more that usual. They may not have much of an appetite, and may run a slight fever and have trouble sleeping.
Many of these symptoms can be signs of another illness, such as an ear infection or cold, so don’t dismiss any signs as “just teething” – check with your pediatrician to make sure. Fevers, distressed crying, a rash, vomiting and diarrhea in particular can indicate an illness, even though babies can experience these symptoms while teething.
How to care for a teething baby
The process of teething is typically not fun for you or your child. Their gums are likely to be really sore, and they just feel lousy. And it’s so tough to see a little one feeling miserable and not being able to do much to soothe them. Things that can help a bit include:
Rub their gums – use a moist cool gauze pad wrapped around your finger (watch out, baby may nip!) or a small cool spoon. A dry, chilled (or frozen) washcloth tightly rolled into a cylinder, for baby to gnaw on can also provide relief. Keep an eye on baby when they are chewing on the wash cloth, of course!
Offer a teether – these are solid rubber items specifically made for your baby to chew on when teething. You can pop the teether into the fridge to cool it which will make it especially nice on sore gums, but don’t put it in the freezer and avoid teething rings containing liquids. Make sure the teether is well-made and sturdy.
Cool drinks and food – if your child is drinking from a sippy cup, a cool drink of water can sooth sore gums. And if he or she is eating solids, cool foods can do the same. If baby is nursing, dampen your fingers with cool water to ease pain, and hopefully encourage baby not to bite/chew during the feeding.
Skin cream – babies tend to drool a lot when teething, and skin around their mouth can become irritated. A gentle, neutral cream (no fragrances or special fancy ingredients intended for adult skin care) can help.
Snuggle – often the best relief is lots of extra cuddle time with family members and friends.
Unsafe for teething!
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against using “teething jewelry,” which claim to relieve infants’ teething pain and other ailments, and may also be used by people with special needs, such as autism or ADHD, to provide sensory stimulation or redirect chewing on clothes or body parts. According to the FDA, “The risks of using jewelry for relieving teething pain include choking, strangulation, injury to the mouth and infection.”
As noted above, liquid-filled teething rings can break, and baby may swallow the fluid. And avoid letting the baby chew on plastic objects sold as teethers, they typically aren’t sturdy enough. You can always bring the teether into your pediatrician or dentist and ask them if it’s safe.
The FDA also recommends that you do NOT use medication containing benzocaine for children younger than 2. Benzocaine is an over-the-counter anesthetic, and can be found in products used to relieve oral pain such as Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel and Orabase. Check the labels, and ask your pediatrician or dentist if you have any doubts about the safety of over-the-counter products.
The FDA also urges parents not to use homeopathic teething tablets and gels. Lab testing found “inconsistent amounts of belladonna, a toxic substance, in certain homeopathic teething tablets, sometimes far exceeding the amount claimed on the label.”
If you have any questions about how to relieve your child’s teething symptoms, talk to your dentist or pediatrician.
Get started on dental hygiene now
Parents often wonder when the time is right to start brushing a child’s teeth. The answer is, if you can see it, you can clean it – but wait until teething irritation has subsided unless your dentist advises otherwise.
The American Dental Association recommends that new baby teeth should be gently brushed with a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head and just a thin smear of fluoride toothpaste twice daily. The “smear” should be no bigger than a grain of rice. When the child reaches about 3 years of age, you can increase the amount of fluoride toothpaste to about the size of a pea (or their fingernail)—but wait until your child is able to follow instructions and spit out the toothpaste, rather than swallowing it.
Flossing is also important, starting when two teeth touch each other. Some children may only need a few back teeth flossed, depending on their dental spacing. Even after your kids learn to brush effectively, they may still need your help with flossing. Pre-loaded floss holders may be easier to use while they learn this important component of an effective oral hygiene routine.
Teething time is also the time for baby’s first dental appointment, regular dental care is the best way to ensure a lifetime of happy smiles and success. Consistent at-home oral hygiene can help your kids have healthy, strong smiles throughout their lives. But even kids that are whizzes at brushing and flossing need regular dental checkups and cleanings. Your dentist may also suggest applying sealants to your kids teeth, which can prevent 80% of cavities for 2 years and continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to 4 years, according to the CDC.
Worried about the cost of dental treatments like sealants and checkups? Consider joining a dental savings plan, which can save plan members 10-60% on most dental procedures from a nationwide network of dentists, including pediatric specialists. Some dental savings plans even include additional health and wellness savings, such as discounts on prescription drugs, hearing, vision, and chiropractic care, as well as telehealth services. Learn more about dental savings plans here.