Do you know that this cute toothless smile won’t last long? Your child will soon enter the teething period which can be frustrating for the kid as well as the new mom (or the caretaker) . To avoid these discomforts you must be well aware how to handle and soothe your babies in these days.

In this article I’ll brief you about common symptoms of teething, its relation with teething period and share my observations regarding this milestone.

1. WHEN ARE THE BABIES INTRODUCED TO TEETHING?

Babies are introduced to teething period when they turn six months old. In some cases teething starts around 4 months, but the ideal period is around 6 to 8 months. Generally, the lower front teeth are the first teeth to appear, most babies will have all their teeth by their 3^rd birthday.

The symptoms that indicate teething are:

• Irritability and discomfort
• Disturbed sleep
• Sore gums
• Drooling
• Eating disorder
• Mild temperature
• Biting
• Ear pulling
• Constipation
• Putting hands or fingers in mouth

These symptoms are observed by most parents, but keep in mind every child doesn’t experience the similar situation.

2. BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED SYMPTOMS OF TEETHING

We’ll discuss the symptoms in detail and how to react when our tiny ones are going through this time.

Irritability

This is caused by the ache from the tooth breaking out of gums. Irritation sometimes starts around 3-4 months although the tooth erupts around the 6^th month.

How to help your little one ease?

Comforting your baby can be done by giving love. Hugs and kisses provide children a sense of safety and they are diverted from the irritation they are going through. So providing quality time and simply a touch of affection matters a lot in reassuring and comforting your child.

Disturbed Sleep

Due to the irritation and discomfort the child feels, he is more likely to be disturbed during sleep. But this won’t last longer, as soon as the tooth cuts through his gum the pain will ease and the sleep routines will be settled.

How to help baby sleep?

Your duty as a parent is to caress your child and pat him to make him feel at ease.

Sore Gums

Sore gums are the swollen or tender gums that are an indication of teething. It occurs between 6-24 months. Sore gums cause irritability and pain that makes the child fretful.

How to ease baby with sore gums?

Rub a clean finger over the gums, or a gauze can also be use to comfort the baby from sore gums. You can also use our particular Teether with the possibility of inserting refrigerated fruit inside: this will give relief to your baby and alleviate pain.

Drooling

Extra saliva produced during this period can stimulate drooling. Too much drooling can cause an infection in the skin around mouth, cheeks and neck which can cause rash. This is due to the contact of bacteria from saliva with the skin.

How can I prevent rash?

Try keeping the area around the mouth clean and dry, wash it regularly to get rid of any unwanted bacteria. In case of excessive rash visit your doctor.

Eating Disorder

Due to the sore gums, which cause irritation and pain, doesn’t allow your little one to eat. When the pressure is exerted on the gum while eating food it hurts more. That is why the baby refuses to eat. When the baby doesn’t eat, he’ll be hungry, will cry and be stubborn.

How to deal with eating disorders due to teething?

Try giving your baby foods that don’t put much pressure on the gums and don’t hurt him while chewing, for instance, maybe custard or some pudding. Contact your pediatrician and give your child a pain relief syrup.

Mild Temperature

Mild temperature ranges from 98-100 degrees, don’t worry this is because baby comes in contact with dirt due to inserting fingers in his mouth.

If the temperature is above 100 degrees consult your pediatrician because it may be some serious illness not teething.

How can I help mild temperature?

Use a pain relief medication, but do not forget to consult your infant’s pediatrician for the right dosage according to the age of your infant.

Biting and Ear Pulling

Infants often bite when they are going through teething. They put pressure on their gums which gives them pleasure and comfort. They even take your finger and bite it to soothe their aching gums. At this stage many babies are seen getting hold of any toy and biting it, this could be unhygienic which can cause infection. So try to avoid this so you don’t have to face any serious illness of your baby.

Ear pulling is also very common during teething, children often rub and pull their ears even when asleep. This could be due to the frustration caused by sore gums.

If this action of pulling ears persists, it is advisable to consult your pediatrician and get a check up for any infection.

How to help my little one cease biting and pulling ears?

Our Teether Fresh Fruit Pacifier can help a lot at biting, it is more hygienic than baby putting any random toy from the floor into his mouth.

For ear pulling, after consulting doctor, you can use eardrops advised by him.

Constipation

In my opinion teething can be a reason for constipation, because children cut their diet during this period which causes dehydration, and can eventually lead to constipation.

People often relate teething and diarrhea which is not actually a symptom. If you observe a watery stool, do not ignore it, because loose motions can cause dehydration. Consult your doctor because it can be an indication of a serious infection.

3. HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR INFANT’S ORAL HYGIENE?

Visit your dentist right after the eruption of your infant’s tooth or till his first birthday. Dentist will make sure the teeth are developing normally, advise you regarding oral sanitation and recommend you kids toothpaste. Soft bristles tooth brush should be given to the baby and the brushing should be done as a team work. Even finger brushes are now available for infants for the front teeth.

Teething period is challenging yet an interesting period of an infant’s life. I hope this article enlightened you about this phase. Keep in mind that the symptoms varies from baby to baby and in some cases these symptoms can be completely unrelated to teething. Make sure to provide proper oral cleanliness and proper diet during this phase to abstain from any serious illness.