It’s one of the big milestones in the first year of your baby’s life — that exciting day when their first baby teeth begin to break through! Sometime between the ages of four and seven months (on average), your baby’s first teeth should begin to appear. You’ve probably been expecting them for a while since your baby has likely been especially “drooly” and fussy as his/her teeth push through his gums. The first to come through are typically the lower central incisors, familiarly known as a baby’s bottom front teeth. And boy, you didn’t think it was possible, but he/she looks cuter than ever!
So which teeth will make an appearance next?
Baby Teeth Progression
After the first two lower central incisors come through, the progression loosely follows this order:
- Top central incisors
- Top lateral incisors (next to the two central incisors)
- Bottom lateral incisors
- First top molars
- First bottom molars
- Top canines or cuspids
- Bottom canines or cuspids
- Second top molars
- Second bottom molars
By the time your baby is walking and speaking his/her first words (age 2-1/2 – 3 years), he/she should have a full set of 20 baby teeth (also known as primary teeth).
Help for Sore Gums
Babies like to bite down on things when they’re teething because the counter-pressure of biting helps ease gum soreness, so don’t be surprised if you find your little one chewing on his/her crib rail!
There are any number of teething rings on the market that can be popped into the refrigerator to chill and given to your baby to help ease their sore, irritated gums. Some of them have plastic handles that won’t get cold, and will be more comfortable for your baby to hold.
A natural alternative is to soak a washcloth in a bowl of chamomile tea, wring it out, and put it in a plastic bag. After it’s chilled for a while in the fridge, you can take it out of the bag and let your baby chew on it. The chamomile tea has been shown to calm fussy babies and help them to sleep.
An important note about teething ring: Never put them in the freezer because they become hard and can actually damage your baby’s gums!
When your baby begins eating baby food, you can chill things like fruits, and give him/her other soft foods such as yogurt, which will feel better on sensitive gums than warm foods will.
Getting their first few teeth is one of the most exciting milestones of all as you watch your baby develop, grow and learn each day!
If you’d like to learn about Fredericksburg Smile Center, contact us today! We would love to speak with you.
