What is teething?
Teething occurs when your baby’s teeth are emerging from their gums. The age when baby teeth will appear can vary but it is typically when they are around six months old.
What are signs that my baby is teething?
During this time, babies can be irritable and often drool, have disrupted sleep, want to chew on items, and may have tender or swollen gums. Parents are encouraged to bring their infants to our office to visit the dentist as soon as their first teeth appear. Your dentist can teach you ways to soothe their gums and how to care for your child’s first teeth.
Home remedies for baby teething
If your child is experiencing sore gums during teething, there are a few options to help them find relief. One of the most popular options are teething rings which can be refrigerated to add a further cooling comfort. It is important to note that you should never freeze a teething ring as this can actually damage the gums. You also can massage your baby’s gums with the pad of your finger to help relieve the discomfort. If you feel like your child’s discomfort is not improving, you are encouraged to book an appointment at our office so we can assess your child’s gums.
What to do when your baby’s teeth come in
Once you can see your child’s teeth it is very important that you start brushing with a soft toothbrush. You can encourage good oral hygiene habits from an early age by brushing their teeth morning and night. You should also book an appointment for your baby’s first pediatric dental visit at our office so they can become comfortable at the dentist and we can evaluate the progression of their teeth.
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). This helpful baby teething chart can help you see how your baby’s teeth will progress.
A helpful tip from your dentist
You should avoid giving your child milk after you have brushed their teeth at night. Milk contains sugar and should not sit on your child’s teeth overnight. This could lead to cavities and while baby teeth are placeholders for adult teeth, they serve a purpose for eating and speech and should be cared for the same as permanent teeth.
Fredericksburg Smile Center and Ashland Smile Center Can Help
Contact us at Fredericksburg and Ashland Smile Center today to make an appointment and take a step toward better oral health. Our experienced team is here to help!
Published: August 8, 2023
