Did you know that your baby needs to see a dentist by the end of first year? Unfortunately, parents don’t know much about early dental care, which is why they fail to notice the first signs of decay and other problems. Teething usually occurs when the baby is between four to twelve months old. When the first teeth appear, the gums can feel sore and tender, and baby may feel irritated and can cry more than expected. Here’s a deeper look at signs, symptoms and some of the other relevant aspects.
Know the signs
You may not see the teeth immediately, but if you child is teething, his gums will feel soft, swollen and tender, and the body temperature can rise a little. During teething, the child may want to chew on anything that’s hard, and you may see more drooling than usual. While not always true, teething can affect sleeping and eating habits. There can be some pain involved, which doesn’t require medical attention, but if your baby has high fever, loose motions and other additional symptoms, talk to a doctor immediately. You can learn more about teething here.
Offering comfort for teething
Pain is relative, which means every person feels it in a different way. Same is true about the symptoms of teething. Every child is different, so you have to try a number of things to find what works. You can use a clean finger to massage the gums, while some parents offer a clean but wet cloth to chew. You will find teething toys in the market, but avoid the ones that have sugar, such as teething biscuits, which can actually cause tooth decay. All sorts of toys offered for teething should be cleaned regularly. Gentle massaging of the gums is highly recommended, which helps with the pain. The baby will want to chew, so let him/her have things that won’t hard and are complete clean.
Seeing a dentist
Take your baby to a pediatric dentist as soon as you spot the first signs of teething. Although some dental experts recommend waiting for a year for the first checkup, this can come in handy for parents who are unsure of how to handle the different effects of teething. You can also talk to your regular pediatrician to know what can be done to help the baby, especially when pain and irritation seems too evident.
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