Baby teething is unmistakable when it begins. Your baby becomes fussier. They’ll grab anything in sight to gum on. They may refuse bottles or breastfeeding. The pain can cause them to lose sleep. Saliva dripping from their mouth can also be observed.

Seeing your baby in pain can drive any loving parent crazy. You’d start to find safe remedies for teething, and teething toys are some of best things to start with. But before you get one, we suggest that you dig for relevant information regarding the best teething toys so you can find one that best gives your baby teething relief.

How to Choose a Teething Toy

All babies are different. A teething toy may work for one baby, but not for another. Aside from pacifier, there are ample teething toy options, which may leave you feeling overwhelmed. Luckily, choosing the best teething toy for your little one isn’t a complete guessing game. Be attentive to any clues your baby may be already giving you about what kind of surfaces they want for relief.

Does your baby like to gum blankets? Soft, plastic baby toys can be the stuff your baby needs. If your child looks for harder objects to gum on, there are a variety of hard plastic teether toys to choose from. An added bonus is that they are totally safe for baby teeth to gum on. By paying attention to these clues, you’re more likely to get a teething toy your baby will enjoy.

Advantages of Teething Toys for Your Baby

When your baby is teething, their new teeth are working on breaking through their gums. For many babies, teething is a painful, uncomfortable, and it can be frustrating to see your child hurting. During this stage, your baby may be eating less, losing sleep, getting diarrhea, and crying non-stop.  Their gums may be shiny, red and swollen. Your baby may experience a fever on low temperature, known as teething fever, possibly due to gum inflammation. You may be able to even feel the tooth by gently touching their gums with one of your fingers.

When teething, babies will look for any object (such as rattles and baby teethers) to put in their mouth. This can be dangerous if baby decides to put an object that is a choking hazard in their mouth. Finding suitable baby teething toys will give your child a safe way to chew on objects. Designed exclusively for the little ones, teething toys are easy for your baby to grab, hold, and place inside the mouth. Depending on the toy, they may appeal to multiple sensory experiences. This increases the chances of your baby using the teething toy over something else.

Safe, Non-Toxic Baby Teething Toys

Not only is it important to choose a toy that your baby will enjoy, but it’s also essential that the teething toys you buy are safe. Stay away from toys that are potential choking hazards and ones that could be toxic to their health.

 Materials to Avoid

Although this may eliminate a lot of teething toys, you still have a range of safe and non-toxic options. You can find teething remedies that use natural materials and fabrics, such as wood or rubber.

Find a toy that is easy to clean. Be sure to follow any instructions that may come with the toy. They may suggest you place them in the fridge or freezer for some time before each use. Always sanitize a new teething toy before giving it to your baby.

Here’s Our Top Teething Toys for Babies

Sophie the Giraffe (Sophie la Girafe)

Sophie the Giraffe is a one of a kind baby teether and one of the most popular. The thickness of it is just right for a baby to grasp, hold and put in their mouth and the two loops make it easy to grip. The toy itself is a bit on the hard side, and the surfaces offer multiple textures.

Looking for cute teethers for baby shower gifts? The Sophie the Giraffe book set is an affordable and adorable option for a present. The best teething toys for babies are the ones that can keep them engaged and distract them from the discomfort. There are a variety of books that feature Sophie, making this one of the most engaging teethers out. The book itself has lots of colors and happy faces that your teething child will enjoy.

Pros

Cons

Zotrans Silicone Teething Rings

Teething rings are a classic. They’re easy for your baby to hold onto and grasp. This ring is vibrant and colorful, designed to appeal to the visual sensory system. Your baby will love the look and feel of it. It’s a nice balance between hard and soft, making it a comforting option teether option. Perfect if your baby goes for both hard and soft objects and doesn’t seem to have a preference.

Made of 100% natural rubber, both the silicone and the dye used to color the material is food grade and super safe. The company made sure to use only FDA compliant materials.

Pros

Cons

Tinabless Fruit Teether

If your baby has been refusing bottles, this fruit teether may be a good option to help them get more nutrients. This unique teether is great to introduce your baby to solid foods. It’s also easy to use and clean in comparison to mesh feeders. You can add either fruit or veggies to the little mesh bag. If your baby needs something cold, think about freezing the fresh fruit first.

Tinabless Fruit teether is one of the must have baby products for the price. It will keep your baby busy, relieve the pain and give them a little something yummy to munch on. Super easy to sterilize too – just boil! Overall, it’s a sturdy, long-lasting product. And as a plus, it’s made with non-toxic and baby safe materials.

Pros

Cons

Manhattan Toy Wooden Rattle and Teether Toy

This all wood toy is different than your typical plastic or rubber teether. Coated with a non-toxic finish, this teether is a safe option for your baby.

The dumbbell shape makes it easy for your baby to grasp. The wooden rattle appeals to their auditory system and helps them to improve their motor skills.

Pros

Cons
None

AILAMS Elephant Baby Teether Ring

Made with food-grade silicone, this elephant teething ring is both durable and cute. The soft handle and lightweight material make it easy and comforting for your baby to grasp. They’ll enjoy holding onto this malleable and soft teether.

The elephant teether comes in multiple colors with two different surfaces. The top surface is smooth while the bottom has little bumps that your baby will love to rub their teething gums on. The two holes make it easy to grab and hold on to.

Pros

Cons

Baby Banana Infant Teething Toothbrush

Designed by a mom, who is also a hygienist, this fun toy is meant to give teething babies (ideally 3-4 months of age) their first brushing experience. Unlike other training toothbrushes, it’s shaped like a banana and embellished with silicone bristles and a textured bottom end to give your baby thrilling, massaging sensations in the mouth. Made from soft medical-grade silicone material, this toothbrush makes cleaning easy for moms. You can even freeze it if you want!

Pros

Cons

Comotomo Silicone Baby Teether

Featuring a baby finger-like design, Comotomo Silicone Baby Teether is crafted to fit the hands of your little one perfectly. It actually resembles the body of an octopus, only it has four legs. These legs make great teething tools as if your baby is biting their own fingers. This little infant training toothbrush is also made from soft, hygienic silicone, complete with tiny embossed dots at the ends to act as your child’s gum massagers.

Pros

Cons

Munch Mitt Teething Toy

If you’re on the lookout for a toy that stays on baby’s little hand or just here to get some baby shower gift ideas, look no further. Available in 5 different colors, Munch Mitt offers a convenient teething solution for babies starting from 0-12 months of age. The mitt’s ends come with textured silicone that’s safe for chewing. Not only for soothing the pain of teething, Munch Mitt also promises to keep baby’s fingers away from their skin, reduce spreading of drool that may irritate the skin, and lessen the risk of getting blisters when baby sucks their thumb.  The teether set comes with a handy carrying bag, perfect for outdoor trips with the family.

Pros

Cons

Final Thoughts

For some babies, teething can be a harrowing experience. As a parent, you’ll naturally want to comfort your child as best you can as soon as they start to teethe. We highly recommend Sophie the Giraffe because baby can chew and play with it safely, it promotes child development, and it perfectly soothes the gums.

However, when your baby is in a lot of pain or needs to sleep, using a safe amount of pain reliever and having their teething toy within reach will help them greatly. Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen are very effective options in alleviating teething pain in babies.

Teething is one of the hardest phases in parenting. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of teether options to help calm your little one and manage their teething pain. Finding baby care tips and ways on how to soothe your baby during their teething stage is key in helping them be happy and healthy.

We also have a wonderful post about Inspirational Quotes About Becoming A Mother For The First Time.

The post The Best Teething Toys for Babies with Teething Pain first appeared on St. Johns Pediatric Dentistry.

Common signs of teething include a sore and uncomfortable mouth, as well as the need to chew on anything and everything in sight. It’s not uncommon for the body to react by producing a teething rash.

For new parents, teething rashes may be cause for concern. It can be scary to see your child with rashes on their face and body. Rashes can be a response to many factors, making it tricky to trace their cause. One good example of the causes is anxiety, which is considered a mental health issue. Teething may not even be the source of your baby’s rashes. Either way, identifying the potential roots of the rash will be important in treating it. By understanding the cause, you’ll be more likely to provide them with some relief.

This guide is meant to be a source to understand what is teething rash and to familiarize parents on how to help treat and prevent the rash that’s possibly caused by the teething process.

Contents

Learn to Recognize These Odd Teething Signs

Teething fever

It’s not uncommon for babies to get a low-grade fever during teething. Teething fever can be due to a number of causes. The body’s temperature naturally increases during teething, but not as high as normal fever levels. If your baby’s temperature is above 101.9F, then it may be unrelated to the teething and they may be sick.

Inflammation of the gum can also cause your baby’s body temperature to elevate. The excessive production of drool during this period can also cause less watery diarrhea. If your infant has these symptoms, you may be able to attribute the raised body temperature to teething. If there are other issues that you’ve found aren’t related to teething, make an appointment with your doctor. You baby’s rashes could be due to sickness.

Diaper rashes

The excess saliva produced by your baby can cause a less watery version of diarrhea. The drool can cause your infant’s poop to increase in acidity, which can irritate the bum, causing diaper rashes.

Difficulty sleeping

You and your baby will both have trouble sleeping. The teething pain along with your baby’s irritated skin will cause them to be fussier than usual. Bottle feeding can be a pain as well. During this time it’s your job to physically comfort your baby. This will help the mental health of your child and help to put them at ease.

Additional Teething Symptoms Resources

The Relationship Between Teething and Rashes

What is a teething rash? Medical professionals refer to a teething rash as something broader and encompassing- a drool rash. Some babies will produce more drool than others during the teething stage. However, some babies may just make more saliva in general. In either of these cases, a digestive enzyme found in saliva can cause irritating rashes to occur on the face and different parts of the body, especially the neck and chest areas.

Physical characteristics of the irritated skin may be determined by their location on the body. These bright red, textured splotches and bumps on your baby’s neck may look like an infection, while on the neck area may visually look like eczema. A rash from teething might even cause your baby’s skin in these locations to have a foul smell to it, sometimes described as vinegary or just sort of “off”.

Additional Teething and Rash Resources

Helping Your Baby by Naturally Treating and Preventing Teething Rash

There are several actions you can take to help your baby’s skin heal from their teething rashes.

Keeping a bib on your baby, or close by, can help to prevent drool from getting on their neck and chest. Use the bib to wipe away excess drool and help keep them dry. Wiping their neck and face can seem difficult to keep up with, especially if there is a constant supply of saliva. A bib will make this easier when a towel isn’t readily available.

Finding a suitable rash cream for your baby’s skin can really make a difference in clearing up their rashes. Lanolin cream will act as a prevention measure creating a natural barrier between the saliva and your baby’s skin. Waxelene works for both teething rashes, diaper rashes and general dry skin. This is a natural cream which can help to soothe your infant’s skin. Petroleum jelly can work as a great alternative to waxelene and you’ll probably have it on hand already too.

Skin balms act as a diaper rash cream for teething babies. This can protect your child’s skin from another rash flare up. Look for balms which have antibacterial and antifungal ingredients, such as shea butter and essential oils.

Luckily, once you begin treating baby teething rash, you’ll likely see a noticeable improvement. Teething rashes don’t stay around for long and it’s nice to know that it is a pretty manageable side effect of teething.

Teething Remedies for a Baby Having Skin Rash with Teething

Additional Natural Treatment and Prevention for Teething Rash Resources

Keeping Your Baby Comfortable During Teething

If your child is going through the painful teeth stage, a teething rash is just one of the many things they have to deal with when it comes to teething. Do your best to keep your baby as comfortable as possible.

Try to keep your baby dry. Keep fresh clothes on hand. Letting extra outfits sit out can help to keep excessive wetness from sitting too long and pooling on your baby’s skin. This will help to prevent future teething rashes. When using bibs, be sure to change them once they are too damp. And laying a dry towel or cloth under the sheet where your baby sleeps can help keep those skin irritants off of their skin. Giving your baby something cold to gum on, such as a refrigerated teething ring will help to soothe the gums and the facial rash.

If you found this teething rash guide helpful, let us know in the comments. Which tips are you using?

The post Teething Rash: What is it and How To Treat It first appeared on St. Johns Pediatric Dentistry.

It is the joy of every parent to see their kids develop a healthy and happy smile. Most children will start teething usually around six months of age.

Usually the lower front teeth come in first although some children can be delayed up to 15 to 18 months of age before their first tooth erupts, as it is individually dependent on the pace of each child’s dental development.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Dental Association all recommend a first dental visit at age one. Visiting a pediatric dentist is another great resource for your teething questions and overall oral health.

Can Teething Cause Fevers?

Anecdotally, a number of things are said to cause low-grade rise in body temperature during the teething period, and so the term “teething fever” is often brought up.

One among them is the inflammation of the gum during the eruption of new teeth. If your  baby experiences a rise in temperature that goes beyond 100° F or has diarrhea, there is a high chance that the child is sick with another disease that is not related to a “teething fever.” In such a case, it is recommended that your child see their pediatrician.

An extensive literature review was conducted and published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics looking into the signs and symptoms of primary tooth eruption. For body temperature analyses, tooth eruption could lead to rise in temperatures, but not characterized as fevers.

It is always good for parents to have a portable thermometer to check the baby’s temperature in order to monitor the severity of fevers.

What are The Causes of Teething Fever?

A number of things are said to cause low-grade fever during the teething period. One among them is the gum irritation caused by new teeth. There is also an excessive production of the saliva, which is thought to go down the gut and loosen the stool. The loose stool is not as watery as diarrhea. If the infant has many other problems that those discussed below, there is a high chance that the child is sick with another disease that is not related to its new teeth. In such a case, it is advisable that you see a doctor.

How Long Does Teething Fever Last?

The inflammation of the gum only happens when the gums are swollen and when the baby tooth breaks through the surface of the gum. This pain and fever should last a couple of days. However, the baby teeth break through the gum at different periods as the child grows. With each baby tooth causing inflammation, the fever cycle may happen repeatedly.

This may make it seem like it is taking forever. Fortunately, the child temperature recorded when the child gets its first few teeth goes down with subsequent teeth. Therefore, as the milk teeth fill the baby mouth, the pain and child fever associated with it go down.

Symptoms of Teething

The severity of teething symptoms differs from one teething baby to another. There are children that become “fussy” while other parents are surprised to see a new tooth because of lack of signs. Some commonly reported signs of baby teething include:

In a review conducted by Tighe et al in 2007 on teething, a variety of symptoms that may occur simultaneously with tooth eruption was demonstrated, but no evidence suggested these could predict the time when the tooth would come into the mouth.

How to tell if the child is sick

The timing of eruption of the primary teeth (6 months onward) coincides with the age when infants start to explore their environment. In this phase, the introduction of hands and objects into the mouth is normal. This has the potential to introduce microorganisms that may cause illness.

The signs and symptoms of common childhood illnesses can be similar to those of the teething problems. Your little one can get irritable and refuse to eat, or have difficulty sleeping.

Some common signs and symptoms of teething illness:

If you see any of these symptoms or are not sure whether your little one suffers from a disease or teething problems, do not hesitate to seek the assistance of a pediatrician for proper care.

What Can You Do To Ease Teething?

A few safe suggestions to soothe your child’s gums when teething are:

Chewing On Teething Toys

As discussed above, chewing creates counter-pressure that provides relief against the teeth that are pushing their way through. You can aid your infant by giving them something safe to chew on such as the bumpy rubber teething rings and rattles. Many teething babies also love chilled items to chew. You may try keeping teething toys in your refrigerator to cool them. See: The Best Teething Toys for Babies with Teething Pain.

Massaging the Gums

You can also offer relief to the child by rubbing a clean finger or soft washcloth firmly on the baby’s gums.

Pain Relievers

If your teething baby is particularly irritable and over six months of age you may give infant Motrin or Tylenol to help with pain management if their pediatrician has said it is ok. It is recommended that you seek the opinion of the doctor first and consult regarding the dosage based on age and weight of the child.

Things To Avoid When Your Child Is Teething

Amber Teething Necklaces are Not Recommended

Although some parents anecdotally report improvement in teething signs and symptoms with amber necklaces, they have not ever been proven to work in relieving the teething pain and symptoms. More importantly, they present a risk of strangulation and choking especially when the baby is not monitored. To be on the safe side, consider other alternatives.

Avoid Dental Numbing Gels

It is not recommended to rub teething tablets or gels on your baby’s gums. These remedies offer short-lived teething pain relief and some of them contain ingredients that may be harmful to children’s health if given too high a dose. Some of the ingredients include benzocaine and belladonna, both of which have potential for toxicity in infants.

In January 2017 the US Food and Drug Administration warned caregivers to stop using homeopathic teething tablets and gels such as Hyland’s tablets and Baby Orajel Naturals. The agency warns that the tablets and gels “may pose a risk” to infants and advises parents to take their child to a doctor immediately if they experience these seizures or difficulty breathing, lethargy, muscle weakness, excessive sleepiness, constipation, skin flushing, agitation and/or constipation.

When Do You Seek the Assistance of a Doctor?

Most of the signs and symptoms explained above are mild and short lived. Teething pain should be easily managed and not prolonged. If you ever feel that things go beyond “reasonably normal” it is important to seek evaluation from a doctor.

Please consult your child’s pediatrician if:

How do health-care professionals assess teething?

The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Dental Association all recommend a first dental visit at age one. Visiting a pediatric dentist is another great resource for your teething questions.

Your child’s pediatric dentist can help determine if teething symptoms are within acceptable limits or the child requires further evaluation.

Sometimes infants can be in discomfort from infections in their mouth such as thrush or herpetic gingivostomatitis. A pediatric dentist will assess an infant’s mouth to determine whether the symptoms come from tooth eruption or a more serious problem such as infection or tooth decay.  Oral health is critical to your child’s health.

Additional Resources On Teething

The post A Mom’s Guide to Teething Fever [Signs, Symptoms, & Remedies] first appeared on St. Johns Pediatric Dentistry.

We also compiled some amazing Inspirational Quotes About Becoming A Mother For The First Time you may be interested in.

In this post, we’ll discuss:

Chapter 1: Teething Process and Common Milestones

Your baby is getting teeth! You may be wondering: How long does teething take? When will my baby’s teeth come in?

Baby’s primary teeth announce their joyous arrival over a period of about 18 – 24 months as they come through in stages. We’ll list these stages and time frames thoroughly, but note that every baby is a little different. Baby teeth may come in at different rates and sometimes teeth that normally come in after, emerge first. It’s all part of your baby’s unique and beautiful makeup that makes him/her so special.

6-10 Months

At 6-10 months you welcome baby’s first tooth as the lower front incisors (front teeth) come in. These are the two front teeth on the bottom that will give Baby the first experience of what it means to have teeth. Careful! Baby might get carried away with the new found freedom to chomp.

8-12 Months

At 8-12 months the upper front incisors emerge. Don’t be alarmed if these teeth erupt before the lowers.

9-13 Months

At 9-13 months, the upper lateral incisors join the party. “Lateral” means on the sides of, so these are the incisors that are on either side of the central incisors. Now Baby probably has four teeth across the top and two lower. But others aren’t far behind.

10 – 16 Months

At the 10-16 months, the lower lateral incisors erupt to balance the uppers and lowers.

13 -19 Months

At 13-19 months, Baby gets the first set of molars up top. These are the flat teeth that will help crush fibrous foods once the lowers join them. Baby may or may not have canines, the teeth right behind the two sets of incisors, at this time.

14 – 18 Months

Baby’s gets first lower molars.

16 – 22 Months

It’s time for Baby to get some upper teeth to help with piercing and tearing more substantial food. These are the two canines with their sharp fang-like points.

17 – 23 Months

2 Lower canines will soon follow the uppers.

23 – 31 Months

Baby adds some lower 2nd molars, the back most primary teeth.

25 – 33 Months

Upper 2nd molars emerge, and Baby’s set of primary teeth are complete!

All 20 primary teeth are very important for growth and development; they foster good nutrition by aiding in chewing, aid in speech development and don’t forget that beautiful picture perfect smile!

Back to contents

Chapter 2: Signs Of Teething

When Baby starts teething, you’ll want to recognize the signs leading up to tooth eruption so that you can guide the process along, comfort baby and help reduce pain. Baby can’t tell you that something hurts, so you’ll be watching for the teething signs.

Excessive crying, especially at bed time

You were so happy when Baby first slept through the night. But now you may be going through it all over again — although you can expect it to be random nights and not consistent as it was just a couple months ago.

Chewing on hands, fingers, and toys… and everything

As the teeth try to emerge from one side, putting pressure on the opposite side can reduce the pressure and temporarily relieve pain. Baby will put anything in the mouth that can be accessed: bed rails, stair rails, furniture, remotes, shirts, toothbrushes, toilet paper, extension cords, pens, books. Anything that may be dangerous for Baby to chew on should be kept away. Small, sturdy devices like the remote control may seem okay at first sight aside from the icky germs, but they have batteries that could do serious harm if swallowed.

Fussiness

How would you act if you were in pain and no one understood?  You might be a little irritable too. Baby may get upset with people, surroundings or things during this time and begin crying with no apparent cause.

Raised, red gums

As the teeth push through, the gums may become red, and swollen.

White specks under gums

When the teeth are just below the surface, you’ll see little white specks beneath a thin layer of gum tissue.

Ear-tugging

Ear tugging can suggest an ear infection, but teething babies can also experience deferred pain or pain that resonates out from its source. This may be the case, particularly with back teeth because the nerves of the back teeth branch out to the middle ear.

A sore jaw can become a sore middle/inner ear for which tugging on the ear can provide some temporary relief. You don’t want to ignore an ear infection, so if Baby is tugging on an ear, has a fever and seems uncomfortable when lying down, you’ll want to have Baby’s doctor check him/her out. This could be an ear infection.

Drooling

Excess saliva may be produced during this time as the body trying to soothe the inflamed area. Streams of drool down the cheeks and chin can be a sign that baby is teething.

No outward signs at all

A select few, lucky parents claim that there were no signs at all. No teeth one day and then there they are — not all at once of course. This may happen with some or all of the teeth.

Resources:

Back to contents

Chapter 3: Teething Symptoms

In the signs section, we talked about what you may notice about your child’s appearance and behavior. Now let’s discuss symptoms that baby is experiencing.

Warning: Baby may not be his/her usual, adorable and playful self at least not all of the time.

Pain

Erupting teeth sounds painful, and it is. The gums are very sore, and the sharp edges of teeth are pushing up out of the jaw and through the skin. The ears may feel stuffy, swollen and painful. The jaw aches and the gums feel swollen and sensitive.

Sore gums

Baby’s discomfort may not be at the level of pain, but Baby will almost undoubtedly have sore gums as the teeth push up through the skin.

Insomnia

Baby is so tired and wants to sleep, but the discomfort may prevent sleeping, so Baby stays awake. Apparently, not sleeping for extended periods of time would be damaging to Baby’s and your health, so we’ll discuss remedies in the next section.

Fever

Fevers are our bodies’ natural way of fighting illness. It is possible for your child to have a very low-grade fever when teething, but anything higher than that should be investigated by baby’s pediatrician to rule out any other illness.

Irritability

Because Baby may not be getting great sleep and is in pain, he/she feels irritable and may cry more often and get upset by little inconveniences more easily. But know it will pass. Baby will be adorable and cheerful most of the time

Resources:

Back to contents

Chapter 4: Teething Remedies

While teething is a very natural process, some babies simply experience worse symptoms than others. As with all of Baby’s milestones, it’s helpful to have a caring adult around to support Baby through the process. Here are some remedies to help Baby through the process.

To Help Baby Sleep

Pain relievers

Give Children’s Motrin or Tylenol, make sure the dose is approved by the pediatrician. Read the label carefully and stop immediately and call the pediatrician if Baby has any reactions. These medicines should be reserved for bedtime because you can only have so many doses per day. If Baby wakes after 4-6 hours and appears to be in pain again, a 2^nd dose is usually okay, but not any sooner.

Cold wash cloth

Soak a clean washcloth in cold water, wring and let Baby chew on it. The cold will help numb the pain long enough for Baby to fall asleep.

Teething tablets

Teething tablets have been used in the past by many parents to help ease teething pain however their safety has been questioned recently by the FDA causing some brands (Hylands) to be recalled. It is not recommended for use at this time, and we urge parents to look into these products thoroughly before considering their use.

Read:
FDA confirms elevated levels of belladonna in certain homeopathic teething products

The FDA  has also warned the public regarding the use of Benzocaine, a local anesthetic that can be found in over-the-counter (OTC) products as Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel, and Orabase. Especially in children under 2 years old, there is a higher risk for a rare but serious—and sometimes fatal—condition called methemoglobinemia, a disorder in which the amount of oxygen carried through the bloodstream is reduced.

Read:  Benzocaine and Babies: Not a Good Mix

To Help Relieve Teething Pain During the Day

Silicone teethers

Teethers should be firm to add pressure to the gums but have a slight give to allow the gums and new teeth to subtly sink in.

Teething biscuits

Hard biscuits specifically made for teething can help baby cut teeth while eating a healthy snack.

Freezer pops

Puree and freeze fruit juice, pump and freeze breast milk or freeze chamomile tea into little handheld pops. You can buy molds that are shaped like a pacifier, so Baby can easily hold it. Remember that fruit juice is loaded with sugar and can damage baby’s teeth, so use juice sparingly.

Cold foods

Snacks like soothing cold yogurt and even ice cream (in small amounts).

Resources:

Back to contents

Chapter 5: Teething Toys

Baby’s teething and you’re on a mission to reduce the pain and keep Baby cheerful and bright. What do you do? You buy more Baby toys, of course. Teething toys can be a life saver for Baby and Mommy during this time. When Baby has clean and appropriate toys to chew on, Baby is less likely to chew on other dirty and dangerous household objects like keys and cabinets.

As Baby gets teeth, he/she’ll want to explore different textures so let’s talk about some amazing options.

Resources:

Back to contents

Chapter 6: Caring For Baby Teeth

Congrats, Proud Parent! Baby now has teeth, so what do you do? Let’s discuss how to care for Baby teeth, but first, we’ll share some statistics you need to know.

According to the CDC:

Think that the primary teeth aren’t really that important since your child loses them anyway? You may be surprised to find that if a child loses a primary tooth too early, then the permanent tooth that replaces it will often come in maligned, which means that your child is more likely to need braces. Not to mention, primary teeth with decay can lead to pain, fevers, abscess, and even life-threatening infections if left untreated.

A child who learns early to care for teeth is more likely to have better overall health into adulthood with a reduced risk of diabetes, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s, kidney problems, infertility… and the list goes on.

Now, let’s talk about protecting those teeth.

Ages 0-1

Even before the teeth arrive, Baby will still have bacteria in the mouth that multiplies. These bacteria are usually transmitted from family members, especially mom, so it is of the utmost importance for mom to also have a healthy oral environment. As the teeth begin to emerge, these bacteria will begin their colonization and attack of those new teeth. Always wipe the gums with a clean, moist washcloth or folded gauze after each feeding.

Ages 1-2

By age 1, some of Baby’s teeth have fully emerged. It’s time to switch to a soft baby brush and no more than a rice-grain size speck of fluoride toothpaste. Brush teeth twice a day. Baby should not be left to brush his/her own teeth; they need to be closely supervised to assure that he/she isn’t swallowing too much toothpaste.

Ages 3+

At this point, your child likely wants to be cleaning his/her own teeth independently. You can encourage this positive behavior by having them brush and you finish the process after. Children do not have the manual dexterity to effectively brush all surfaces of their teeth until about age 8-9. This is a task that should be shared with parents to ensure proper oral hygiene is maintained.

A pea size amount of toothpaste is all they need at this stage. Brushing should be firm but gentle with a soft-bristle brush. Flossing should begin as soon as you cannot see space between each tooth.

Most importantly, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend your child find a Dental Home within 6 months of their first tooth emerging and no later than age 1. This way, a Pediatric Dentist can give you individualized anticipatory guidance based on your child’s specific needs. The Pediatric Dentist can be your go-to person for any questions regarding oral care, products, growth, and development questions as well as a contact point for any dental trauma that your child may encounter.

Resources:

Back to contents

Chapter 7: Common Questions and Answers

My baby boy is only 2 months old. Can he really be teething?

Yes. Each baby is unique and perfectly designed. While most babies begin teething at around 6 months, many babies start teething well before or after the normal teething age. Baby’s teeth will come through on his/her own timeline… not ours.

When should Baby first go to the dentist?

The American Dental Association recommends that Baby visits the dentist within 6 months of the first tooth arriving. This will typically mean that Baby sees the dentist before the 1^st birthday, but don’t wait too long if Baby is an early teether.

What’s the difference between a regular (general) dentist and pediatric dentist?

A general dentist is trained to handle patients of all ages. A pediatric dentist has had 2-3 years of additional training to specialize in children’s dental needs. Because of this, techniques, facilities, and staff will all be designed around helping children to feel calm and comfortable when they see the dentist.

Seeing a pediatric dentist can be a fun and joyful experience at a pediatric dentist while children who visit a general dentist may not have the same experience, not because the people aren’t friendly and professional, but only because everything is not centered around children’s needs. Even if you love your dentist, it may be better for Baby to see a pediatric dentist.

I feel like I’m getting conflicting information about dental care, will a pediatric dentist answer my questions?

Absolutely! That’s what we’re here for. Ask away. We love to answer questions, and we are dedicated to the health of our patients.  We are overjoyed to help dispel myths and provide clarity to children’s dental care. It’s what we love to do.

Resources:

The post Baby Teething: Signs, Symptoms, Remedies, and FAQs first appeared on St. Johns Pediatric Dentistry.