This post is presented by Brookside Dental Clinic

Teething is a difficult developmental stage. Some parents breeze through the teething process with their sanity intact and simply watch as their baby develops a toothy grin. While others have to deal with a whiney, clingy baby, who is not sleeping well and not eating normally.

Typically around 6 months of age the bottom front tooth (lower central incisor) will be the first tooth to appear. Tooth eruption will follow a general schedule and pattern until about age 3 with the second molars being the last baby teeth to come in (see  diagram at the bottom of the article). 

Before the teeth are visible in the mouth, babies show signs of teething: increased drooling, chewing, irritability, trouble sleeping and a change in appetite. Fever, diarrhea and rash are not recognized symptoms of getting teeth. If your child has a fever it is always best to check with your doctor.

Thankfully there are many ways to soothe a teething baby.

DOS’

You can try rubbing their gums with a clean finger or letting them chew on a cool cloth. Refrigerated teething rings can be a life-saver. The coolness decreases the swelling and pain.  A frozen teething ring is NOT recommended as it can cause frost bite to the delicate skin in the mouth or be too firm and bruise their gums. Try these techniques before resorting to over-the-counter pain medication.

At certain times during the teething process your child may refuse feedings, eat less, cry more, have disrupted sleep and want to be held more often…. This is NORMAL. When your child does not feel well they will demand more of your attention. Just remember that this is a normal developmental stage and it will pass.

Over-the counter pain medications like Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil (ibuprofen) can be considered when the above suggested tips are not helping and sleeping/feeding has been disrupted too frequently. In the case of too many sleepless nights try administering the medication before bed.

Teething is a difficult stage of parenting but it will pass. Try and make the process more tolerable for your child by first using one of the techniques that uses pressure to ease the pain on their gums. Only resort to pain medication if nothing seems to be helping.

 

DON’TS

Sometimes parents unintentionally hurt their child by treating teething pain. I NEVER recommend over-the-counter numbing agents: Anbesol, Orajel, Hurricaine etc. These products can numb your child’s throat and cause chocking.  They contain the numbing agent benzocaine which is not recommended for children under 2 years of age and has not been proven to treat oral pain due to teething.

I also NEVER recommend homeopathic remedies (teething bracelets, teething tablets etc.). There is zero proof that they are safe or effective. I have read too many horror stories about teething bracelets breaking and containing traces of lead. Certain teething tablets have been found to contain a toxic substance called belladonna.  

Lastly, don’t hesitate to reach out to your dentist. They would be happy to offer advice and guidance!

Dr. Natasha Cormier

If you are looking for a dental clinic to help with all your needs, we’d love to see you. If you have urgent needs that need to be addressed, we can help with that as well.  Also evening appointments are available.

Call us today at 506.452.1985 

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Hi, I’m Dr. Natasha Cormier, a general dentist at Brookside Dental. I began practicing in my hometown of Fredericton in 2012 after completing my Doctorate of Dental Surgery at Dalhousie University.

I enjoy all aspects of dentistry and a major part of my practice involves treating children! I have additional certification in dental implant placement, oral conscious sedation and maintain my hospital privileges at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital to be able to treat special cases that cannot be handled in an office setting.

Outside of work, my husband Shawn and I keep busy with our 1.5 year old daughter Madison and 6 month old son Elliott. I believe that laughter is the best medicine and that we should never stop trying to learn new things.

 

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