Signs of Teething in Babies
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if your baby could tell you they’re teething? But of course, talking is still a long way off. For that reason, you’ll have to look for signs your baby is teething. Teething symptoms typically include:
- Unexplained Crying: If your baby is crying and they’re not hungry, tired, or in need of a diaper, and they’re in the age range, they may be teething.
- Drooling More Than Usual: Excessive drooling is another common sign that your baby is teething, and much more precise than crying, which can mean many different things.
- Slight Rise in Temperature: Teething may come with a slight rise in temperature, but if your baby has a true fever, check with your pediatrician to rule out another cause.
- Face Redness or Face Rash: It’s common for teething babies to develop redness or a more pronounced rash on the side of the face due to the excessive amount of drool.
- Biting Hard Items: Often babies will try to soothe teething discomfort by chewing on hard items, such as a building block. If your baby is suddenly very interested in chewing on things, they may be teething.
- Tender Gums: If you think your baby is teething, look inside their mouth. Do their gums look red, swollen, or tender? If so, expect some teeth to start peeking through soon.
- Disturbed Sleep: Teething soreness can also make it difficult for your baby to fall asleep or stay asleep. If your baby has been sleeping soundly and suddenly wakes up, or if their sleeping patterns are particularly disjointed, teething may be a cause.
How Many Teeth Do Babies Have?
Babies will have 20 deciduous, or primary, teeth to complete their smile before they fall out to make room for the 32 permanent teeth to come in.
How Long Does Teething Last?
After first emerging between 4 and 6 months, your baby’s primary teeth will continue “erupting” until they’re two-and-a-half or 3. Adult teeth will start replacing the primary or baby teeth around age 5 or 6.
Most of your child’s adult teeth should be fully erupted by the age of 13, except the third molars, also known as wisdom teeth which come in around the late teens or early twenties.
Breastfeeding and Teething
It’s not uncommon for nursing mothers to face discomfort or hardship when breastfeeding their teething baby. Teething symptoms leave babies uncomfortable, leading them to switch up their position when trying to latch and cause them to find relief by biting.
Remedies for Soothing Teething Baby
As baby teeth come in, your baby’s gums may become sore and tender. This can lead to crying, crankiness, and less sleep for everyone involved. If your teething baby needs additional soothing, here are a few things to try:
- Rub Baby’s Gums: Gently massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger or wet washcloth.
- Cool It Down: A cold or chilled spoon can help alleviate some of the gum soreness.
- Bring Out a Teether: Try giving your little one a silicone or rubber baby teether. Some baby teethers can even be stored in the fridge for a colder temperature that’s more soothing on the gums. Avoid offering a frozen teether as it can damage baby’s tender gums.
- Water: If your little one is older than 6 to 9 months, try giving them cool water from a sippy cup.
- Play with Them: Help distract your little one from teething discomfort with a song, a game, or a trip to the park.
- Keep It Soft: Cool, soft foods like chilled yogurt can help soothe baby’s teething gums.
- Visit a Healthcare Provider: See your pediatric medical professional for pain relief recommendations such as over-the-counter acetaminophen to help ease some of the discomfort of teething.
- Focus on Oral Hygiene: Keep baby’s gums and emerging teeth clean. Gently wipe away any food residue or plaque with a damp washcloth or a soft-bristled toothbrush.
A chilled pacifier may seem like a good option to help soothe your teething baby; however, it should be used with caution. A pacifier that’s damaged from over-chewing can be a choking hazard. Additionally, overusing a pacifier can affect jaw development and tooth alignment.
When to See a Dental Professional
Healthy habits start early, which is why it’s recommended to take your child to a dental professional by the time the first tooth appears or by their first birthday. Your baby’s first dental visit may include an examination of their teeth, gums, and jaw development.
Aside from regular dental checkups, there are other times when you may want to contact your pediatric dental professional. These include:
- Delayed Eruption: If your baby still doesn’t have any teeth well past the usual teething window, check in with a pediatric dentist or pediatrician.
- Tooth Loss: If a tooth starts to wobble earlier than it should on average or if your little one experiences any tooth aches, it’s important to schedule a dental visit for further diagnosis and treatment.
- Tooth Decay: Cavities are a primary concern for most parents and caregivers, especially when it comes to children. If your child experiences any form of tooth decay or tooth damage, it’s important to get dental care treatment right away.
Caring For Baby’s First Teeth
- As soon as the first tooth appears, gently brush your baby’s teeth with a baby toothbrush that has extra-soft bristles.
- Use a ‘smear’ of toothpaste for children from 2-3 years old and a “pea-sized” amount for children aged 3 to 6 years.
- Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle of formula or juices that contain sugar.
- See a pediatric dentist early on—even baby teeth are susceptible to tooth decay and cavities. Consider a “first visit by first birthday” strategy, or schedule a visit as soon as the first tooth appears.
No matter how challenging the teething stage can be, seeing your little one show off their toothy grin is always a special moment. As they grow into their new smile, caring for emerging teeth and teething gums can help build a healthy foundation for the years ahead.
From Oral-B the #1 toothbrush brand used by dentists worldwide.
*BASED ON SURVEYS OF A REPRESENTATIVE WORLDWIDE SAMPLE OF DENTISTS CARRIED OUT FOR P&G REGULARLY.
Kids Oral Care Recommendations
Complete Your Child’s Oral Care Routine
- Brush your baby’s teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush like the Oral-B Manual Toothbrush for Kids 0-2 twice a day using a ‘smear’ of toothpaste for children from 2-3 years old and a “pea-sized” amount for children aged 3 to 6 years.
- Switch to an electric toothbrush once your child is 3 to help remove more plaque and support healthy teeth and gums, such as an Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush for kids ages 3+ featuring Disney and Marvel characters.
- Pair their electric toothbrush with a fluoride toothpaste specially designed for kids to help fight off cavities like those from the Crest Kids’ line of fluoride toothpastes.
- Encourage healthy habits with the Disney Magic Timer App.
- For big-kid brushing at age 6, have your child brush for the full dentist-recommended 2 minutes—most Oral-B Electric Toothbrushes for kids come equipped with a vibrating timer so they can get a more complete clean.
- Visit their dental professional twice a year for professional cleanings and checkups.
Protect their growing smile with the kids’ oral care routine that’s right for them.
