Infant Teething Tips

Normally, the teeth of a child begin to appear when he or she is about six months old. The first teeth to emerge are usually the two front teeth on the bottom. When teeth start to come in, it is often accompanied by pain and fussiness. A baby's overall health depends to a considerable extent on his or her healthy teeth. Teeth help your child chew food and form words and sounds when speaking. Teeth also affect the manner in which your child's jaw takes shape.

Although teething is more often than not painless, it can make some children uncomfortable and fussy. You can try giving the child a cold teething ring or a cold washcloth to chew or suck. That is likely to make the baby comfortable. Baby stores are filled with toys that have teething rings attached that you can place in the freezer or the refrigerator. If you want to use teething gels, do so carefully because too much gel may not be good for your baby.

Teething normally does not give rise to a fever. If you find your infant having a fever, you should consult your doctor. If is low-grade, they may advise to simply wait it out or give the child baby Tylenol or another type of pain reliever.

Remember that continuing breastfeeding is good for your infant's teeth. Many women will stop nursing around the time that the baby has teeth coming in. They are nervous about biting and discomfort to their breasts. This rarely occurs. Your child is smart enough to know not to chew on your breast. Nursing is more likely to give your child comfort if he or she is feeling discomfort teething.

You can start brushing your child's teeth twice a day when the first tooth appears. Remember that the most important time to brush your baby's teeth is just before bedtime. This helps them get into the routine of always remembering to brush. Always use a soft baby toothbrush. Put a dab of toothpaste the size of a rice grain on the brush. Consult your doctor or dentist what kind of toothpaste you should use for your child. The dentist may ask you to use toothpaste with fluoride in it because fluoride helps stop cavities. It is better if you take your baby to a dentist by his or her first birthday, particularly if there is a high risk for cavities or any other problems with his or her teeth.

Your baby runs the risk for cavities if he or she eats a lot of sugary foods and drinks a lot of sweet liquids. Your baby could also be at risk if he or she was born prematurely or weighed very little at birth, has ongoing special health care needs, has white spots or brown areas on any teeth and does not visit the dentist very often. Family members should take proper care of their teeth because they can pass on the cavity-causing bacteria to babies and children.