Teething can quite painful for both baby and mama. Even though your baby may seem more irritable and upset during this process, there are things you can do to help ease the pain. Read on to recognize the signs your baby has started teething and what you can do to do to help.
Typically, little ones begin teething around 6 months of age, but some can actually begin teething as early as just three months. Here are the most common symptoms:
- Drooling
- Swollen gums
- Irritability
- Trouble sleeping
- Gum rubbing
- Sucking
- Rejecting food
- Grabbing his ears
Easing the Process
When your baby begins to cut teeth, moms can feel helpless to ease the situation. But don’t worry, there are definitely things you can do to make it better.
Well before your baby begins teething, make a habit of gently massaging and cleaning the baby’s mouth. Use a clean washcloth to clean out excess milk after feeding. By continuing to do this throughout the teething stage, you’re not only getting your baby in the habit of getting his mouth cleaned out, which will help them get used to toothbrushing later on, but the massages will also help alleviate some pressure babies experience while teething.
Teething Rings
Teething babies and toddlers will naturally want to bite down on things to soothe themselves, but it’s very important to make sure they’re not using hard toys which can cause damage to their developing teeth. As a helpful alternative, offer your baby a chilled (never frozen) teething ring and be sure to check it daily to make sure it hasn’t been bitten through. There are many teething rings to choose from, so do your research and don’t be afraid to buy multiple rings for trial and error. Ultimately, your child will pick a favorite!
If your child loves his pacifier, let him hang onto it during this sensitive time! Pacifiers offer great relief to a sore mouth and can be used to massage gums. Other helpful teething options include:
- Cold, wet washcloth
- Frozen, slushy applesauce
- Homemade fruit juice popsicles
- Chilled plums and apricots
Keeping Brand New Teeth Healthy
Don’t let your little one fall asleep with a bottle or sippy cup of juice or milk as this is a great way for cavity-causing bacteria to develop.
Brush your child’s teeth with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and use fluoridated water, which will help your child’s teeth to grow strong and healthy. You can begin to use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste once they turn two years old.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends you take your child to their first dentist visit after their first birthday. We love taking care of little smiles and we can absolutely chat with you about healthy cleaning and feeding habits, as well as check for early signs of tooth decay.
We are a friendly, quality, patient focused, and affordable dental office with locations in Springdale and Farmington, Arkansas!
River Dental | Springdale
2111 S. Old Missouri Rd.
Springdale, Arkansas
(479) 340-0005
River Dental | Farmington
19 W. Main St.
Farmington, Arkansas
(479) 267-2266
