About this topic
Teething may cause mild pain or discomfort to your baby. When a tooth starts to appear, it can make the gums swell and sore. Most babies grow their first tooth between the ages of 4 and 10 months. Most often, the bottom middle tooth comes in first. ‚
Signs of teething may be: ‚
- Swollen, red gums
- A lot of drooling
- Rash around the mouth
- Runny nose
- Fussy
- Not wanting to eat solid foods
- Chews on anything
- Sucking fingers
- Waking up during the night
General
Comfort your baby and find ways to ease the pain. Always make sure your baby is getting good mouth care. ‚
Teething can be painful for your baby. You can try these things to help with pain: ‚
- Give your baby safe things to chew on like teething rings, a pacifier, or a frozen washcloth.
- Gently massage your babys gums with your finger. You may also try a wet, clean gauze wrapped around your finger to massage the gums.
- Ask your child's doctor about using a sugar-free teething gel on your baby's gums. Read the label carefully and use the gel as it says.
- Ask your baby's doctor if you can give drugs to help with pain.
- Do not put whiskey or other alcohol on your baby's gums.
Will there be any other care needed?
- Make a visit to the dentist once your child turns a year old.
- Once the teeth appear, use a soft toothbrush made for babies to keep them clean.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- Loose stools
- Nonstop crying
Where can I learn more?
American Dental Association ‚
http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/t/teething ‚
Dental Guide ‚
http://www.dentalguide.co.uk/patient_guide/teething.html ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/teething-and-tooth-care.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚