The Painful Process of Teething and How can Parents Help?

Teething is a painful process during which infants usually become cranky or fussy when their new teeth emerge. The process of Teething lasts a significant amount of time and mostly happens in 5 stages. Parents must understand the teething process to soothe their children during this challenging phase. Continue reading to find valuable tips in this regard to facilitate your child.

How painful is teething?

Younger babies are less adaptive to the pain and discomfort associated with teething. Therefore, they cry a lot during this process. The teething pain is mostly mild. However, never hesitate to call your doctor if your baby cries a lot.

Symptoms of teething:

• Tender or sore gums.
• Diarrhea.
• Drooling.
• Low-grade fever.
• Irritability.
• Frequent fussiness.
• Bringing hands to the mouth.
• Refusal of food.
• Restlessness.
• Mild rash around the mouth.

The five stages of teething:

Understanding the stages of teething can help parents ease their child’s discomfort. Also, it can navigate their baby’s way successfully into toddlerhood. So, let’s explore these five stages briefly.

• Stage: 1: (0-6 months):

At birth and till six months, babies have milk teeth as their diet is mainly composed of milk only. In this stage, they have a complete set of 20 primary teeth in their jawbones that lie beneath their gums. Most signs and symptoms of teething start appearing during this stage.

• Stage: 2: (6-8 months):

The first baby tooth starts emerging during this stage. Though baby’s teeth erupt during 6-8 months of age, the signs and symptoms of teething become evident in the prior stage. Babies drool a lot in this stage; therefore, keep a bib on the baby so that you can clean their chin quickly.

• Stage: 3: (10-14 months):

In this stage, the baby’s primary molars start erupting. You, as a parent, can expect more crankiness from your child, along with increased drooling. The baby’s sleep pattern usually becomes sporadic with exaggerated pain.

• Stage: 4: 16-22 months:

Here, the canine teeth will surface, and you can expect more annoyance from your child as a parent. However, keep your child as comfortable as you can.

• Stage: 5: 25-33 months:

The large molars emerge during this phase; for some children, it is the most painful stage. Here, you can give a hard vegetable to your child for chewing. However, you need to keep a close eye as well.

What are the home remedies that can help your child?

You, as a parent, need to implement the following home remedies to soothe your child during his teething process.

1. Gum massage: Clean your finger and gently rub the gum areas of your child that have become sore.
2. Teething toys: Rubber, plastic, or soft-plush toys are safe for babies to chew on and get temporary relief.
3. Cold washcloth: A cold washcloth can help reduce swelling or pressure associated with the teething process.
4. A bottle filled with water: Fill a bottle with water and allow your baby to suck it. It will soothe your baby.

Final Thoughts:

Baby teething is no fun both for the baby and parents. However, you need to stay calm and apply some home remedies during this process to comfort your child. Also, schedule regular dental checkups for your child to have healthy teeth and gums.

Contact your dentist in Stockton, Sajjad Rizvi, DDS at Happy Kids Dental to know about the Process of Teething.

Resource:

How To Help A Teething Baby

This media/content or any other on this website does not prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. Therefore, we highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition