Teething Tales

Dear Mamas,

I’ve been wondering about this question for a long time now, ever since my first was born 5 years ago, and I’ve never gotten a complete answer: What’s the truth about teething?

When should it start? How long does it last? Is there a certain order that the teeth should come in? Can teething cause fever and colds? What about rashes in the diaper area or all over the body? What’s the best remedy for teething pain? I’ve heard so many different stories I don’t know what to believe anymore. My 2nd is 3 mos. now and I want to be a little better prepared. Please give it to me straight.

Thank you!

Marielle

Hi Marielle,

What a great question! If you had a quarter for every teething myth out there you could retire today in style.  Teething, the process of those first teeth pushing their way through the gums, can be an irritating time for you and your little guy. Let’s look at the facts.

Teething can begin as early as three months and may last as long as three years. During that entire period those pearly whites are working their way through the gum tissue. It’s no wonder that a) it can make a baby crabby, and b) it can be blamed for everything from diarrhea to ear pain that happens during that time span.

On average, the first tooth peeks through the gum line around seven months, but all babies are different. Some get teeth much earlier and some later; both are perfectly normal and there’s no correlation with kiddo’s future success. The mommy-driven race to the first tooth always makes us smile.

The first to appear are often (but not always) the two front bottom guys, the central incisors, followed by the four front uppers, the central and lateral incisors. Next are the bottom lateral incisors. After that come the first molars, top and bottom, and last to the party are the upper canines, the pointy ones.

Rarely, babies are born with a tooth or two (known as natal teeth). If they are loose they should be removed to avoid a choking risk and will be followed by healthy teeth.

Some babies breeze through the teething process, others not so much. Symptoms you might expect include gum swelling and irritation, increased biting and chewing, drooling (may lead to rash around the mouth and chin), fussiness, feeding changes and sleep disruption. Other problems, like fever, diarrhea, runny nose and body rash are unlikely to be caused by teething but may simply be showing up at the same time.  Bottom line: if your little one is experiencing signs of illness, not just mild fussiness and aching gums, get it checked out by your doc.

There are several ways to comfort your little guy while he’s waiting for those choppers to come in. Most involve giving him something soothing to chew on. One of our favorites is a damp baby washcloth placed in the freezer. You can store several clean ones in plastic Ziploc bags and take them out as needed. Frozen mini-bagels work well also; just make sure no choking-risk sized pieces come off as they thaw. If yours is waking with achy gums during the night, a dose of infant acetaminophen at bedtime may do the trick (follow dosage directions for age and weight on the package).

If there’s no sign of teeth by the end of your guy’s first year, bring the subject up at the 12-month checkup. It’s rare, but there are some conditions that cause delayed tooth development. Interesting fun-fact: your baby is born with all the teeth he will ever have, both baby and permanent teeth, in the form of tooth buds inside the jaw. The permanent buds begin to grow larger after the baby teeth come in and will start to take their place around age 6.

Fortunately, this second set is rarely accompanied by pain and besides, there’s the Tooth Fairy to look forward to! Hope this helps set the record straight.

~ The Mamas