Recognize 8 Signs of Teething and Help Your Baby Stay Comfortable

When you’re a brand-new parent, it can be tricky knowing what’s wrong when your baby cries. Are they hungry? Are they tired? Does their diaper need to be changed? Soon you develop a groove. However, at some point, teething also becomes a concern. Fortunately, teething often comes with symptoms that can be clearer to identify. In this post, you’ll learn about these signs and how you can make sure you both make it through this phase in your baby’s development.

Signs of Teething

As you well know, each baby is unique, and not all of them will show the exact same symptoms when they teethe. However, here are the most common signs that a tooth is about to erupt from the gums:

• Swollen, tender gums.
• Elevated temperature (under 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Fussiness
• Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
• Excessive drooling, which may cause a rash on the face
• Bringing hands or toys into the mouth to chew
• Frequent coughing
• Grabbing at their ear or cheeks

Although teething is often an uncomfortable experience for a baby, it usually doesn’t make them sick. In other words, if your child experiences abnormal symptoms like diarrhea, high fever, rash elsewhere on the body, then you should see your pediatrician.

When Teething May Begin

Typically, babies start teething between 4 and 8 months old. The timing of the other teeth may vary, and there’s usually no reason to worry if your baby receives their teeth later than other babies. By the time they turn three years old, all 20 of their primary or “baby” teeth should have erupted.

How to Help Your Teething Baby

Teething is an important stage of your baby’s development, but there are plenty of things you can do to make the experience more pleasant for everyone, including the following:

• Freeze a damp washcloth or refrigerate a teething toy and give it to your baby to chew on
• Keep a bib on your baby or a cloth handy to wipe excess drool off their face and prevent a rash
• Give your baby an over-the-counter pain reliever, according to your pediatrician’s instructions.

Do not use teething toys that contain fluid or could rupture when your baby chews on it. You should also avoid giving your baby solidly frozen objects because they could be too hard for your baby’s mouth.

Ultimately, if your baby seems fussier than they have been, it could mean that a tooth is about to come through. Although this stage can be rough, it’s a necessary part of your baby’s growth!

About the Author

Dr. Allen Pearson has been practicing in the Wylie community for about 20 years. He earned his Pediatric Dental Specialty Certificate at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Eastman Dental College. Today, he is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and other professional organizations. If you have questions about teething, you can reach Dr. Pearson at Wylie Children’s Dentistry online or by calling 972-429-7070.