Teething signs and remedies

When does teething start? How long does it last? What are the symptoms?

These are all common questions.

Teething is the process when a baby’s teeth start to push through the gums.

A baby will start to have their baby teeth grow when they are around 6 months old.

If your baby was born premature it may be a little later than the average age of 6 months.

Baby teeth generally emerge in a set pattern. They will generally also emerge in pairs.

A baby may become quite uncomfortable when they are teething as it causes pain and irritation as the teeth push threw the gums.

Teething is the period from the beginning of the baby teeth to start to push through right through until all their teeth have emerged.

This timeline is up to 3 years. A child will develop their full set of 20 baby teeth by age 3 years old. This is 10 in each jaw- the upper and lower jaw.

The first sign that a baby may be starting to teeth is the baby may become sulky and not their normal self.

There are some common tell tale symptoms for identifying the teething process.

Teething symptoms may cause some discomfort for a few days or may be longer.

The symptoms come and go as each tooth emerges.

• Restlessness.
• Crying.
• Drooling.
• Loss of appetite.
• Difficulty in sleeping.
• Irritability.
• Ear pulling.
• Rash around the mouth or on the cheeks in a flushed cheek type look.
• Increase in biting, sucking or chewing. This may help relieve the pressure they feel on their gums.
• Slight fever.
• Red and swollen gums.
• Disrupted sleep. A child may wake in the night when they are teething.

If your child is showing signs of teething there are some tried remedies that may assist with their discomfort.

• Gum massage. With a clean finger rub your child’s gums. Alternatively you could use the back of a cold tea spoon.
• A dummy. The sucking and biting may help. A cold dummy may provide even more relief.
• Things to suck or chew. Chilled teething rings or sugar free rusks.
• Cold, wet washer to suck on. This can help with some of the swelling.
• Pain medication or oral teething gel containing anesthetic. Check with pediatrician, dentist or chemist about safe pain relief options.
• If you use a amber teething necklace be mindful of the potential choking and strangulation hazard.