Let's learn about the symptoms of baby teething and their treatment!

A baby's first baby tooth smile is one of the cutest moments in a family's life. It's a big event, but it's not always easy for the little one or their parents to experience the process. If we as parents learn about the condition surrounding teething, its signs and symptoms, we can skillfully help our child get through this period more easily.

Although teething is a natural process, some babies find it very distressing, while others are barely aware of their teeth until they emerge. The most typical symptoms are excessive drooling, fussiness, and problems with food intake, but there are also other signs that this often difficult period has arrived.

The gums are initially itchy and swollen. The baby puts everything in his mouth and chews it to try to soothe the feeling. His saliva flows almost non-stop, he can barely swallow. If it flows back or swallows it wrong, it makes him cough. Meanwhile, the blood circulation in the nasal mucosa also increases, mucus production starts, which can cause his nose to run, as if he has a cold.

Source: Clinident Dental Center, Pediatric Dentistry

When does a child start teething?

The timing can vary quite widely. Some babies show the first signs as early as 4 months of age, while others show them sometime after six months of age, at 8 or 10 months. The first symptoms are often not visible. The child experiences discomfort as the deep roots of the teeth grow. This condition can last for weeks before the tip of the tooth breaks through the baby's gums. Teething usually occurs at 6 months of age, and all 20 baby teeth erupt by the age of 3.

Does the order in which teeth appear matter?

No. The order is usually similar in children, with the central incisors erupting first, followed by the lateral incisors next to them, but there is no need to be alarmed if the sequence of teeth is different.

Source: Clinident Dental Center, Pediatric Dentistry

What are the symptoms of teething?

• Profuse drooling

• Gum swelling, sensitivity, pain

• Elevated temperature, but not fever

• A fussy baby who puts everything in his mouth (more often than usual)

• Sleep problems

• Diaper rash

• Refusing food

• Feeling of pain in the direction of the ear, ear tickling

• Blush

• Catarrhal symptoms, runny nose

• Looser stools, which may be greenish or slimy

• The skin around the baby's mouth may become red and irritated from saliva.

Symptoms include runny nose and earache, which may be due to illness, so be sure to take your child to the doctor even if they are otherwise showing signs of teething.

Let's ease the child's pain!

Some babies hardly notice the teething process or the discomfort of the preparations. However, it is good to know that teething is often very uncomfortable and can cause localized pain. If your child cries a lot, take the problem seriously and try to help them relieve the pain.

If you think your baby is having mild symptoms, you can take steps to make this period easier for them. Making their food thinner will help reduce the friction on their sensitive gums. Breastfeeding can also be problematic, as it creates a vacuum in the mouth that can irritate the gums, so you can try a cup , but it may not be a good idea for your baby to accept it.

A well-tried and proven solution is to use teethers . Your little one likes to press their painful gums with them, and if you cool them down beforehand, they will soothe the pain more and numb it a little. When it comes to teethers, make sure to choose a product made of safe, baby-friendly materials and cool them in the refrigerator, but never freeze them or give them to your child while they are still cold!

If you think your baby is in severe pain and the pain is affecting their daily life, ask your pediatrician for advice on what painkiller to use. Carefully examine the ingredients of topical gels available today, as they may contain harmful substances, alcohol, or allergy-causing ingredients that you don't want to put into your child's body.

If your child develops diaper rash on their bottom, you should start treating it immediately, as the inflammation can spread quickly. If your child is affected by this, please read our previous article, in which we wrote in more detail about the symptoms and solutions of diaper rash .

When your baby's mouth is red and sensitive, it could be because the large amount of saliva is eroding their skin during teething . This is a very unpleasant feeling for them, as the saliva is constantly stinging their skin, and if you try to wipe it off, it irritates and causes pain. There are very good exfoliating creams available for this problem, which also form a protective layer on the skin. Ask your pediatrician for advice on choosing the right product.

The baby's emotional distress also causes him to feel unwell. Try to hold him in your arms and soothe him more often. Unfortunately, due to the constant drooling and possible diaper rash or diarrhea, it may be necessary to change him several times a day, which is especially difficult for him during this restless period. Try to prepare clothes that we can easily take off and put on him. LiaaBébé's bamboo fiber baby clothes can be a blessing on fussy days, as their extreme elasticity makes dressing almost imperceptible.

Don't neglect oral care during sensitive days.

Baby teeth are more susceptible to decay than permanent teeth. They decay more easily, so we need to pay attention to their protection from the moment they appear.

If we do not clean the child's existing teeth because they are causing pain, it is easier for an infection to develop on the gum surface , which can cause inflammation. Be careful not to touch the swollen and sensitive part, only clean the other areas.

Maintaining the health of baby teeth is an important task for us, parents. It doesn't matter what foods and especially drinks we offer our little ones. Excessively given sugary drinks and sweets are not only harmful to the teeth, but also represent an excessive carbohydrate load for the body. With proper oral hygiene, we can do the most to ensure that our child's teeth are healthy.

Source: Fairy Doctor Dr. Zsanett Tajti

When should we see a doctor?

If we do not see any signs of the first tooth appearing by the age of one, or if teething has already begun and the child is not coping well, has difficulty eating, sleeps poorly, has a runny cough, earache, severe diaper rash, or if the temperature is higher, i.e. has a fever.

By regularly visiting a pediatric dentist, we can teach our child that it is important to take care of their health. If they get used to medical check-ups from a young age, they will develop a sense of responsibility to take care of themselves later. Last but not least, this attention is also useful because any problems can be noticed and treated immediately. At these appointments, parents receive professional help to properly care for their child's teeth.