How to know when a child is teething. From how many months the first teeth are cut and in what sequence. Teething parenting tips
The eruption of the first teeth is a crucial stage in the life of the baby and his parents. The health of children's teeth at an older age will depend on compliance with hygienic requirements for oral care during this period. Parents are advised to purchase in advance everything that is needed to clean the teeth and gums of the baby. Some people think that it is necessary after the appearance of the first tooth, but this is not so. Hygienic treatment of the oral cavity should begin from the moment of swelling and a white bump on the gum tissue - this is the sign that indicates the imminent eruption of the first milk teeth.
When does the first tooth appear?
Despite the fact that there are special ones that display the norms of teething in accordance with the age of the child, it is impossible to answer this question exactly. There are many cases when children were born with 1-2 central incisors, and lateral incisors appeared in them only after one year of age. This situation is considered an exception to the existing age limits, but everything is considered as a variant of the individual physiological norm.
In most children between 5 and 8 months, the first signs of eruption may occur several weeks and even months before the appearance of the central incisor. The age at which teeth begin to cut in a baby is influenced by many factors, which include:
- insufficient intake by a woman of foods containing calcium and phosphorus during pregnancy;
- early transition from breastfeeding to feeding with artificial mixtures;
- prematurity (birth before 36 weeks);
- features of intrauterine formation of tooth germs;
- living in areas with a cool climate and low daylight hours;
- infectious diseases transferred during the neonatal period (from birth to 1 month).
Note! Some pediatricians believe that a hereditary factor has a great influence on the time of appearance of milk teeth in a child, but pediatric dentists note that matches are observed only in 13-17% of cases, so genetic predisposition cannot be considered as the main reason for late (or, conversely, too early ) eruption of the central teeth.
Memo to parents: signs of eruption of milk teeth in infants
At the time of the appearance of the first tooth in the child's oral cavity, there should be no foci of infection and representatives of the pathogenic flora, therefore it is important to treat any diseases of the oral cavity in a timely manner. In children of the first year of life, this is predominantly (most often candidal), less often inflammation of the mucous membranes of the tongue can occur - glossitis. Gum care should begin before the first tooth appears, so parents should be aware of the signs and symptoms that indicate the imminent appearance of milk teeth.
3 main rules for teething
Swelling and hyperemia of the gums
The incisors located in the central part of the jaw erupt first in almost 96% of babies. This process is quite painful and traumatic. The upper part of the incisor injures the gum tissue, which consists of mucous membranes and epithelial cells that cover the alveolar part of the upper and lower jaws. This is accompanied by swelling, swelling of the soft tissues of the gums, hyperemia - redness of the mucous membranes at the site of eruption.
white bump
When the tooth is ready to erupt, a white seal is formed at the site of its appearance in the form of a small bump, covered with a thin layer of epithelium. The bump is usually quite painful, but only under the condition of mechanical action - for example, pressure. Pain can also occur when touching hard objects while playing with rattles or sucking on the breast if the baby is breastfeeding. The soft tissues around the seal are edematous, there is swelling on the gums.
Note! From the moment the white bump appears, it is necessary to begin hygienic treatment of the oral cavity in order to prevent infection of small wounds that form during eruption.
Fever and toxicity
The temperature during the appearance of milk teeth rises in almost all babies. Dentists believe that it should not rise above the upper limits of subfebrile condition (above + 38 ° C). If the thermometer is above this mark, most likely the child has caught a viral or bacterial infection against the background of a natural decrease in immunity.
In rare cases, a temperature in the range of 38-38.5 ° C is considered the result of a protracted and difficult eruption, which is typical for the following categories of infants:
- born before 36 weeks;
- who had pneumonia and other serious infectious diseases in the first weeks after birth;
- not receiving sufficient complementary foods or transferred to feeding with milk mixtures (for children under 5-6 months).
The health of the child must be taken care of from the very birth. Especially when it comes to dental health. The nature of the appearance of milk teeth, their further change by permanent ones, is an important moment in the physical development of the child.
When the teeth start to cut
Usually the first milk teeth in a baby begin to appear by the age of six to eight months. These are average results. Therefore, if you do not fit into the generally accepted deadlines, do not panic. Each organism is individual. The first tooth may appear even at four months, or maybe not even at ten. It depends on many factors, both external and internal. For example, the quality of water, the nature of nutrition (breast or artificial), the climatic conditions in which the child lives can affect. It is believed that the hotter the climate, the earlier the baby's teeth should erupt. Although this is not a common truth.
The timing of the appearance of teeth can be affected by heredity, genetic predisposition. If the baby's grandmother or grandfather already had several teeth at six months, it is likely that the child's first teeth will appear much earlier than the generally accepted period.
An important role is played by the health of the mother during pregnancy: how she felt, what she ate, whether her body received all vitamins and microelements in sufficient quantities. That is why it is especially important to follow a balanced diet during pregnancy. After all, the rudiments of teeth are laid in the baby's body long before his birth, approximately in the third or fourth month of the expectant mother's pregnancy. The overall health of the child, the proper development of all internal organs, as well as teeth, often depend on how complete her nutrition will be.
The expectant mother should stop using tetracycline during pregnancy. When combined with calcium, it reacts and stains the teeth in a greenish or brownish hue. For the same reason, it is not prescribed to children under 13-14 years old, until their teeth are fully formed.
The order of eruption of all milk teeth
Your child should have a full set of 20 milk teeth by the age of 2.5 - 3 years. And it all starts much earlier. At about six months, the baby has the first two lower teeth, and a month later, the two upper teeth. At this time, children are especially cute: with four incisors, they look like funny rabbits, especially when they smile.
By the age of one, the child can already be called a decent critter. It boasts eight teeth - four lower and upper incisors. In the period from a year to a year and a half, the baby has 4 more teeth, his first molars (molars) - 2 from the bottom and 2 from the top. In a month or two, four more teeth will come out into the world - two lower and upper fangs. And complete the eruption of milk teeth - the second molars, 2 at the top and 2 at the bottom. This period falls on the age of the baby from 2 to 3 years.
I would like to remind you once again that these are average statistics that you can only focus on. Therefore, your child may have shifts in the timing of the appearance of teeth in one direction or another, which is not considered an anomaly. Early or late appearance of teeth does not affect their quality.
Erupted milk teeth are tightly pressed against each other, there are no gaps or gaps between them. But, by the approach of the time of change of milk teeth to permanent ones, the gaps between the teeth should appear. Nature has thought of everything to the smallest detail: otherwise, permanent teeth, which are larger than milk teeth, simply will not fit in the vacant space and will begin to grow crookedly.
Features of teething in a child
Your baby's first tooth can erupt either alone or paired with another. The same picture can emerge with the advent of subsequent teeth. Sometimes 4 teeth go at once at the same time. This is not a deviation, the mass appearance of teeth only affects the timing of their eruption.
There are times when the very order of appearance of the teeth changes. For example, canines will appear earlier than first molars. This is not considered a developmental disorder, it's just that nature decided to fool around a bit, which manifested itself in the individual characteristics of your baby's teething.
Previously, there was such an assumption that the late appearance of teeth in children is caused by a disease such as rickets. But after numerous studies, scientists have come to the conclusion that this assumption is erroneous. A delay in the eruption of milk teeth is characteristic of many quite healthy and normally developing babies.
No matter what time your child's teeth erupt, this period is considered normal for him. This applies to milk teeth, and permanent, and wisdom teeth. Only one point should alert you - if not a single tooth has erupted in the child before the year. In this case, you can start sounding the alarm and suggest that some hidden diseases, including rickets, can serve as the cause of such a frank delay in the appearance of teeth.
Teething: signs and symptoms
How do you know if a child is teething? Closer to six months, you can check the baby's gums. If the teeth are about to come out, his gums will be reddened and slightly swollen. This is due to the increased blood supply to this area of the oral mucosa.
The appearance of the first teeth gives the child a lot of anxiety. A week or two before they appear, the baby begins to cry often, rub his gums with his fists, gnaw on the crib, pull objects into his mouth. At this time, the teeth break through the gums, mechanical irritation of the nerve endings occurs, so the gums begin to hurt, itch and itch. Increased salivation is formed, with which the child cannot cope on his own, because. still does not know how to regulate the amount of saliva formed in the mouth. Dripping saliva, if not wiped off, can irritate the baby's skin and small pimples or redness will appear around the mouth.
The baby may have a runny nose. It is provoked by the glands of the nasal mucosa, which begin to secrete an increased amount of mucus. Mucus on the background of teething looks watery - fluid and transparent. Such a runny nose lasts no more than three or four days. It does not require treatment, it is only necessary, as necessary, to mechanically clean the child's nose from mucus.
Along the general pathways of the nervous system, pain can radiate to the ears. Therefore, the child begins to pull his ears or scratch them. So he tries to reduce itching and pain. When feeding, the baby becomes fussy, tries to dodge a spoonful of food, his appetite decreases. Do not feed him through force, it is better to give more liquid.
As soon as the child's tooth erupted, all negative symptoms should disappear on their own. Do not put your hands in the child's mouth, checking whether the tooth has erupted or not. So you can easily bring the infection into the oral cavity. It is better to examine his mouth when he yawns or smiles. The emerging tooth can be noticed by accident. When feeding the baby with an iron spoon, you will hear a characteristic sound.
Diarrhea and fever during teething
Against the background of the appearance of teeth in a baby, diarrhea may well begin. Most often, it appears due to a change in the usual diet of the child and a violation of the intestinal microflora. Mom, wanting to calm the child and alleviate his suffering, begins to feed him more often, give him new products. Yes, and the baby, wanting to relieve itching, pulls all the surrounding objects into his mouth. Such diarrhea lasts no more than two days, as a rule, it is watery, and not frequent - up to three times a day.
An elevated temperature in a child, with the appearance of the first or next tooth, is not such a rare occurrence. Usually it should not rise above 38C. If the thermometer shows a temperature of 38.5, 39 or higher, it is better to play it safe and call a doctor. Because a particularly high temperature can be both an individual reaction of the body to teething, and a manifestation of the symptoms of any infection, including intestinal. Especially if the temperature is accompanied by frequent diarrhea, which does not go away after teething.
How to help your baby when teething
The process of teething is not always painless for the child. He becomes restless, capricious, often cries. Do not be afraid to spoil the baby, take him in your arms more often, caress and pity.
There are several other ways you can help your child in this situation:
- you need to purchase teethers - plastic or rubber rings or toys that the baby can scratch the gums and reduce itching. Teethers with liquid inside are especially soothing. Before giving it to a child to chew, it must be cooled, for example, put in the refrigerator. If the baby refuses the teether, you can give him an ordinary dryer;
- use soothing gels. Almost all of these products contain small doses of painkillers such as lidocaine and fillers (menthol to cool the gums, flavor additives, astringents). They are all clinically tested, pediatrician approved, and have no side effects. These are Kalgel, Mundizal, Dentinox, etc. These drugs do not have a strict order of application, they are smeared on the gums when they hurt and the baby is restless. Unnecessarily, for prevention, gels should not be used. Usually, the baby's gums are smeared no more than 3-4 times for no more than three days in a row. If a child is allergic to lidocaine, use Dr. Baby's gel, which is specially designed for children with allergies;
- you can massage the child's gums with your index finger, after wrapping it with a clean gauze swab. Before massage, the tampon must be soaked in cold water and squeezed out. If there is no time to manipulate the gauze swab, you can buy a massage brush made especially for such cases, which is put on the finger;
Some babies benefit from sucking on a cold iron spoon or pacifier that has been chilled. In order not to bring bacteria and microbes that are contained in the saliva of an adult into the child's body, do not lick the nipples and pacifiers and do not try food from the baby's spoon;
So that the constantly flowing saliva does not irritate the skin of the child, as it drains, it is necessary to wipe it with a clean napkin or towel. In order not to injure the delicate skin of the baby, it is better not to wipe the saliva, but to get it wet. When the child is sleeping, with strong salivation, you can put a cloth napkin under his head. Then you don't have to change the sheets often.
During teething, the child feels physiological discomfort, which causes stress on the nervous system. Unlike older children, in babies of the first years of life, fatigue and exhaustion of nervous functions occur much faster. Inflammatory processes of the gums cause fever, cause diarrhea and prevent the child from falling asleep. Conventional drugs have only analgesic, or anti-inflammatory effect. Therefore, doctors usually recommend Dentokind, specially created for babies, which, in addition to analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, calms the nervous system and stabilizes sleep.
Parents always look forward to the appearance of their child's first teeth. When do baby teeth start to appear? By what signs can you find out that the first tooth element will come out soon? How can you alleviate the condition of the baby if the first milk tooth erupts? Do I need to adjust my lifestyle during the formation of a temporary dentition? Let's figure it out together.
When do babies start to erupt their first teeth?
The body of each baby has individual characteristics, so it is impossible to say exactly how many months a particular child will erupt the first tooth. The first teeth in babies appear at the age of 3-4 months to 1 year old. Eruption during this period of time is normal. The following factors affect the timing of the appearance of the first teeth:
- Floor. In girls, teeth appear earlier (the average age of the appearance of the first milk tooth is 6 months) than in boys.
- Climate. Children who permanently live in cool climates acquire teeth later than their peers from hot countries.
- Features of nutrition. The more calcium enters the body, the higher the likelihood of early eruption.
- genetic features.
How can you tell if a child is teething?
Dear reader!
This article talks about typical ways to solve your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know how to solve your particular problem - ask your question. It's fast and free!
How to understand that teeth are being cut? When the teeth begin to cut, the behavior of the baby changes greatly. He worries, is naughty and cries a lot. The first teeth appear quickly and painlessly in a very small percentage of children, and it is impossible to predict in advance what the eruption process will be like. The following teething symptoms will help parents understand that it won't be long before the first tooth appears:
During the period of the appearance of dental elements of the milk row, not all babies manage to "get by" with the relatively harmless symptoms listed above. In children, more unpleasant signs of teething may appear, which are in many ways similar to the symptoms of infectious and viral diseases:
- runny nose (if we are talking about symptoms of climbing teeth, then the snot will be liquid and transparent, like water);
- stool disorders (diarrhea, less often - constipation);
- elevated body temperature (normally, teething syndrome may be accompanied by fever within subfebrile values, that is, not higher than 38 degrees) (we recommend reading:);
- rashes on the surface of the gums (small reddish blisters filled with liquid, which should completely and completely disappear as soon as the tooth has erupted).
Dangerous symptoms for which you should consult a doctor
When teeth are cut, the baby's immunity weakens and does not resist pathogens very effectively. For this reason, during the teething period, some babies experience associated infections, and sometimes parents may mistake the symptoms of the disease for normal teething.
You should immediately consult a doctor if you experience the following dangerous symptoms:
- Prolonged and / or high-intensity hyperthermia. Fever as a symptom in itself speaks of inflammation that develops in the child's body. If the temperature rises to 38.5 degrees or more, lasts longer than three days in a row and / or it cannot be normalized with home antipyretic drugs, an ambulance team or a local pediatrician should be urgently called.
- Associated symptoms of intoxication. If hyperthermia is accompanied by severe indigestion (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting), then it is highly likely that the cause of the ailment is not the teeth, but an intestinal infection.
- Convulsive muscle contractions. A particularly dangerous symptom that has nothing to do with teething. The child must be taken to the hospital immediately.
- Severe cough and/or redness of the throat. Hyperemia and redness of the gums occur during the period when the teeth are climbing, and this is normal, but the redness should not spread. If it moved to the throat area and the baby's tonsils swelled, then most likely he got an infection of the upper respiratory tract and in this case we are not talking about teething syndrome.
- Symptoms of an allergic reaction. The rashes and itching that are characteristic of allergies can be mistaken for signs of teething. If there is any doubt about the origin of the symptoms, then it is better not to take risks and consult a doctor.
In what order are the teeth cut?
Which of the dental elements appear first in infants? Most often, the “pioneers” are the front incisors in the lower jaw, but sometimes the dental elements of the upper row grow first. It is extremely rare that the upper fangs (eye) are cut earlier, but there is no deviation here. Chewing teeth complete the formation of temporary dentition.
How old is the process?
How long does the process of formation of milk dentitions take? Usually the first teeth are cut at 7-8 months, and the entire “milk set” comes out by 2.5-3 years old. However, if the baby is already 8-9 months old, and he has no teeth yet, this is not a reason to panic. Pediatricians and dentists say that pathology can only be suspected if there are no teeth at 12 months.
How to relieve pain in a baby?
If teeth come out, they literally cut through the surface of the gums. For this reason, it becomes inflamed, and the baby feels itching, burning and pain. Unpleasant sensations that occur when milk teeth appear, prevent the child from eating and playing normally, disturb his sleep, and lead to constant anxiety. Parents can help ease pain during cutting with home remedies and/or over-the-counter medications.
Pharmacy funds
Before you start using medications, you need to consult a pediatrician and study the instructions. Particular attention should be paid to sections on methods of application, contraindications and age restrictions. As a rule, pharmacy gels are used if the first tooth climbs, as well as when the eye elements erupt, less often chewing. The most popular painkillers:
Folk ways
Of course, you should not resort to the use of painkillers all the time. It is permissible to give medicines with the permission of a doctor and only with severe pain. In all other cases, homemade folk methods will help to alleviate the condition of the baby and relieve pain during teething - simple and safe:
Lifestyle changes during teething
Teeth are not cut in one day; it takes 1.5-2-2.5 years to form a milk dental set. Many parents are interested in whether it is necessary to correct the habitual lifestyle of a newborn in a difficult period for babies: is it allowed to go outside with the baby, is it possible to vaccinate or try new complementary foods?
Is it possible to walk?
Walking for children is an obligatory daily “ritual”. It is impossible to refuse to stay outside the home walls, in the fresh air just because the first milk tooth is being cut. Staying outside is contraindicated if the baby has severe hyperthermia (38 and above) or bad weather is outside the window (hard frost, heat, rain, gusty wind). In all other situations, with a normal state of health, a walk will benefit the baby.
Is vaccination indicated?
A careful study of the vaccination calendar can be noted that for the period of teething, vaccination is planned sequentially with several different vaccines. Immunization is recommended to be postponed if the child is ill (acutely), he has a fever or pathology of the nervous system. If you are allergic to the components of the vaccine, the doctor must choose an adequate replacement.
Based on the foregoing, it can be concluded that teething as a physiological process is not considered a contraindication for routine immunization. The only exception is cases of manifestation of the eruption syndrome through severe hyperthermia. Then it is better to postpone the vaccination until the condition returns to normal.
Can complementary foods be introduced?
Pediatricians advise introducing complementary foods after the baby is 5-6 months old. This period can be shifted 1 month earlier or 6-8 weeks later. The appearance of the first tooth is a sign that the child's body is ready to take "adult" food and it's time to get acquainted with new, unusual foods, starting with the simplest dishes.
It is not recommended to try new dishes during the acute stages of teething - when the child has a temperature, he has irritation, a runny nose, stool is disturbed, pain is disturbing. In such a situation, it will be difficult to determine whether the baby's malaise is a reaction to a new food or a manifestation of a dental syndrome. And the baby himself is unlikely to be interested in unfamiliar food.
Care of the first teeth
Hygiene procedures aimed at keeping the teeth healthy, using children's toothpaste (its composition differs from pastes for adults in that it does not contain fluoride) can be carried out when the baby is 1.5-2 years old (the manufacturer indicates the exact age in the instructions for the paste). The baby brush must be replaced once every 4 weeks. By the age of 3-4 years, the child can already try to brush his teeth on his own under the supervision of his parents.
What is important for parents to know about this physiological feature of the body? What needs to be done, that is, how to ease his pain, try to make him not cry, and generally do everything possible to help the suffering baby.
Symptoms
Since the infant does not yet know how to talk, the first symptoms of this process will need to be determined by the parents themselves. Signs that a child is teething can be divided into two categories:
- basic (directly related to the growth of teeth);
- concomitant (not necessarily related to this process and resulting from a variety of reasons).
Main symptoms
"Punching the way" with a milk tooth in the gum is necessarily accompanied by:
- her itching, swelling, redness and swelling;
- deterioration in the baby's sleep;
- poor appetite (due to inflammation);
- irritability, capriciousness, aggressiveness of the little one, as well as frequent crying and the desire to drag something into the mouth (here, by the way, the ideal option is to offer the child a special toy - a teether).
Individually, these signs can cause other reasons - but if there is a combination of them, the diagnosis can be made unambiguously.
Associated features
In addition to the main ones, teething can often be supplemented by other symptoms - however, it is possible that their appearance will be an ordinary coincidence. You can distinguish the first from the second and recognize the real cause by the reaction of the body as a whole, and if this cannot be done on your own, be sure to consult a doctor.
These secondary features usually include:
In general, when babies reach the age of the appearance of the first teeth, parents need to be extremely careful.
Subsequence
How to find out at what age the first tooth can come out in babies? And the second one after him? And in what place?
To be ready for this in advance, we offer you a table of an approximate sequence of their eruption (for clarity, also a photo).
Age incisors fangs molars 6 – 8 months Central lower 6 months - 1 year Upper 8 months - 1 year Center top 9 – 14 months Lateral top 10 months – 1.5 years Lateral lower 1 - 1.5 years First top 1.5 - 2 years Lower First bottom 2 - 2.5 years Second lower 2.5 - 3 years Second top In addition, it must be understood that the pain during the eruption of fangs is always greater (due to their characteristic sharper tips). In this case, the most effective way to anesthetize the gum is not to smear it with gel, but to give the child a more potent remedy.
Timing
So, we know about the time when all the teeth appeared in babies. But how long will this process take? And is it worth it to immediately run to the doctor if the little one has become capricious, has lost his appetite, often salivates and does not sleep well?
Age
As can be seen from the table, teeth in children are cut for about 1.5 years (from six months to three years of age). Of course, these values are individual, and a shift of several months in one direction or another is quite acceptable. However, in case of a cardinal violation of the schedule, the child should still be shown to specialists. And not only to the dentist, but also to the pediatrician (since it is possible that the backlog may be associated with other problems - malnutrition, manifestations of some hidden diseases, etc.).
Duration
The normal duration of the appearance of one tooth is considered to be a period of 3-6 days. Individual deviations are also possible here. However, if the process drags on for 2-3 weeks or more, a doctor's consultation is necessary.
The first teeth usually erupt a little more slowly - but the downside of delaying this process is its less soreness. Nevertheless, the ability to help the child on time and competently is a must for parents. In fact, it will make life easier for you, as it will reduce the number of sleepless nights and eaten nerves.
What to do?
How to understand when a baby's teeth begin to cut, of course, is important. But, nevertheless, the main question is always the following: "WHAT TO DO" ?.
The answer to it is simple - to use either well-known and safe drugs, or use proven folk remedies, or combine these two methods.
Medications
Folk remedies
These traditionally include:
- applying ice (the gum is rubbed not directly, but with an ice piece wrapped in a thin sterile cotton cloth);
- rubbing honey (an exception can only be an allergy to this product);
- lubrication with propolis (this, another ingredient of "bee production, can be used instead of honey);
- a decoction of chamomile (a compress is put from it for a very small one, for adults - a small amount of tincture is given, which you can drink twice or thrice a day and rinse your mouth with it);
- chicory or strawberry root (if the baby is old enough to chew them);
- rubbing a mummy into the gum (another unique remedy for many diseases, used twice a day);
- chewing pieces of frozen fruit (if the child is able to do this) - be it a pear, an apple or a banana, in this case it is not so important.
- chewing bread (fruits can also be replaced with bread - more precisely, its not too sharp crusts - as well as bagels or crackers).
Care
In addition, if a child is teething, for the entire period it is necessary not to stop constant, taking into account the current situation, home care.
What does it include?
- daily cleaning of the gums in the mornings and evenings using a clean bandage wound around a finger soaked in boiled water;
- daily bathing of the baby (at a temperature that has risen to 37.7 - 37.8 ° C and above - only rubdowns);
- in the presence of an inflammatory process - the daily use of gels and pastes such as Silver Care, Lallum Baby, Brush-baby and others designed for sensitive gums;
- exclusion from the baby's diet of a large number of sweets - in favor of vegetables and fruits;
- teaching him active chewing;
- a visit to the dentist (in the absence of problems - once every six months).
Complications
In our country, a series of video stories is widely known, bearing the general name "School of Dr. Komarovsky." One of them is the video "First teeth". In it, he covers in detail all the problems associated with teething in children - including those that can cause further complications.
The main consequence of the appearance of teeth in a baby even before the final hardening and formation of the jaw bones is pumped is an incorrect bite and / or a violation of the dental structure. As a result, children may begin to suffer:
- frequent caries at a very early age;
- disorder of the digestive system;
- violations in the formation of the digestive tract;
- hypoplasia of tooth enamel (in the form of pits, cracks, multi-colored spots, etc.).
In turn, the origins of such disorders in the child's body can appear both in the prenatal period (prematurity, illness or stressful conditions of the mother in the process of bearing the fetus), and after it (frequent acute respiratory diseases of the baby, early transition to artificial feeding, etc.) .
Since the second group of problems is somehow still connected with the first, the responsibility for the normal teething between 6 months and 3 years in a little crumb lies with mommy. This means that already in the process of bearing a fetus, she needs to eat right, do special exercises, often be in the fresh air and try to avoid infections.
And, in any case, no matter what problems teething in babies is accompanied by, parents should do everything in their power to help their baby during this difficult period. After all, even the usual presence nearby, a soothing voice and careful oral hygiene of a baby can do a lot!
With the advent of a newborn in the life of young parents, there are a lot of reasons for joy: the smile of the child, his first words and steps. Among the important moments of child development, a special place is occupied by the period when a child is teething, the symptoms of which often frighten adults to horror. The baby becomes restless, constantly crying, sometimes he has a fever or diarrhea begins. Surviving this time is much easier if you know how teeth erupt in infants and what can be done to alleviate the condition of the baby.
How children's teeth climb
Symptoms
At the age of 4-8 months, the first symptoms of teething in infants begin to appear. They usually look like this:
- redness and swelling of the gums;
- increased salivation;
- the desire of the child to keep something in his mouth all the time, to gnaw and bite toys;
- loss of appetite;
- vomit;
- tearfulness;
- temperature rise;
- restless sleep;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- nasal congestion, cough;
- diathesis.
Every baby has their own way of handling climbing teeth. Some children develop indigestion when teeth begin to appear in the lower jaw and fever when in the upper.
It would seem that the body reacts too violently to such a natural process as teething: the symptoms can really resemble an incipient disease. But the pain that accompanies this "happy" event is so strong that adults could endure it no better. Before "showing itself to the world", the tooth must grow through the bone tissue and the mucous membrane of the gums.
Dangerous signs of teething in infants
Despite the fact that indigestion, fever, stuffy nose and cough are common companions of climbing teeth, some doctors do not consider these symptoms to be so unambiguous. The explanation for this opinion is very simple: the first years of a child's life are marked not only by growing teeth, but also by a high risk of getting an infection. Therefore, ordinary diarrhea can be both a completely harmless “incident” and a manifestation of a dangerous disease. In this case, how to understand that teeth are being cut, and pathology does not make itself felt?
Moist cough
When teeth are being cut, symptoms such as excessive salivation and a slight cough are quite normal. Saliva collects in the throat area, and the lying baby wants to get rid of it by coughing. In a sitting position, a wet cough also manifests itself, but much less often. It usually resolves in 2-3 days and does not require special treatment.
Another thing is when a child coughs very strongly and often, in addition, excessive sputum is observed. The cough lasts more than 2 days and is accompanied by wheezing and shortness of breath, causing the baby to suffer. In this case, you should immediately contact your pediatrician.
Runny nose
During the period when children are teething, the amount of mucus secreted in the nose increases significantly. It is clear, liquid and does not look painful. Normally, a runny nose is mild and disappears in 3-4 days. As a treatment, you can limit yourself to simply washing the nose from the accumulated mucus.
Parents should be alerted by a profuse runny nose, in which cloudy white or greenish mucus is released. If such nasal congestion does not go away after 3 days, you should consult your doctor.
Elevated temperature
Teething in infants is accompanied by the active production of bioactive substances in the gum area. This process provokes an increase in temperature to 37-38 C for 1-2 days. Then the condition of the baby returns to normal. Parents can bring down the temperature with antipyretics that are harmless to children.
But sometimes the child's health does not improve, and the temperature lasts more than 2 days. This is a serious reason to visit your doctor. A visit to the pediatrician is also required if the temperature has risen above 39 C.
Diarrhea
The body noticeably increases the activity of salivation when teething begins in children. Because of this, the baby constantly swallows saliva, which accelerates intestinal motility. The result is diarrhea characterized by watery stools. The act of defecation in a child does not occur too often - 2-3 times a day. Usually diarrhea goes away in 2-3 days.
A doctor should be consulted if diarrhea is prolonged, very frequent and intense, as it can provoke a state of dehydration that is dangerous for a small child. Also, parents should be alerted by impurities of mucus or blood in the stool.
Sometimes there is an indigestion opposite to diarrhea - constipation. It should not be allowed to last more than 3-4 days. It is necessary to discuss with the doctor how you can help the baby's intestines to be cleansed.
Parents who first observe the symptoms of teething in infants should consult a pediatrician in all incomprehensible situations. It is better to disturb the doctor once again than to allow the development of the disease in the child. With a second baby, it will be much easier, and the signs of teething will not seem so frightening.
When do children start teething?
The timing of the appearance of teeth, like other statistical information, is determined more approximately than exactly. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the child: someone becomes a “nibbler” much earlier than expected, someone later. It is noticed that boys are slightly behind girls. On average, teeth begin to erupt in children at this age:
In current babies, the first tooth appears at about 8.5 months, which somewhat shifts the growth period of the rest. Until the first year of life, the baby boasts at least one tooth. As a rule, by the age of 3, a child will acquire a full set of 20 milk teeth.
In many children, teeth climb 2, or even 4 at once. Such a load can be difficult for a baby to bear, but pairing in teething is completely normal.
It is not so important at how many months the teeth begin to be cut and in what order: this does not affect the “quality” in any way. Therefore, do not worry that the child is a little behind or ahead of his peers - he just develops at his own pace.
It is necessary to carefully care for the child's oral cavity:
- for a baby up to 1-1.5 years old, wipe the teeth with a special silicone brush;
- from 1.5 years of age to buy a baby brush for a child;
- From the age of 2, teach your baby to rinse his mouth after eating.
The first visit to the dentist with a child should be made at the age of 1 year.
How to help a child
How to behave to relieve the symptoms of teething in a child
Babies are very sensitive to the behavior of their parents, especially their mothers. Therefore, you can brighten up the period of teething by simply giving the child maximum benevolent attention. Need:
- take the baby in your arms more often;
- talk affectionately with the child, sing to him;
- distract the baby with toys;
- do not quarrel in the nursery, avoid screaming in the presence of the child.
Breastfed babies, when teething begins, tend to contact the mother's breast as often as possible. During this period, it is not necessary to establish a strict feeding schedule: this will only worsen the condition of the child. After 2-3 days, everything will return to normal, but for now, you should give the baby a breast as often as he asks. This will calm him down and reduce the level of irritability.
During the period when teeth are being cut, children have a strong need to scratch their gums with something. As a rule, they use their favorite toy for this purpose. But there are also special teethers made of safe materials and helping the baby to survive a difficult period. Their prices vary considerably:
- Curababy girl teether - 1450 rubles. In fact, this is a combination of a rattle, a massage toothbrush and a teether. Material - soft rubber and hard plastic;
- Curababy boy set - 2000 rubles. Boy's version of the previous model. Also included is a children's toothbrush;
- cooling teether "Eight" from Canpol - 270 rubles. Made of polymer frame and filled with distilled water;
- teether "Eight" from Nuk - 160 rubles. Made of PVC, has a relief surface that allows you to massage the gums. The set includes 2 pcs;
- teethers Bright Starts - 350 rubles. for 3 pcs. They have a relief surface that develops motor skills in babies. Made of soft polymer and filled with water;
- combined teethers from Nuk - 520 rubles. for 3 pcs. Their main difference is that each teether varies in degree of rigidity and is suitable for a certain period of tooth growth.
Naturally, when a child's teeth are actively climbing, you want to remove the symptoms of what is happening as soon as possible. But you should not place too high hopes on teethers: babies often refuse them, preferring an ordinary rattle to such “specialized” items. In this case, you need to make sure that the child puts only a safe object into his mouth: without sharp corners and small parts that can be chewed off. Many parents “slip” a chilled spoon or dummy to their baby, or even completely dispense with ordinary drying.
Medications that relieve the symptoms of teething in babies
Some parents believe that the child should not be given any medication. But such an opinion exists only until the moment of recognition of how teeth are cut in babies. Under the influence of the child's suffering and relatives tired of his cries, the parents decide to go to the pharmacy. What medicine can relieve the symptoms of teething in children?
- Dantinorm baby. Homeopathic remedy in the form of a solution. For a long time it anesthetizes, and also reduces the severity of digestive disorders. Estimated cost - 300 rubles.
- Dentokind. A homeopathic preparation designed specifically for babies. On average, its cost is 700 rubles. for 150 tablets. The medicine relieves all the unpleasant symptoms of teething in infants, including nasal congestion, diarrhea and fever. Children are supposed to suck the tablets, but they are often too small for this. So the pill can be dissolved in a teaspoon of water and allowed to be swallowed by the baby.
- Kamistad. Gel. It has an anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, regenerating and antiseptic effect. The main active ingredients are lidocaine and chamomile extract. The average price is 150 rubles. for 10 g. Not recommended for children under 3 months.
- Dentinox. Gel or solution. The average cost is 180 rubles. for 10 g / ml. Relieves pain and inflammation of the gums. Safe even if a child swallows some of the gel.
- Holisal. Gel. Cost - 330 rubles. for 10 g. Anesthetizes, relieves inflammation and kills microbes. May cause an allergic reaction in the form of a short-term burning sensation.
- Kalgel. Gel. The main ingredient is lidocaine. It is used for children older than 5 months. It has a weak analgesic effect, can provoke an allergic reaction.
Homeopathy and gels do not always relieve teething in children, the symptoms of which are almost always accompanied by soreness. Therefore, you can give the child an age-appropriate pain reliever:
- Paracetamol for children. Suspension. Relieves pain, lowers the temperature. Do not take longer than 3 days in a row;
- Panadol. Candles, suspension. It is based on paracetamol. Candles are convenient to use if the child is very small;
- Nurofen for children Suspension. Contains ibuprofen. After a single dose, it relieves pain for a long time.
During the period when the child's teeth climb, the symptoms cannot be removed with the help of Aspirin. It is absolutely not suitable for children as an antipyretic or pain reliever.
Folk remedies
All the unpleasant signs of teething in children were known even when medicine was not so developed. Therefore, there are many ways to alleviate the condition of the child with the help of folk remedies. Among them:
- Cold. It is necessary to hold a spoon or pacifier in the freezer and give it to the baby. A cooled thing will relieve pain and soothe the gums a little. Older children can be offered vegetables, fruits, juices from the refrigerator.
- Massage. Soak a small piece of gauze in peroxide or chamomile decoction. They need to gently wipe the place where the tooth began to be cut.
- Motherwort decoction. It is necessary to pour 1 tsp. herbs 0.5 liters of boiling water. Allow the drink to cool slightly, sugar and offer to the child. You can also use valerian root tea.
- Honey. You should carefully smear the gums with honey. It perfectly soothes and relieves irritation.
- Chicory or strawberry root. You just need to let the baby gnaw on the root. The child will massage the gums in this way and soothe the pain.
- Soda solution. When teeth are being cut, symptoms will help to remove 1 tsp. soda diluted with a glass of water. In the solution, you need to moisten a piece of bandage, wrap it around your index finger and treat your gums with it.
It is also necessary to carefully wipe the saliva accumulated around the mouth. If teething is accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, then the child should be fed liquid pureed food and given plenty of fluids to drink.
There are several folk methods used for the appearance of teeth, which must be abandoned:
- press firmly on the gums with your finger. This will only increase the pain and irritation;
- give your child stale bread or cookies. He may choke on crumbs. Teethers in this sense are much safer;
- wipe the gums with undissolved soda or pick them. There is little benefit from this, but there is a risk of infection.
During the period when the baby's teeth are being cut, the symptoms are difficult to endure not only for the child, but also for his parents. Baby cries do not belong to the classic “joys of motherhood,” but you can’t do without them. But when the baby survives the painful days of climbing teeth, he will successfully pass another stage of growing up.
What does Dr. Komarovsky think about this topic?
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