What You Need to Know About Babies, New Teeth, and Teething
Published on Feb 01 by Daniel Guidera under Kids
Keep baby teeth healthy from the start!
There will come a time in your infant’s life when they start growing up just a little bit more and they start to get their first set of teeth.
This time can be difficult for both children and parents. Pain and discomfort come hand in hand with teething.
Their primary teeth are pushing through their gums which obviously causes quite a bit of pain but there are some things you can do to help the discomfort and care for the teeth coming in.
Dealing With The Discomfort
One of the hardest things as a parent is watching your child be in pain or discomfort and not knowing what to do to help.
There are tons of products on the market that promise to help ease the discomfort of teething but be wary of any chemical or medicinal product that hasn’t been recommended by your child’s dentist.
One thing that works for many children is a simple fix that you likely have in your home now.
Wet a clean washcloth, put in a plastic bag, and pop it in the freezer for an hour or so. Take the washcloth out of the plastic bag and give it to your child to chew on. It eases the pressure they are feeling of their teeth breaking through their gums and numbs their gums. This helps with blood flow and is a simple and natural fix.
Be sure to never leave them unattended with anything you tell them is OK to put in their mouths.
Companies also sell gel teething rings that can be frozen with the same effect as the wash cloth.
Be sure to get advice from your dentist or pediatrician if the pain gets too bad. They will suggest a mild pain killer or aspirin but only medicate at the advice of a doctor.
Caring For Teeth
Ensure the areas where teeth are pushing through the gums stays clean by gently massaging your babies’ gums with your finger for a few minutes at a time. Doing this for too long may irritate the area further so be gentle and keep it to 2 minutes or less. Be sure to wash your hands first!
When their teeth begin to come in, use an extra soft, small headed brush to gently brush their teeth to keep them clean and healthy. Start with just water and get advice from your dentist on when and what type of toothpaste to use.
Their primary teeth may be small but they are very important. Healthy teeth ensure your child can chew properly and speak clearly. Taking care of them from the beginning is important.
Even if there aren’t any issues or concerns, you should take your child for their first dental visit by age one. Your dentist will have important guidance on dental health including teething.
Is your child ready for their first dental visit? Are you due for a cleaning and checkup? Give our office a call today to set up an appointment and check out the office updates!
image: madgerly