Teething Symptoms - Signs of Teething

Occasionally referred to as “cutting teeth” or “tooth eruption,” teething is the natural progression of an infant’s teeth breaking through the upper and lower gums to become visible in the child’s mouth. Statistically, the average age for teething is between three to twelve months but there have been documented cased of infants being born with one or more teeth and those who do not begin the teething process until well into their second year.

The entire process of teething involves the cutting through of 20 deciduous teeth which are also known as “baby” or “milk” teeth and it may take several years. These primary teeth eventually fall out to make room for thirty two permanent teeth.

The teething age is largely influence by heredity. Thus, whether an infant is an early teether or a later teether tends to follow his or her parents’ teething age. Likewise, the pattern in which teething occurs seems to be passed down genetically. For the most part, teeth break through the gums in pairs or clusters and teething most often begins with the two lower central incisors. They are usually then followed by the two upper central incisors, the two upper lateral incisors, the two lower lateral incisors, the first four molars and then the second four molars.

When teeth appearance and in what sequence is not in the least reflective of the child’s otherwise developmental stages nor on his or her overall health.

Signs and Symptoms of Teething

The signs and symptoms of teething may vary greatly from one child to another but the classical among them are bad moods such as crankiness, ill disposition, restlessness, fussiness and decreased sleeping; digestive problems such as upset stomach, diarrhea and / or loss of appetite; the need to chew on hard objects including fingers, toes and anything else they can get their little hands on; excessive salivation and increased drooling which can cause a rash around the mouth; bruised, swollen, reddened, inflamed, blistery and painful gums; runny nose and low grade fever; incessant rubbing of the cheek and ear area.

Relieving the Symptoms of Teething

Teething is not a pathological or a diseased condition and it should not require emergency care. However, teething does come with a set of unpleasant symptoms and to ease them, doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Administration of aspirin is forbidden to anyone under 20 years of age because it has been known to cause Reye’s syndrome, a rare but very grave illness.

Home remedies which have proven to be helpful are:

(a) Gently rubbing the sore gums with a clean finger.
(b) Allowing the baby to chew on a clean washcloth that was chilled, or letting the child use a frozen teething ring.
(c) Having the baby sock on an ice cube for a few minutes at a time.
(d) Applying over-the-counter pain relieving topical jells and ointments.

Newly Emerged Teeth

Dentists and medical professionals recommend that the infant’s teeth are brushed as soon as they erupt but fluoridated toothpaste is not suggested while the child is still going through teething. Furthermore, the American Academy of pediatrics (AAP) advises that by the age of six months, all children should be examined by a pediatrician or another healthcare professional who will assess the risk for future dental health problems.

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