The Challenges Of Teething In Babies

A home with small children is an exciting place to live. The activities of growing youngsters bring a never-ending series of delights. Yet life for these offspring is fraught with many perils. Although many of the infectious diseases that took the lives of babies and young children a generation ago have come under control with better public health and hygienic measures, certain infectious diseases and risks of accidents, are always threatening. The newborn period is especially a time when vigilance is needed. In this discussion, we are going to discuss the challenges of teething in babies.

Twain, M(1910) once said, “ Adam and Eve had many advantages, but the principal one was that they escaped teething.” For sure escaping this challenge was a huge blessing for our first parents because when teething begins, there is no set pattern on when it will begin, how long it will take and how painful it will be. For one baby cutting a tooth might happen overnight without pain, while another child might have to go through a long, drawn out and painful experience. You may sometimes visibly see a rise or lump in the gum for several weeks, while sometimes there may be no visible clue at all until the tooth actually appears.

The process of teething often follows hereditary patterns, so if the mother and father teethed early or late, your baby may follow the same pattern. On average the first tooth comes in during the seventh month, although it can arrive as early as three months, as late as a year, or in rare cases even earlier or later.

Therefore, when a baby’s first teeth begin to erupt, at five to six months of age, it is time to contemplate introducing solid foods. Early feeding of table food should be discouraged for several reasons so as not to deprive the baby from the much needed breast milk. Ripe, mashed banana is an excellent food to commence with. Many others can be substituted, such as applesauce, peaches, and similar fruits low in sugar. Under normal circumstances, one new food should be introduced each week. Most children, when allowed to develop new tastes, one food at a time, will eventually have a wide variety of pleasurable eating experiences. This prevents the finicky food preferences of the traditionally “spoiled” youngster.

Cereal based foods should be introduced next, preferably those of whole grain composition. They can be “whizzed” in a blender or cooked for a very soft consistency, then ground through a food mill. Oatmeal, whole wheat, brown rice, and barley all form excellent cereals, always introduced one at a time. Salt need to be used very sparingly and as always less than mother’s taste requires. The rest of the family should join in those well-planned breakfasts. Then the introduction of cereal foods can be a source of delight to parents and baby. Moreover, a little cereal will often quiet the fussy baby so he or she sleeps for several hours. Gradually, after a variety of fruits and cereals have been introduced, the vegetables can be initiated. Soft foods like green beans, squash, creamed corn, and mashed peas are given. At first they should be pureed or strained. Later, as more teeth erupt and the child’s chewing ability is established, firmer, chewy foods can be served.

In total there are twenty primary (first) teeth, which is twelve less than the full set of thirty-two permanent teeth adults have. Most children have a full set of primary teeth by the time they are around two or three years old. These teeth usually last until about the age of six, when the teeth that were first to appear become loose and fall out as the second teeth begin to push through the gums. The primary teeth continue falling out until roughly the age of twelve. Again, these ages mentioned above are only averages and your child may follow an earlier or later pattern. The following is the most common pattern in which your baby’s teeth will usually appear.

Age
Teeth
Position
6 to 7 months
Incisors
Two central bottom & Two central top teeth.
7 to 9 months
Two more incisors
Top & bottom; making four top & four bottom teeth in all.

10 to 14 months
First molars
Double teeth for chewing
15 to 18 months
Canines
The pointed teeth or “fangs”
2 to 3 years
Second molars
The second set of double teeth at the back
On the other hand, Secondary, or permanent, teeth usually begin replacing primary teeth around 6 years of age. Permanent teeth erupt in roughly the same sequence as primary teeth. Usually, a permanent tooth pushes the primary tooth out as it erupts.

As for the symptoms of teething, we can be quick to say that they vary from child to child. Because of these different experiences, parents and physicians often disagree as to the symptoms of teething and how painful it is. The list below shows symptoms that a teething baby may experience. While most parents usually agree that some or all of the symptoms below happened around the time of teething, it is still recommended that if your baby experiences any of these symptoms you check with your pediatrician to rule out other possible causes for the symptoms.

Irritability: As the sharp little tooth rises closer to the surface your baby’s gums may become increasingly more sore and painful, leading to your baby being very fussy. The pain and discomfort is most often worse during the first teeth coming in and later when the molars come in because of their bigger size. This is most often the case since babies become accustomed to the sensations of teething and learn to live with them. But you may find your baby may be fussy during the whole time that every tooth comes in. Every child reacts differently.

Drooling: From three to four months of age you may see your baby start drooling more often than normal. Teething stimulates drooling, which is often worse with some babies than others.

Coughing: The extra saliva can cause your baby to occasionally cough or gag. This is usually nothing to worry about as long as your baby seems fine and shows no signs of a cold or flu and does not run a high fever.

Chin rash: If your baby is a big drooler, the constant contact with saliva can cause the skin around the chin and mouth to become irritated. To help prevent this, gently wipe your baby’s mouth and chin periodically throughout the day.

Biting & gnawing: A baby that is teething will gnaw and gum down on anything she or he can get their mouth around. The counter pressure from biting on something helps relieve the pressure from under the gums.

Cheek rubbing and ear pulling: Pain in the gums may travel to the ears and cheeks particularly when the back molars begin coming in. This is why you may see your baby rubbing their cheeks or pulling at their ears. However, keep in mind that pulling at an ear can also be a sign of an ear infection.

Diarrhea: While this is a symptom that is disagreed upon by physicians, researchers and parents, most parents usually notice slightly looser bowel movements when a baby is teething. While the recent study done by the Children’s Hospital in Australia found this to be the most common symptom of teething, there are still many people that will agree and disagree with this recent study. It is believed that the most likely cause of this is the extra saliva swallowed, which then loosens the stool. Be sure and report any diarrhea to your doctor that lasts more than two bowel movements.

Low-grade fever: A fever is another symptom that doctors are sometimes hesitant to directly link with teething. But there are many parents who will disagree with this and find their baby gets a slight fever while teething. The best thing to do is be extra safe and notify your doctor if a fever last more than two days.

Not sleeping well: With teething pain happening during the day and night, you may find your child wakes more often at night when the pain gets bad enough. Most parents agree that the night waking happens more often during the first set of teeth and with the molars.

Cold like symptoms (runny nose, etc.): Some parents find that their baby will show signs of having a cold. Runny noses, coughing and general cold symptoms are believed to come from the baby having their hands in their mouth more often. Play it safe and always notify your doctor if symptoms such as this occur.

However, there are several things that you can try to help ease the pain of teething; some work and some don’t, but most parents agree they’re always worth a try. Teething rings, water filled and chilled rubber teething toys; mom and dads fingers can all provide counter pressure that can sometimes bring relief. Offering your baby a cold bottle of water can also help. If sucking on the bottle bothers your child, offer a cold cup of water. The water can also help replenish your baby’s fluid if they’re drooling a lot or have loose bowel movements.

If your baby has discomfort while teething, you can:

Cold things/food -In the same way that ice works on a sprained ankle to numb pain and reduce swelling, cold compresses and food soothe sore gums.

Place a wet washcloth in a clean plastic bag and chill it in the refrigerator. (For an extra soothing touch, first soak it in chamomile tea, which has been shown to calm fussy babies and help them sleep.) When you remove the washcloth from the bag, your child will enjoy munching on it because the fabric massages the ridges in her gums while the cold numbs the pain.

Try a refrigerated pacifier or teether. (Don't store the teether in the freezer because when frozen it can get hard enough to damage a baby's gums.)

There are a variety of refrigerated teethers, including some with plastic handles so your baby's hands won't get cold. Liquid-filled teethers work well, but watch for leaks. Firm rubber teething rings are a good alternative. Whichever kind you choose, keep an eye on your baby to make sure she doesn't choke as she gnaws away on it.

If your baby has started solids, offer her chilled (not frozen) fruit in a mesh bag specially designed for that purpose. Or give her a large carrot (not a baby carrot, which is a choking hazard ). Hold one end while your baby gnaws on the other.

Cold food has also been found to be helpful by some parents. Chilled applesauce, yogurt and pureed peaches may be more appealing to your baby and also more nutritious than a chilled teething ring.

Pressure- Teething babies love to feel pressure on their gums because it helps distract their brain from the sensation of teething pain.

If your baby rejects cold items, chewing on a teether at room temperature may do the trick. Some teethers even vibrate. If one type doesn't work for your child, just try another until you find one that helps.

Or give this strategy a go: Gently rub your baby's gums with a clean pinky finger.

Topical medication - Some parents use a topical anesthetic – a numbing gel or cream that you rub on your baby's gums – to relieve teething pain. These are available over the counter in drugstores. However, topical medications containing benzocaine shouldn't be used on children under 2 without guidance from a doctor.

One risk is that the medication won't stay where you put it. Even if you rub it directly on your baby's gums, she might swallow some of it with her saliva. This can inadvertently numb her throat and interfere with her gag reflex, making it harder for her not to choke.

In rare instances, benzocaine can cause methemoglobinemia, a serious condition in which the amount of oxygen in the blood drops dangerously low.

Painkillers – When nothing else helps, you can also turn to the Infant Tylenol. Before giving your child Infant Tylenol (acetaminophen) always check with your doctor first. Your doctor will tell you if it’s all right and what the proper amount is to give your baby. Baby Orajel and other teething pain medicines that are applied to the gums can also provide some relief. Some parents say the Baby Orajel type products work great, while other parents will say it doesn’t. Also check with your doctor before giving this type of over the counter pain reliever to your baby.

For babies at least 6 months old, ibuprofen is another option for reducing inflammation in your baby's gums. But bear in mind that the drug can irritate the stomach, which may be problematic if your baby's already refusing to eat (which some teething babies do).

Aspirin is off-limits for anyone under 19 years old. Don't give it to your baby or even rub it on her gums. The drug is associated with Reye's syndrome , a rare but potentially life-threatening condition.

Fever, vomiting, and diarrhea aren't normal symptoms of teething. If your baby has a persistent fever, gets worse, or seems sick, call the doctor.

Amigos, the teething process will come and go just like so many other things with new babies. Keep trying different things until you find what provides the best relief for your child. Consequently, before trying any of the suggestions listed above or any other type of home remedy it is highly recommended that you contact your pediatrician first. You should follow your pediatrician’s or dentist’s advice first before trying anything mentioned in this article. The author was simply motivated to put this information together after witnessing several children that had to go through numerous tests from diagnostic testing for HIV to other blood tests in order to find out the root cause of their illness which was not established to be linked to the teething process. Since knowledge is power, the fate of many children yet to face the challenges of teething depends on your literacy and analytical skills to grasp the necessary information discussed herein for the welfare of the children who cannot read this article at the moment.

Jones H. Munang’andu
Professional Scientific Medical Writer
Health commentator
Contact; Mobile 0966565670
Email; [email protected]
Skype; jones.muna