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By the time babies are born, they have a full set of primary teeth (commonly called
baby teeth) hidden below the gum line, as well as the beginnings of the permanent
teeth that will come later.
The first baby tooth usually breaks through—erupts is the medical term—
between four and seven months, although the big event may occur as early as three
months or as late as twelve months.
The two bottom front teeth (central incisors) usually appear first, followed
within a couple of months by the four upper front teeth (central and lateral incisors)
and the bottom lateral incisors (the two teeth flanking the bottom front
teeth). Then there’s usually a breather before the next wave: the first molars (the
molars closest to the front of the mouth); then the eyeteeth, or canines (the pointy
teeth next to the lateral incisors); then the second molars, behind the first molars.
All 20 primary teeth—10 on top, 10 on the bottom—are usually in place by age
three.
In rare cases, delays in teeth coming in can reflect a medical problem, but usually
they are just normal variations that tend to run in families. Also rare: One or
two teeth may already have emerged before your baby is born or may break
through during the first few weeks. If they interfere with feeding or are loose
enough to pose a choking risk, your child’s doctor may recommend removing
them.
Symptoms of Teething
Drooling and wanting to chew on almost anything are the hallmarks of teething.
For most babies, the process seems to be almost completely painless. Others have
short bursts of irritability, and a few may seem cranky for weeks, crying frequently,
waking more often, and eating fretfully. If their gums grow tender and swollen,
their temperature may be a little higher than normal, but teething does not cause
high fever, diarrhea, earaches, runny noses, or coughing.
A rule of thumb: If your child seems sick, don’t chalk it up to teething. Instead,
handle it the same way you would if your child weren’t teething.
Soothing the Discomfort of Teething
To make teething less unpleasant for your baby, take these actions:
• Wipe your baby’s face often with a soft cloth to remove the drool and prevent
rashes or irritation.
• Place a clean flat cloth under her head when you lay her down to sleep. If she
drools, you can replace it with a dry cloth without having to change the
whole sheet.
• Try rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger.
• Give your baby something firm to chew on, but be sure it’s not small enough
to swallow and can’t break into pieces that might pose a choking risk. Hard
rubber teething rings work well; look for one-piece models.
• Make it cold. Many babies seem to enjoy teething on objects that have been
chilled but aren’t rock-hard. Try freezing a clean wet washcloth for 30 minutes,
then let your baby chew on it. Or try a cool spoon.
• If your baby seems to be in a lot of pain, it may be worth giving her acetaminophen
drops, but consult your baby’s doctor first. Painkillers that are
applied to the gums (such as Baby Orajel or Baby Anbesol) are probably no
more effective than rubbing without painkillers. Never place an aspirin
against the tooth, and don’t rub whiskey on your child’s gums.
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