Here come the teeth

IT’S a milestone in your baby’s development, the stage when he/she moves from giving you that gummy smile, to one filled with gleaming teeth.

Though all babies are different – some are born with teeth and in others teeth push out very early – by nine months your baby is usually sporting a tooth or several, as he/she starts the process towards becoming a toddler.

According to babycentre.co.uk, teething will take your child about three years to complete. In fact, the process starts from in the womb, when tooth buds are formed and break through the gums between three and 12 months.

The first tooth is usually an indication that your baby is ready to try solids (the first tooth comes at an average six months), and by three years old, he/she should be able to brush them by him/her self.

Teething pains

Teething, however, comes with its own set of problems, and parents will know when it starts, as many babies develop symptoms that are obviously linked to the process.

Babycentre says that early symptoms can include heavy drooling and a fair amount of pain that precede the first tooth, while many parents (experts disagree with this) will attest to fevers, diarrhoea, rashes and unsoothable crying that precede the event.

You’ll notice that your baby will start biting – at you or anything he/she gets his/her hands on – so giving him/her something to gnaw on will help.

Here are some other things to look out for:

. Your baby may get a red rash on the chin and lower lip from all the drooling. Smoothing a barrier cream such as Vaseline on the chin at bedtime and before he/she goes out will help to protect his/her skin from further irritation.

. The process does hurt. As your baby’s teeth develop, they push up through the gums, a process which can cause irritation, pain and swelling. Imagine the pain of your wisdom teeth pushing through, and this will give you an idea of what your baby is experiencing.

. While pressure from biting seems to relieve the pain, sucking causes more blood to rush to the swollen areas, making them particularly sensitive. This is why some babies may temporarily reject the breast or bottle when they are teething.

How to soothe the pain

You can try several options and see which your baby likes. Some babies are soothed by simply rubbing your fingers over their gums, while others rely on teething rings.

“Anything cold will be particularly soothing so keep rubber teethers in the fridge or give your baby a partly-frozen wet rag to gnaw on,” babycentre says. “Chilled water in a bottle or, if he/she prefers, a feeding cup may help to calm his/her gums and if he/she is old enough for solid foods, offer her cold apple puree or plain yoghurt. There will be times, however, when your baby will reject all of these offerings and, at these moments, a cuddle is the best therapy you can supply.”

Keeping them clean

This is a particularly hard task for many parents, since many babies don’t relish the cleaning process.

But it’s important to start teaching your baby proper hygiene early.

Babycentre recommends that you don’t necessarily need to brush your baby’s teeth, but you should try to clean them at least once a day.

“Your child may not be open to having a brush in his mouth just yet, so wipe his gums and teeth with a clean cloth instead. You should also never put your baby to bed with a bottle. Formula and breastmilk can pool in your baby’s mouth at night and lead to a condition known as baby-bottle tooth decay.”

Added they: “Around 18 months, your child may be ready to learn to brush his/her teeth. You will have to help him/her and check if his/her cleaning has been effective for several years yet, but it’s a good habit to get him/her into. Show him/her how to move the brush around on his/her teeth. Use a soft brush and a small dollop of toothpaste. You don’t have to brush in a certain direction, just try to get any food particles out and clean the surface of the teeth and the gumline.”

And your child may not like the taste of toothpaste, so you can either try another brand, or skip it, babycentre says.

“You don’t really need to use toothpaste unless your child’s diet includes lots of sugary foods – which you should avoid anyway. If the child does indulge in sweets, make sure to brush his/her teeth soon after he/she eats, or encourage him/her to finish up with something savoury like a piece of cheese. Around his/her third birthday, make an appointment with your dentist so your child gets used to the idea of having his/her teeth looked at.”

Babycentre teething milestones

. One in 2,000 babies is actually born with a tooth or two. But the vast majority sprout their first tooth at approximately six to seven months.

. An early developer may see his first white cap (usually the lower central incisor) as early as three months, while a late bloomer may have to wait until he’s almost a year old.

. The last teeth (the second molars, found in the upper and lower back of the mouth) are usually in place by the second year. By age three, your child should have a full set of 20 baby teeth.

. Baby teeth won’t fall out until your child’s permanent teeth are ready to come in, sometime around age six.

. Teeth sprout one after another, first the bottom front ones, then the top two middle ones, then the ones along the sides and back. Tooth development is hereditary, so if you got your teeth early, chances are your child will, too.

. At first you may find it easier to clean around the tooth using a piece of clean gauze wrapped around your finger, or a cotton bud. It’s particularly worth doing this after a milk feed as the milk (which contains a sugar called lactose) can collect and linger around your baby’s gums.

. Your baby’s first toothbrush should have soft bristles and a small head which allows it to reach all parts of his mouth easily and comfortably. Look at the packaging to check which age range the brush is appropriate for.

. Until your child’s permanent teeth start to appear, which is normally from around six years old, you should use a low-fluoride children’s toothpaste.

. The main cause of tooth decay is not the amount of sugar in a diet, but how often it is eaten or drunk throughout the day, so it is important to keep sugary foods to mealtimes only. If you want to give your child a snack in-between meals then choose savoury options such as cheese, toast, breadsticks, sliced fruit and vegetables.