For most parents, teething time in a child is one of the most difficult moments, which is mainly accompanied by symptoms that are unpleasant for the baby. How to help the baby with this? What are the symptoms and stages of teething in infants? Photos of the first incisors and information on how to facilitate the process - all this will be presented in the article.
Factors that affect teething
In crumbs, the appearance of the first teeth is associated with a genetic factor, as well as with other reasons, among which:
- features of the course of pregnancy;
- climate;
- diseases that the child suffered at the very beginning of life;
- birth complications;
- drinking water quality.
When do teeth break through?
In infants, teething has its own schedule:
- At about 6-9 months, the lower teeth appear.
- Teething of the upper teeth in infants (see photo in the article below) occurs in 7-10 months.
- Lateral teeth - at 9-12 months.
- The molar lower and upper teeth appear in 12-19 months.
- At 16-22 months, fangs appear.
- Second molars - at 20-36 months.
A child has about 20 teeth by the age of three, while gradually becoming permanent teeth appear by the age of 6. Interestingly, in humans, 8-12 teeth are permanent, and about 20 teeth change throughout life. These figures are conditional, since it is not known whether the child will have “wisdom teeth”. Often they do not cut through due to the structure of the jaw of the baby. It is also worth considering that these are approximate data, since we are all individual.
Dentists believe that the teething of the upper teeth in infants (photos of the gums can be found in this article), as well as the lower ones, is directly related to the moment the 1st milk tooth appeared. Moreover, if the baby up to a year has not got a single tooth, you can declare the presence of diseases. It happens that 4 teeth are cut at the same time. This is the norm, therefore, in this case, do not worry.
Symptoms of teething in infants, photo
There are a number of symptoms that let you know that the baby’s teeth are being cut:
- sleep disturbances;
- moodiness;
- redness in the mouth;
- biting while breastfeeding;
- digestive upset;
- increase in body temperature;
- swelling of the gums;
- increased salivation;
- desire to grab, bite, chew;
- decreased appetite;
- runny nose;
- discomfort and itching;
- vomiting
If these symptoms are present, you should call the pediatrician at home. A specialist will examine the child, explain on the spot what teething in infants looks like, the photo of which is given in the article below, and will also make a diagnosis, since some infectious disease is often masked behind this process. In a vulnerable organism of babies, the virus multiplies easily, which in the end can be characterized by the presence of the above symptoms. At the same time, self-medication can harm.
Helping a baby with teething
If, after looking at the photo of teething of the first teeth in infants, you determine that this is it, which your doctor also confirmed, you can take certain measures to make his condition easier.
First you need to abandon the various "grandmother's" methods - scratching with sugar, a spoon handle or a pile of bread so irritated gums. You need to understand that this can cause real harm to the baby’s health. Sugar provokes the development of caries, and can also damage the baby’s gums, while flour products easily enter the respiratory tract. In pharmacies, special devices used for teething in infants (photos of the lower and upper first teeth below). They are made of flexible silicone or polymer. Such teethers may have a gel filler having a cooling effect or a raised surface. They help the baby cope with quite unpleasant sensations. You can also use gauze swabs pre-soaked in plain cool water. They also contribute to improving the condition of the baby.
In no case do not use alcohol-containing drugs. Pills are also not suitable for a child. The use of medications must be discussed with a doctor. In addition, there are many gels that alleviate the suffering of crumbs. And if, having looked at the photo of the gums before teething at the baby, you realized that the same thing is happening with your baby, then perhaps it is time to start helping him using any of the listed means.
The chewing needs of the crumbs can be met with a conventional nipple. If you weaned the baby from it, or initially did not give it, then you should not start, because the result may be a wrong bite.
A fingertip brush will help to cope with itching (pictured). The gum when teething in infants is very itchy, while the brush allows you to perform 2 functions at the same time - massage the gums and clean the oral cavity.
Medications
At the present moment, the pharmaceutical industry has stepped far forward in the development of all kinds of decongestants, painkillers and coolants to help teething babies. Photos of the gums of the lower and upper swollen gums, by the way, you can see in this article. Some of the drugs do not give a tangible result, however, there are those that help to deal with itching very effectively:
- "Mundizal";
- Dentinox;
- Holisal;
- "Kalgel";
- "Kamistad."
"Dr. Baby" is suitable for allergies to lidocaine. And if the child has wounds, you can use Solcoseryl.
In addition, “Viburkol” will help relieve pain during teething in infants. This drug is homeopathic. The product is made in the form of candles, enriched with various herbal ingredients. The drug perfectly calms, anesthetizes and reduces fever.
In the role of an antipyretic, you can use "Panadol Baby." He is one of the most popular and effective drugs. The main component is paracetamol. The drug in candles can be used in infants, and in the form of syrup - for older children.
Use Nurofen in suspension form to provide a calming effect and reduce heat. True, this tool is not suitable for prolonged use.
We work ahead of the curve
Part of the problems can be avoided, however, due to lack of experience, parents periodically neglect important points. As a result, the baby suffers from the development of purulent processes, inflammation of the gums, allergies and rashes.
Suppurations and inflammatory processes
Basically, such symptoms are not of great danger, but examination and specialist advice are mandatory. It is possible to cope with gum inflammation during teething in infants (a photo of the first teeth is presented in this article) with regular and proper care of the oral cavity. Doctors generally advise treating them with herbal decoction, for which a gauze swab should be moistened with calendula, sage or chamomile decoction. This procedure makes it possible to eliminate inflammation, as well as lower the level of microorganisms that provoke them.
Skin rashes and allergies
These symptoms may occur due to the use of the gel during teething in infants. Such drugs are divided into groups:
- antiseptic;
- painkillers;
- homeopathic.
If for teething gel in its composition contains lidocaine, then this may be the cause of allergies. The drug should no longer be used, while it is possible to relieve soreness with the help of gels based on herbs.
It’s easier to deal with problems if you start to “be proactive.” For this you should adhere to the following recommendations:
- it is better to entrust the selection of the gel to a doctor who will assess the condition of the oral cavity at a professional level;
- use a gel for teething if other means and methods to alleviate the condition are inactive, and the baby's condition only worsens;
- If after using the product you notice negative reactions in the crumbs, you must stop using it and make an appointment with a doctor for an examination.
Gel is an extreme option that you should resort to to alleviate the condition of the baby. If you have already tried all other methods of eliminating discomfort in crumbs, you can only think about the appropriateness of its use.
Do not allow painkillers to be used immediately when screaming or screaming for the first time, as this violates his immunity. You can follow elementary recommendations to make teething in babies easier.
Important points
After the teething has ended, you can see the gaps between his teeth. They appear after 4 years. This is an irreversible process, which prepares the baby for the growth of permanent teeth, since they are larger than milk ones in size. Moreover, the absence of gaps leads to crowding of the permanent teeth, and this will require treatment.
In addition, specialists developed a system of recommendations for parents during teething:
- place a tissue napkin that absorbs saliva under your head;
- Wipe the baby's chin with a soft towel - in this case, saliva will not cause irritation on the skin, while doing this you need to do it gently, slightly dabbing the saliva;
- children over one and a half years old can use a toothbrush designed specifically for brushing teeth;
- after the teeth appear, they should provide care.
Complications
It happens that teething ends with complications. It is primarily about early caries.
Others include enamel hypoplasia. This disease manifests itself in the form of pits, spots, stripes and grooves on the enamel. Hypoplasia is difficult to attribute to frequent events, however, it can be.
The main number of complications appears due to problems arising during pregnancy, in addition, diseases that the expectant mother suffered while carrying a baby. Therefore, mom needs to be careful about his own health: eat right, consult a doctor if you feel unwell, and if you have an illness, observe only bed rest.
Breastfeeding is adversely affected by feeding with artificial mixtures. It should be noted that natural milk provides the baby with useful substances necessary for him, which form protective forces in the body and participate in development and growth.
Features
The appearance of gaps is far from the only feature when teething. There are also other points, for example, the acquisition of a neck color or tooth color:
- Acquisition of tawny teeth indicates the effects of antibiotic therapy. You probably used antibiotics during pregnancy, and maybe now the baby is being treated with them?
- If the edge of the tooth turned black, this probably indicates an inflammatory process or the use of iron-containing drugs.
- If the enamel has become a reddish hue, then the baby has an impaired porphyrin (pigment) metabolism.
- The yellowish-green shade of the teeth indicates the destruction of red blood cells. It is worth noting that this is a very serious condition that requires treatment and a preliminary qualified examination.
- Abnormal processes regarding the location of the teeth.
- Bite problems.
- Long absence of teeth.
In the presence of the above deviations, the baby should be shown to the doctor. With the natural course of the process, the first visit to the dentist must be carried out in a year.
Non-standard situations
It should be said that various pathologies speak of pathologies that occur during teething. In order to eliminate them in a timely manner, you should have complete information. The following signs indicate the presence of pathologies:
- sequence violations;
- interruptions in the period of teething;
- incorrect formation of one tooth or teeth (size, color characteristics, thin coating of enamel);
- the appearance of teeth outside the arc of a number of teeth;
- the appearance of teeth in the womb.
FAQ
Of course, the topic of teething worries all parents, because they understand the seriousness of this situation. Caring parents in this regard ask a huge number of questions, consider the most common.
What to do if teething is delayed? It must be said that this is an individual process, but you can go to the doctor for a consultation. Only he can talk about the absence or presence of pathologies.
The later the first teeth appear in the baby, the healthier they will be? The time of the appearance of teeth with their health is not connected in any way, therefore, this statement does not correspond to reality.
Can teething be accelerated? The only really effective way is gum massage. It must be done gently and accurately.
Is a bad breath related to teeth? Experts believe that this is interconnected, since mucosal decomposition occurs. Although it is better to consult a doctor, as the smell can also be associated with gastrointestinal diseases.
What to do if temperature rises? A slight increase in body temperature is the norm if the baby's teeth are cut. True, if the thermometer is about 40, then we are talking about a viral infection, therefore, it is necessary to invite a doctor.
Caries prevention
From the very first months of life, it is necessary to take care of the baby’s health, in particular, of his teeth. So, you do not need to lick the baby's nipple so that your bacteria do not get on the mucous membrane of the crumbs.
The next step is to reduce the amount of sugar in the baby’s food. Sugar provokes tooth decay, destroys tooth enamel.
Develop a baby’s habit of drinking some water after feeding. And at 2 years old, he can freely rinse his mouth after eating.
Teach your baby to visit the dentist. The first visit should be when he turns one year old. And then each visit should be every six months.
Brush your teeth
For some parents, brushing the teeth of the baby is a real competition, because sometimes the child clenches his teeth and refuses the procedures demonstratively. Therefore, try to turn it all into a game. Buy a beautiful toothbrush for this, ask him to brush your teeth, after which you will do the same for him.
Also pay attention to pasta. At the moment, for children there are a huge number of many pastas with a pleasant aroma and taste. The kid will be happy to clean his teeth with such tools.