Teething is one of the main stages in the development of a baby up to one year. During this period, the behavior of the baby can dramatically change. This is due to the fact that the baby feels discomfort. Perhaps the appearance of pain in the gums, an increase in body temperature. Teething may be accompanied by other symptoms.
Young parents need to know when their first teeth are being cut, how this process happens and what needs to be done. They need to study the features of its course, precautions, possible complications. This is necessary in order to be able to prepare for this period. In addition, it is important to understand how you can help a small child survive the teething stage and ease its course, what measures to take.
When do teeth begin to erupt?
Many young parents are interested in how many teeth are cut, at what age? As a rule, the first teeth of the baby begin to erupt at the age of 6-7 months. However, deviations up or down are possible.
The onset of the “X moment” depends on several factors, including:
- heredity;
- child nutrition, saturation of the body with calcium;
- features of climatic conditions in which the baby lives;
- gender of the child.
In girls, teeth begin to appear earlier. In addition, in children living in hot climates, the teething process begins earlier.
Which teeth climb first?
The lower incisors begin to erupt first. However, there are cases when the teeth erupt first. This is not a deviation from the norm, but is due to the individual characteristics of the body. Characteristically, the teeth appear in pairs. By the end of the first year of life, a child may have 8 or more teeth.
Very often, in babies who are breast-fed, the process of teething begins earlier, at about 4-5 months. According to experts, parents should not be alarmed by the lack of teeth in a baby who has reached the age of one. However, in some cases, this indicates the presence of certain pathologies.
Why teeth do not climb for a long time?
If the child is 9 months old and the process of teething has not yet begun, this may signal the presence of some pathologies in the child. These include:
- infectious diseases, disruption of the intestines over a long period of time;
- lack of vitamin D, rickets;
- metabolic disease;
- transferred infectious diseases in the prenatal period can cause a violation of the sequence of teething of deciduous teeth or provoke the absence of any tooth.
Adentia is possible - a phenomenon characterized by a complete or partial absence of tooth rudiments. However, it is extremely rare. And in most cases, adentia is due to the genetic predisposition of the child or the diseases suffered by the woman during the period of bearing the child.
In addition, untimely appearance of teeth, and even in the wrong place, may be due to the horizontal position of the tooth.
To exclude the presence of pathologies, it is recommended to consult a pediatrician and a pediatric dentist. If necessary, specialists will prescribe additional examinations and determine the cause of the lack of teeth.
How teeth are cut: symptoms
The appearance of teeth is an important and at the same time very difficult stage for each baby and his mom and dad. That is why many young parents care about how to understand that their teeth are being cut? As a rule, the process of teething in a baby’s teeth is accompanied by the appearance of specific symptoms:
- Redness and swelling of the gums. This phenomenon can appear several days or even weeks before the appearance of the teeth. During this period, the gums begin to itch strongly. There are painful sensations.
- Strengthening salivation.
- Sour smell from the baby's mouth, caused by the decomposition of particles of the mucous membrane.
- Swelling of the cheeks.
- The child pulls all objects into his mouth, thus trying to get rid of itching on the surface of the swollen gums.
- The child becomes moody, excitable, constantly asks for pens.
- Runny nose.
- Stool disorder, constipation, diarrhea.
- Cough.
In addition, the appearance of a baby's teeth may be accompanied by a deterioration in appetite. Vomiting and frequent spitting up are possible. Often the process of teething is accompanied by an increase in basal temperature.
The child’s sleep becomes intermittent. The baby often wakes up with crying. It may cause a rash on the gums in the form of red vesicles.
It is important to note that not all of the above symptoms may appear at the same time. It depends on the individual characteristics of the body.
It is important for parents to study in advance the possible symptoms that occur during the period when the teeth are cut. Photos of babies who begin this process are presented in the article.
Dangerous signs that should alert
During teething, the baby's immune systems weaken, the body becomes susceptible to infections and viruses. Therefore, at this stage in the development of the baby, young parents need to give even more care to the child and carefully monitor the health of the baby, observe its emotional state.
It is very important for parents to be able to distinguish between teething symptoms and signs of a cold.
Coughing during teething is possible and is caused by the production of excessive amounts of saliva, which flows down the throat and causes a cough reflex. As a rule, the cough is moist and intensifies when the child is in a horizontal position. It rarely appears, about 7-8 times a day. If the cough intensifies and begins to cause the child discomfort, you should immediately contact a pediatrician to prevent the infection from entering the body of the crumbs.
An increase in mucous discharge from the nose is important to distinguish from the common cold that accompanies a common cold. If the discharge acquires a yellowish or greenish tint and their discharge lasts more than four days, you should also consult a pediatrician.
The appearance of diarrhea during teething is also possible. Diarrhea that occurs in an infant during this period is due to increased salivation, leading to an acceleration of intestinal motility. Abundant and frequent (more than 3-4 times a day) diarrhea should alert young parents. This is an occasion to contact a specialist for advice.
If the immune system of the crumb body is weakened, during the period of the appearance of teeth, diseases of the oral cavity may occur:
Temperature rise
Very often during teething there is an increase in body temperature of a small child. A normal reaction of the body is an increase in basal temperature to 38 degrees. If the increase reaches a mark of 38.5 degrees and above, you should immediately contact a pediatrician. Since such an increase indicates the presence of a cold and requires treatment.
An increase in temperature that accompanies the process of teething is observed, as a rule, within two to three days and is easily eliminated with an antipyretic.
Medicines that relieve teething symptoms
Local anesthetics in the form of an ointment or gel will help relieve pain during teething. You can buy a similar tool in any pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription. Currently, there are a huge variety of gels and ointments from various manufacturers.
In addition, homeopathic drops and suppositories can help the child. They will facilitate the manifestation of symptoms and will help improve the emotional state of a small child.
The most popular medications are:
- Dantinorm;
- "Dentokind";
- Nurofen
- Baby Doctor First Teeth;
- "Pansoral" First teeth ";
- Calgel;
- Holisal.
Before starting use, you need to carefully study the instructions and read about the dosages of the drugs and possible contraindications.
Medications are divided into three groups depending on the main active substance:
- homeopathic;
- cooling;
- anti-inflammatory.
The action of anti-inflammatory gels and ointments is longer than that of two analogues.
Folk remedies
To cope with the painful sensations that arise in the baby during teething, traditional medicine will help. It is worth noting several of the most common and effective ways:
- Warm tea made from medicinal herbs: lemon balm, chamomile, lavender or catnip.
- Clove oil, which has a unique analgesic effect and relieves inflammation on the baby’s gums.
- Chamomile, which also has anti-inflammatory and soothing effects. A more concentrated solution based on this plant can be rubbed into the baby’s gums, and a less concentrated solution can be drunk.
- Valerian is a universal sedative. The solution based on valerian should be infused for three days. Then you need to regularly rub it into the swollen gums of the baby.
Well proven in the fight against pain during teething honey. Lubrication with honey can only be done if the child is not allergic.
How long does the teething process last?
Many parents are interested in how long the first tooth and all subsequent ones are cut. The duration of this process is different for each child. The first tooth can appear within three days or even a week after the gum swells.
After the appearance of the lower incisors, the eruption of the upper central teeth begins.
How to help the baby?
When the teething process begins, the question becomes relevant when teeth are being cut, how to help a baby, what needs to be done to ease his suffering? You can help the baby during the appearance of the first and subsequent teeth. The child is recommended to give cool vegetables and fruits, which are an excellent tool for massage gums. The products not only massage the gums, but also cool them, producing an analgesic effect.
In addition, mom can make cold lotions. To do this, take a small piece of gauze and moisten it in cool water. To massage the swollen gums of a baby, a soft toothbrush is suitable.
By the way, at present, special finger-type toothbrushes are sold in pharmacies, which are an excellent tool for massage. For this purpose, special teethers and "scratchers" for gums, which are available in any pharmacy, are also suitable. You can buy them at an affordable price.
In addition, during teething, it is recommended to put the baby's head on a slight elevation. This will allow you to divert blood from the gums and reduce the intensity of pain.
Is it possible to walk?
In addition, teething is not a reason to refuse daily walks in the fresh air. Walking is necessary for the baby to develop correctly. The reason for refusing these is an increase in the baby's body temperature, as well as a suspicion of the penetration of an infection or virus into the body of the crumbs.
If parents suspect that the cause of the restless behavior, runny nose and other symptoms is a cold, and not the appearance of teeth, it is best to postpone walks until the baby's condition improves and it is completely stabilized.
Can I get vaccinated?
Teething is a physiological process and is not a reason for refusing vaccination. Most vaccines are well tolerated by a small child. But there are vaccinations, after vaccination with which the emotional state of the baby does not change for the better. The baby becomes moody, an increase in basal temperature is possible. One such vaccine is DTP.
Experts strongly recommend that you refuse this vaccination during teething. Vaccination is recommended to be postponed until the state of the child's body is completely stabilized.
Instead of a conclusion
Teething is an important and inevitable period in the development of the baby. This is a big blow for a small organism. It is important for parents to know about the features of the process of teething, about the possible symptoms and complications that occur when teeth are cut. Symptoms are very similar to signs of a cold. That is why parents often confuse the process of the appearance of milk teeth with a common cold. When teeth are cut, the body temperature of a young child often rises, and cough and runny nose are possible. In addition, teething may be accompanied by vomiting and frequent regurgitation.
In any case, the baby's parents should know what measures to take when teeth are cut, what to do. Thus, mom and dad will be able to help a small child survive this stage easier, make it not so painful and restless.
It should be understood that if the condition of the child worsens for a long time, you must immediately call a pediatrician or visit a children's clinic on your own, as the symptoms that accompany teething are very similar to the signs of acute respiratory viral infections and colds.