It is a wonderful thing to welcome your precious baby into the world. But, with all good things come some realities too. Babies will be fussy from time to time (and sometimes a lot). There are a lot of causes but we’re here today to discuss fussiness related to tooth eruption pain – teething.
When teeth cut through the gums, they truly create a wound in the gum tissue. This can be quite painful. When that happens, it can also disrupt infants eating habits, amplifying fussiness. Add the extra drooling on top of that, and it can seem like you’re always changing their clothes, reaching for a bib, or just trying to take deep breaths because your little one is so worked up.
Teething is hard on everyone. Fortunately, it’s only temporary. The bad news is that their primary (baby) teeth will continue erupting until your toddler is about two years old. Thankfully, periods of teething are short-lived.
The Good News: This Is Normal
Teething is a normal part of childhood development. Your baby usually will not need medication or pain reliever to get through this stage of childhood. That being said, it’s still natural for them to feel fussy because of the tooth working its way through their gums.
The other good news is that most babies only experience about a week or less of irritation per tooth coming in – beginning about four days prior to a few days after it cuts through the gums.
A Note About Teething Gels and Tablets
Over-the-counter and homeopathic teething medication is not recommended for infants. The FDA recently alerted parents, pediatricians, and dental professionals to the dangers of using products that contain benzocaine in babies. If you truly believe that your child needs medication for teething, talk to our pediatric dentists or your pediatrician.
Simple Ways to Relieve Teething Babies
Giving your baby something safe and cool to chew on is naturally soothing. Teething rings that can be partially frozen or a cold, wet washcloth can also provide natural numbing action.
If you have questions about your baby’s tooth eruption patterns or want to know if things are developing normally, contact us to request an appointment. We recommend that all infants have their first dental exam by the time they turn a year old or when their first tooth erupts. This visit is acclimatizing for little ones and very educational for parents. We hope to see you soon!
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan has specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Premier Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. We have the ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs as we have treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
