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There are those who are born with a small quenotte and those who have very soft gums for up to a year! In any case, teething is often synonymous with red cheeks and big tears. Our advice for understanding this painful period for baby.
Which baby tooth comes out first and at what age?
Usually, the first teeth appear from 5-6 months. But in some infants, «they can pierce as early as 3 months », Explains pediatrician Thierry Marck. The lower central incisors push out first. By 10 months, babies may already have eight small teeth (four incisors at the top and bottom). However, there is no rule. Indeed, the first quenotte can also appear around one year. On the other hand, those who already have small incisors at a few months will be able to quickly see their two premolars of the upper jaw pierce! Between 12 and 24 months then appear the lower and upper canines. Up to 30 months, the last molars will grow: 2 at the bottom then 2 at the top.
It’s the order of appearance and symmetry that really matters : if a small canine is born on one side of the jaw, its companion must come out within 6 months. The teething is followed closely by the pediatrician, who counts and notes the date of appearance of each quenotte. He will alert you to the slightest problem and advise you to consult a dentist. In total, around 3 years old, your child’s 20 baby teeth should be made. If not, talk to your pediatrician.
Natal and neonatal teeth
Being born with a small quenotte is possible! This phenomenon, called native tooth, affects between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 6000 births. Even rarer, of the teeth may appear in infants after a few days of life (these are the neonatal teeth). In 85% of cases, these are incisors located on the lower jaw. Very often, they are mobile since they have little or no root, and to avoid any risk of swallowing or injury, they are therefore extracted.
How do you know if your baby is teething and teething?
The arrival of the first teeth can lead to certain ailments: low fever, loose stools, loss of appetite, heavy salivation. Our child may also have sore buttocks. Teething can also cause small digestive and intestinal problems, redness in the cheeks, sometimes even small bluish cysts on the gum tissue. But beware: the arrival of the very first baby tooth does not have to explain all the sores and inconveniences and you should not hesitate to consult your pediatrician in the event, for example, of a fever above 38 or 38,5 ° C, and that would last several days.
How to relieve your baby when he has his first teeth?
If baby is a little grumpy a teething ring may relieve his gums. You can even leave it in the fridge for a few minutes to take advantage of the numbing effect of the cold. An analgesic can also be useful, especially in case of low fever. If gently massaging your gum can soothe the pain, let’s avoid doing it with sugar, which is the best way to create cavities. In any case, we do not hesitate to ask our pediatrician to prescribe to our toddler something to relieve him!
Evocative “misleading” signs
Salivating a lot or putting things in your mouth often can give the impression that a tooth is coming. But it’s not always the case. Indeed, the first months, our infant explores the world around him with his mouth! He thus discovers the shape, the taste, the consistency of objects. This is the period of the “oral stage”, rich in experiences for Baby. Another misleading sign: the epithelial bead. It is actually a small white growth of the gum, which will disappear on its own..
Good dental hygiene from the cradle!
It is not because the baby teeth are not permanent that they should not be maintained! On the contrary, as soon as one of them is decayed, it must be treated immediately so as not to contaminate the others, forming under the gum. The following could be misshapen, stained, or yellowed. So as soon as the first incisors appear, we can rub gently and dailyusing our finger (slightly damp and very clean).
His first toothbrush, around 2 years old
From 2 years old, you can buy a toothbrush adapted to your small mouth, as well as a suitable toothpaste. Up to 3 years of age, just one 2-minute daily toothbrushing is sufficient. To avoid bottle-feeding syndrome, that is to say the appearance of early cavities, it is recommended to avoid giving sugary drinks to our little one during the day and to leave him a bottle containing something other than water (without sugar) to “tickle” at night.
Finally, in order to familiarize baby with the dentist and avoid fear of this practitioner, we can plan a preventive visit very early, around two years old!