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Preparations for the birth of our children are a period full of various concerns that do not end with the moment of their solution. In fact, only from the moment of birth does a child become really demanding and it should be surrounded by a relatively tight cocoon of care. Among the issues related to the development of our child there are some really important issues. These include the appearance of the first teeth, the so-called first teething of a baby. When do the first teeth appear in an infant? In what order does teething occur? Is the teething calendar always the same? These are just a few of the key questions on this topic.
Infant teething
We can learn about the upcoming teething of our child from a simple observation of his behavior. There are many signs of upcoming teething, and most importantly – they are very diverse. Most children show more than one of the potential symptoms.
First of all, a child who is rapidly approaching teething easily stuffs almost everything that is in his hands into his mouth. Your baby can sense the first teeth as they approach, piercing through the soft tissue of the gums. Putting everything in the mouth, especially objects with hard edges, and then nibbling them, is nothing more than the child’s willingness to release the tooth escaping from the depths of the gum. This behavior is relatively safe and occurs in every teething toddler. However, special care should be taken to ensure that the child does not put into his mouth dirty objects, taken directly from the floor or with too sharp edges that could cause wounds inside the mouth.
Teething can also be a source of unpleasant sensations for the child (and therefore his parents). It often causes pain, which children reveal through capricious and malicious behavior, trouble sleeping, crying, or lack of appetite. As a result, the child’s general well-being is lowered and his behavior is destabilized.
Also, physiological symptoms in the area and surroundings of the oral cavity may indicate teething. These include: drooling, rash inside the mouth or on the chin, red skin on the cheeks, swelling or inflammation of the gums, as well as their congestion.
The last group of symptoms is the baby’s feeding behavior and reactions to food. These include various short-term eating disorders: lack of appetite, excessive appetite for food, excessive sucking reflex, rejection of food, bottle or breast.
The above symptoms are part of the repertoire of completely normal behaviors, natural reactions of our child to this unusual change, which is the appearance of the first teeth. They usually occur in a mixed manner and may persist throughout the period of tooth growth.
The course of teething
Teething usually begins around 6 months of age. This is not a golden rule, and sometimes teething can be late or several weeks ahead. There are even known cases of teething in the 3rd or 2nd month (but they are exceptions). The first teeth to erupt are the incisors. They are sharp-shaped teeth, therefore their appearance occurs at the beginning of the teething process and is relatively quick. The lateral incisors and the upper incisors appear next. At the age of a year and a half, fangs appear. After them, however, the lower molars reveal themselves.
How can you help your baby with teething?
The main problem with teething is the pain sensation of teeth breaking through the gums. This feeling has a different level of intensity depending on what stage of teething the child is at, which teeth are just growing out, and at what pace this process takes place. This is why most of the activities we can help our teething children focus on relieving the pain sensation or improve the course of the teething process.
First of all, children should be presented with the appropriate toys selected by us. It is recommended to use toys intended for teething children, the so-called teethers, the material and shape of which are adapted to repeated chewing. Thanks to them, the child will react to somatic feelings caused by emerging teeth, and also help the first teeth to break through to the top.
Parents whose children experience extremely difficult teething can benefit from activities such as gentle gum massage, consisting of alternating pressing and massaging them. In these situations, special attention should be paid to the hygiene of the fingers with which we massage. The massage can be done from the inside – putting your fingers in the baby’s mouth and massaging the teething area directly. We can also massage through the skin of the cheek. It is also worth using cold or warm compresses, as well as specialized preparations – such as gels or lotions – that eliminate the unpleasant sensations associated with teething.
To massage the gums, and at the same time to maintain oral hygiene in a young child, use the Neno Denti Electronic Baby Brush, which has soft nylon bristles. You can buy the brush at an attractive price on Medonet Market. We also recommend the CHICCO toothbrush and gum set for children from the first day of life.