Teething Period in Babies
The teething period in babies is a highly anticipated and very important milestone that occurs in the first months of baby development, which is generally quite complex and multi-stage. Although it is generally a very challenging period for parents, it is also a period that brings about great innovations in the nutrition and development of the baby. It is actually a maturation process for the baby.
What is Teething in Babies?
Teething is the name given to all the stages of babies’ teeth, which have completed their development in the gums and are ready to take place in the oral cavity, getting rid of the gums and settling in the oral cavity. In short, it is a physiological process that takes place from the tooth’s position in the jawbone to its emergence in the oral cavity.
This process may cause some undesirable symptoms in babies, depending on the changes that occur inside the mouth. These symptoms can seriously negatively affect the quality of life of both the baby and the baby’s family, even if only temporarily. For this reason, it is beneficial for families to be informed accurately and in detail by the health unit or health professional they communicate with about the teething period. Taking adequate precautions for this process and making correct interventions when necessary will ensure that both the baby and the family go through this process much more comfortably. The way and time this process occurs may vary depending on some genetic and environmental factors.
While it is very rare for some babies to have one or more of their teeth in the oral cavity at birth (1 in 2000 chance) (that is, some babies may be born with teeth), some babies may not yet have teeth in the oral cavity even in their first birthday, and this may be the case in some cases. It can cause unnecessary anxiety in parents. The tooth or teeth of babies born with teeth must be removed because they are not strong and will have negative effects on the baby. Every parent should realize that every baby has a unique developmental process in terms of dental development. In this regard, the baby should only consult his/her physicians regarding the development process, without comparing it with other peers.
When Do Babies Teeth?
Teething time in babies can actually vary greatly from baby to baby, as each baby is a different individual. This time generally depends on genetic factors, that is, when the mother or father, or the previous children, if any, get their first teeth, affects the baby’s teething time. It is useful to evaluate it depending on these factors. Parents can spend this period comfortably knowing that babies teething earlier or later is not a developmental disorder.
The period of oral exploration, known as one of the developmental periods of babies, generally begins in the 3rd month of life, and during this period, babies tend to take all kinds of objects they find around them into their mouths. These movements may be misinterpreted by parents and perceived as early teething, which may cause concerns. It should also be considered that these movements may be part of a developmental process and have no actual relationship with the teething process. If this situation causes excessive concern, it would be beneficial to seek help from a healthcare professional.
The teething process usually occurs between the ages of 3 and 12 in babies. The first tooth usually appears in the oral cavity around the middle of the 7th month. These first teeth to emerge are called milk teeth, and between the ages of 6-12, these teeth are replaced by what we call permanent teeth.
What is the Order of Teething in Babies?
The periods when tooth groups begin to emerge can be summarized as follows:
- Front incisors; 5-8. on the moon,
- Lateral incisors; 9-12. on the moon,
- First molars (molar) teeth; 12-16. on the moon,
- Canine teeth; 16-20. on the moon,
- Second molars; 20-33. It comes out in a month.
After these teeth emerge, the 20 basic teeth, called milk teeth, are completed. Between the ages of 6 and 12, the roots of these first teeth, known as milk teeth, begin to slowly degenerate and are replaced by 32 permanent teeth. After entering adolescence, third molars, known as wisdom teeth, appear at ages that vary greatly from person to person. With this process, the tooth development process in the mouth is completed.
What are the symptoms of teething in babies?
Teething symptoms in babies are also very important for the family. Some precautions to be taken in advance will prevent many symptoms that will be experienced during this period, so being informed accurately and adequately by a health professional in advance will be of great benefit to families. In this process, teeth that are embedded in the gums and have completed their development begin to move within the gums and move towards the oral cavity. As a result of this progression, some negative symptoms may occur. In this process, the process of molars taking place in the oral cavity may lead to more negative symptoms in children since their surface area is larger.
The most common teething symptoms are:
- Irritability, frequent crying periods
- Sleep pattern problems or difficulty falling asleep
- Loss of appetite and subsequent slowing of weight gain or weight loss
- Gums appear edematous and red
- Formation of fluid-filled bubbles due to blockage of local glands in the areas where the teeth grow
- Increased tendency to put hands or any hard object found in the environment into the mouth
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Increased salivary flow and cough that may occur due to this increase
- Irritation, rash or redness caused by saliva accumulating at the edge of the mouth due to increased salivary flow. Pain or itching in the ears, especially with pain in the gums that coincides with the eruption of molars.
A mild fever may also be a symptom in children due to swelling of the gums. (Fever due to dental problem is usually around 38-38.5.)
How Many Days Does Teething Fever Last in Babies?
Fever may also be a symptom in babies during the teething period, but this fever is around 38.5 degrees. Fever symptoms should not last longer than 2-3 days. It is necessary to be careful with fevers of 38.5 degrees and above measured under the armpit. Especially if the fever symptom persists for more than 3 days and is accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and rash, the baby may have an infection that coincides with the teething period or occurs as a result of this process. It is necessary to consult the pediatrician who follows your baby so that he can evaluate this and intervene in the situation correctly at an early stage.
How Many Days Does It Take for the First Teething in Babies?
Just as the symptoms may vary during this process, teething times may vary greatly in each baby. It may begin to show symptoms 4-8 days before the teething process begins. After the tooth erupts, it usually takes about 8 days to establish itself in the oral cavity.
What is Good for Teething in Babies?
There are some measures that health professionals find appropriate to be implemented to alleviate the discomfort caused by the negative symptoms that develop during the teething period, but all of these measures may not work for every baby. Families should try and choose the one that is suitable for their baby among these measures. The following methods are frequently used to relieve these symptoms:
In this process, it is very important to establish a bond with the baby and make him feel that you are with him. Therefore, hugging the baby a lot will be a good start.
It may be recommended to apply pressure to the teething area using flexible objects such as cooled (but not frozen) chewing toys, spoons, and pacifiers in order to reduce pain and itching. However, it is very important to use objects recommended by orthodontists for the proper and healthy development of teeth.
It is also beneficial to massage the finger gums of babies who have completed their 6th month of age by cooling them with cold water. In the period after 6 months, babies can also be given hard foods such as carrots and celery stalks to scratch their teeth, but it is important that their parents are present
during this process . In this process, it is very dangerous to use medication without consulting a physician.
What are the Causes of Late Teething in Babies?
Just as there can be differences in all kinds of behaviors during the developmental processes of babies, teething times may also vary. This difference does not mean that there is a disorder in the development process, that the teeth will be prone to decay or that it will cause any other problem. This situation is quite normal. This situation may differ depending on genetics. The teething process of the mother, father or another sibling, if any, should also be taken into consideration. If the teeth come out late, the process of permanent teeth replacing the milk teeth may start late, and you should not worry about this.
During the teething period, we recommend that you seek the guidance of the pediatrician you follow, so that both your baby and you, the parent, can go through this period healthily and comfortably.
