How Will Your Baby’s Teeth Appear

When your baby is almost 4 months you will observe your baby is constantly dribbling, there is saliva coming out of the mouth and baby is biting onto hard surfaces of toys or even the nipple of your breast, you will get a hint that it is time for the tiny teeth to appear.

Your baby’s first teeth show between four to six months. For few kids the teeth appear as early as three months and also around twelve months too. You will first see two bottom teeth appear from the gums and later followed by four upper teeth in the next four to eight weeks. This is the time when the baby is fussier.

There will be soreness and swelling of gums resulting in the drool. Few babies have redness and will be crying for long durations due to pain. These symptoms will be seen three to four days before the initial teeth comes out of the gums and will vanish once teeth have appeared. For some babies the transition is smooth, they do not have the irritation.

You can give thick slices of carrot, dry bread ( rusk / croutons) to nibble. Toys like teething rings are available. This will keep the child engaged and will provide some relaxation .Ensure no contact of these items on floor during usage.

Your child will continue to get new teeth until he has all twenty of his primary teeth when he is three years old. The normal pattern is appearance of four new teeth every four months.

Proper care should be administered for the baby teeth or primary teeth. This is very important as these teeth hold space for the future eruption of permanent teeth. If a baby’s teeth is removed too early or teeth decays, the space necessary for the permanent teeth is lost and can be regained only through orthodontic treatment.  Infected baby teeth can cause the permanent teeth to develop improperly resulting in stains, pits and weaker teeth.

Tips for dental care:

• Initially you can clean your child’s mouth with a moist cloth or thin towel.
• Standardize feeding habits ( breast feeding)
• When baby is around six months, use a small soft – bristled brush . Tooth paste will not be required for the baby until he attains one year.
• Provide safe objects for the baby to nibble, the tendency of the child is to put anything around .
• Consult your doctor in case you feel the pain is not being managed .
• Do not put your child to sleep with a bottle , since the sugar in the milk will pool around the teeth all night and cause cavities.
• If your baby is bottle fed, wean the child by the first birthday. This will avoid teeth raising higher.
• Once baby is one year old you can apply a little toothpaste the size of a groundnut such that he will experiment
• Teach the child to gargle mouth after brushing and also after meals to avoid food particles getting stuck.
• Train the child to brush twice a day – morning and before bed time at night.
• Provide a balanced diet. Save foods with sugar and starch along with basic meals. If not they will get stuck in between teeth and lead to tooth decay.
• Dental care can begin when the child is one year old. Include check up of pediatric dentists at least once in six months.

Best of luck…and Happy teething !!