Did you know that the development of milk teeth begins in the sixth week of intrauterine life? The eruption of the first temporary teeth begins between the fourth and seventh month of the baby’s life and ends between 30–36 months, although the times may vary from one baby to another.
How is teething in babies?
The first teeth you will see erupt in your little one’s mouth are the lower central incisors. Here is a reference chart for what to expect with teething babies:
Although it is rare, some babies may have teeth at birth, or they may erupt during the first month of life. These teeth can be part of both the normal dentition and be supernumerary, that is, they appear additionally.
In these cases, it is important to determine the mobility of the tooth due to the risk of aspiration, traumatic lesions that can occur in the mouth, and difficulty in breastfeeding… So the dentist will be the one who decides if it is preferable to extract the tooth or to preserve it.
And what are the symptoms of teething?
There are many local and systemic symptoms that have been attributed to dental eruption over the years and that cause common aches and pains in infants. The most frequent symptoms associated with teething are:
- Redness and inflammation of the gums
- Decreased sleep and appetite
- Increasing salivation
- Irritability and pain.
These symptoms are variable and do not occur in all cases, with babies going through this process without any inconvenience. In fact, there is controversy whether dental eruption causes a fever. In the latest studies carried out, it has been observed that there may be a slight increase in body temperature not exceeding 37.8 °C, considered low-grade fever and not fever.
In general, the eruption of deciduous teeth begins at a time when other changes in the immune system, growth, and development are also occurring. This predisposes a baby to a variety of infections: respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, middle ear infections… which can be mistakenly attributed to tooth eruption. But generally, the variable symptoms produced by a dental eruption in babies are temporary and never serious.
In fact, there is no specific symptom or set of symptoms that can reliably predict tooth eruption. Furthermore, the symptoms that could be attributed to teething are not serious, and the presence of fever (38.5°C) or other clinically important symptoms is highly unlikely to be caused by teething. In these cases, it is recommended to see a doctor to rule out other possible causes.
How to relieve teething symptoms?
In order to alleviate the symptoms derived from the dental eruption, it is recommended to use approved teethers that can be cooled in the fridge and will help to soothe pain and inflammation, chew slightly hard foods, and rub the gums with gauze…
At the pharmacological level, the conservative use of paracetamol and ibuprofen can help alleviate the discomfort caused by teething thanks to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The use of benzocaine in infants is not recommended.
