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| |    Baby Teeth: The Basics by Amy A. Napierala, D.D.S. reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. Teething is the stage in which a young child's baby teeth begin to emerge. Children react and respond differently when they are teething. Some show very few signs that this process is irritating their gums, while others clearly indicate that they're in discomfort. Most parents find that their children are irritable while a tooth is causing pressure under the gum tissue, but once it erupts into the mouth, they seem comfortable again. When baby teeth come in The 20 baby teeth, or primary teeth, begin forming below the gums before birth. The two lower front teeth (central incisors) are generally the first to erupt. This typically occurs around six months of age, but can vary by a several months from child to child. Most children will have a full set of baby teeth by the time they are three years old. Some children are actually born with a tooth or teeth. These are called neonatal teeth. They are true baby teeth and not extras. If your child is born with a tooth or has one erupt shortly after birth, a dentist should evaluate the situation. What you can do to help There are a few things that parents can do in order to ease the discomfort of teething. Massaging the gum tissue, or gingiva, with a clean finger or cool wet gauze can be quite soothing. Allowing the child to suck or chew on a cool, clean teething ring is also an option. Topical analgesics may provide some temporary relief, but if the discomfort seems significant, a small dose of acetaminophen (readily available over the counter in formulations suitable for infants) may be beneficial. Myths about teething Some myths exist surrounding teething. Contrary to a popular folk remedy, you should never rub whiskey or other alcoholic products on your infant's gum tissue. It is also untrue that a child will experience a fever while cutting a tooth. If your child has a fever, you should treat it as an unrelated symptom, and consult your pediatrician as you would for any other fever. Taking care of new baby teeth Even before your baby's first tooth comes in, you should begin cleaning her mouth. Gently rubbing a damp, clean washcloth or gauze pad over the gums after feedings will help remove food debris and accustom your child to the cleaning process. As soon as teeth emerge, they should be wiped clean after feedings. At this point, you may choose to use a soft bristled infant toothbrush. Toothpaste usually is not necessary at this age unless specifically recommended by your pediatric dentist. And speaking of dentists, you might be surprised to learn how early your child should starting going to one; these days, the recommendation is that a child begin seeing a pediatric dentist within six months of when her first tooth emerges (generally around her first birthday). Tooth decay and cavities Teeth are susceptible to decay or cavities as soon as they appear. That is why early and proper care is very important. Babies should never be put to bed with a bottle containing milk, formula, juice, or any other liquid that contains sugar. If this occurs on a regular basis, a dental condition called baby-bottle tooth decay, or early-childhood caries, can occur. The upper front teeth are usually the first to be affected, but the decay process can eventually damage other teeth in your child's mouth. Losing baby teeth That first loose tooth can be exciting to some children, but upsetting to others. Children need to be reassured that losing baby teeth is a natural process and that new adult teeth will come in their place. The first tooth to fall out, or exfoliate, is usually one of the lower front teeth. This generally occurs at six to seven years of age, with girls experiencing loose teeth earlier than boys. Up to a year or two earlier or later than this age could be perfectly normal for your child. Some children experience little or no discomfort while they're losing teeth, although gum-tissue tenderness and a little bleeding can occur and is considered normal. If a loose tooth is causing your child pain, a cold compress, topical analgesics, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen may help.
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