Teething children: Things parents need to know

Teething babies are often uncomfortable, making it more difficult to take care of your baby. However, you still have a way to help your child more comfortable if you understand the teething process.

Teething is a developmental stage with many changes in health, so parents need to pay attention to the child's changes and have appropriate care for the baby. You let aFamilyToday Health to learn about the child's teething process and the secrets childcare teething nhé!

The process of teething children

Teething is the process where baby teeth appear in turn by emerge from the gums and often grow in pairs. Teething babies usually occur between 6-8 months of age, but some babies emerge as early as 3–4 months or until 12 months of age and it can take a few years for all 20 new teeth to appear. grows enough. Therefore, if the baby has not teething at 8 months, the mother should not be too worried.

When teeth erupt, they do not cut through the flesh, but instead, hormones are released in the body causing some of the cells in the gums to die and separate, allowing the teeth to pass.

This is a child's natural growth and development. You can refer to the time in the following table to know the number of months your baby teething, the order of teething and the baby teeth replacement stage.

Your baby's baby teeth will be perfect from 3 years old to 6–7 years old. The teething process has several characteristics such as:

- Girls often teething earlier than boys.

- Usually every 6 months babies will grow 4 more teeth.

A child's lower molars often grow earlier than their upper molars.

Teeth in both jaws are usually in pairs, one on the right side and one on the left side.

Baby teeth are usually smaller in size and whiter than permanent teeth.

- By the time children are from 2 to 3 years old, all baby teeth will grow fully. At the age of 6–12, both baby teeth and permanent teeth coexist, and they will gradually replace teeth.

Handling symptoms in teething children

Teething babies often fussy and uncomfortable when the swelling and pain at the teething site. Some children may even have more serious conditions such as fever, anorexia ... so parents need to have solutions. The following are the common signs of teething in children.

1. Children with a fever teething

Signs: Teething babies may have a mild fever. This is called teething fever .

Handling: Parents should monitor the baby's temperature regularly. If your child has a fever of 38 degrees or less than 38 degrees with signs of discomfort in the gums, it may be due to teething fever. However, if the child's temperature is higher than 38 degrees Celsius, the baby may be infected with bacteria, virus or be sick, not simply due to teething fever. At that time, parents need to take the child to see a doctor immediately.

2. Swelling and pain at the teething site

Signs: A few days before teething, teething babies often have pain and discomfort in the gums. Therefore, children often have the habit of putting their hands in their mouths to nibble or nibble on toys or spoons that they can hold.

Treatment: Parents can help alleviate their child's pain by having their child chew on toys designed for teething babies. You should pay special attention to choose safe toys and clean toys for your baby often. Parents also need to pay attention to hand hygiene for babies because babies often have a habit of putting their hands in their mouths when they are about to be teething.

3. The child has anorexia and is fussy

Signs: Teething babies suffer from mouth and gum pain, so they often have anorexia, even lazy to suckle, afraid to drink water. Children may also be more fussy and difficult to sleep than usual, especially when they feel uncomfortable.

Treatment: When a baby teething, parents should try to comfort the baby to drink water or milk. If your baby has solid foods, cold foods may be preferred.

4. Children drooling when teething

Signs: Teething babies often drool a lot, and their drool can cause itchy chin, face or chest in some cases.

Handling: You should pay attention to wear bibs and oral hygiene for your baby often by wrapping gauze around the index finger and immersed in warm water to wipe the baby's gums. You can also use a soft, clean washcloth to wipe the droppings around your baby's mouth and give him water after eating and feeding.  

Teething also has many other signs and symptoms such as chewing solid objects; pain, gum ulcers; redness and swelling of the gums. Children may experience other symptoms not mentioned. If you have any questions about the signs of this condition, consult your doctor.

Notes in the teething process in children

- When your baby teething, you should actively add calcium-rich foods to the mother's and baby's diet so that your baby will be supplemented with calcium when breastfeeding and weaning.

- If the child is in pain or discomfort, parents can consult their doctor if they can use acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to relieve the pain. You need to read the directions carefully before taking the drug and take the recommended dosage by your doctor.

- You can use your clean finger to rub gently on the growing gums for about 2 minutes to reduce the discomfort.

You should not use topical gels for teething because these gels can contain benzocaine - a substance that can be harmful to your baby. You need to discuss and consult your doctor before using any teething medicine for your baby.

- If your child has started solids , parents can offer them food and cool liquids to help relieve gums pain.

When to take the child to the doctor?

In the following cases, parents need to bring their children to see a doctor immediately:

- The child has a fever, especially when the fever is over 38ºC, because this could be a sign that the child is infected or inflamed, not that the fever is teething.

- Children constantly use their hands to pull their ears, pull their ears.

- Children have severe diarrhea or diaper rash.

Watch for any changes in your child's health and contact your doctor or nurse right away if:

- Children show signs of tooth decay.

- The baby is 18 months old but still has not teething.

You will also need to take your child to a dental or pediatric visit according to the doctor's appointment and contact the doctor or nurse if the baby has any health problems. When giving your baby a checkup, you need to remember to bring your child's test results and medications so that the doctor can know the information and make the best diagnosis and treatment.

Measures at home parents can take to keep their baby's teeth healthy

Preventing baby tooth decay. For example, as soon as your baby teething, wipe it off with a soft cloth or gauze. When the teeth grow more, parents let the baby with a soft bristle brush and only use water in the first months. In addition, to prevent tooth decay for your baby, take out the bottle as soon as your baby has finished feeding, especially at night. When your baby starts solids, offer low-sugar foods and keep nighttime milk to a minimum.

Oral examination. About 6 months after the baby's first tooth comes in, parents should take their baby to the dentist for check-ups and regular check-ups to make sure the baby's teeth are healthy and growing well.

The teething period is always the most uncomfortable time for both parents and babies. Hopefully the above article can help you and your child through this stage more easily. Instead of thinking of it as a crisis, you can multiply this moment and save your baby's cute moments. Chances are you will have to laugh at this later time because of his posture.

Parents please refer to the article " Children slowly teething: Should parents worry? ”To learn more about teething in children.