Babies get their baby teeth six to 12 months after they are born, with several of their primary teeth erupting one at a time. While this may be a joy to witness as parents, it can be a very uncomfortable experience for your baby.

The symptoms of teething can cause your baby to tumble, turn, cry, and fuss. It also increases their desire to chew or bite on objects to alleviate the discomfort. While these may sound daunting as a parent, the good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to help relieve the discomfort and soothe your baby during teething. 

But first, let’s discuss what happens during teething and how you can tell that your baby has begun developing primary teeth. 

What Happens During Teething?

The baby’s fourth month is the starting point of their oral development, which means that their primary teeth or baby teeth are preparing to erupt. Because these are their first set of teeth, it can be uncomfortable for their sensitive gums. However, this is completely normal and is nothing to worry about. 

Signs That Your Baby is Teething 

Your baby can start teething long before their first baby tooth comes out. So how do you tell that they’re teething? Here are some common symptoms: 

• Increased desire to chew or bite
• Changes in sleep and eating habits 
• Drooling 
• Irritated gums – red, swollen, or tender
• Low temperature – less than 101 degrees
• Crying and fussing 

It’s worth noting that not all babies experience the same teething symptoms. But if they are any of the above, these are normal and natural signs of teething. If, however, your baby experiences vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, or coughing, these are very irregular symptoms and you should see a doctor immediately. 

What You Can Do to Soothe Your Baby During Teething 

To help ease your baby’s teething discomfort, you can conduct the following efforts:

Apply Cold

Cold temperatures can help soothe discomfort, itchiness, and pain. You can use a cold compress and apply it to your baby’s gums. Other tools like a frozen teething ring, cold pacifier, or a washcloth wet with cold water are also good options. 

Allow Gnawing

In an effort to reduce the itchiness and discomfort of teething, babies would have a tendency to bite and chew on random objects. While you should discourage them from putting toys and other dirty things in their mouths, you can allow them to gnaw on clean objects. 

Teething rings are a huge help, relieving the itch and also helping the baby’s primary teeth push through the gums. 

Maintain Cleanliness

As much as possible, everything your baby touches should be clean and sanitized to avoid the spread of germs and bacteria. Make sure all the toys and tools are properly cleaned. Also, keep your baby’s mouth dry to prevent further irritation and discomfort during teething. 

Consider Pain Relievers 

If none of your efforts seem to be relieving your baby’s teething pain or discomfort, speak to your child’s dentist about possible pain relievers. Your dentist may allow you to use medication such as Tylenol, but only at a small dosage and for a short period. 

See the Dentist When the First Tooth Erupts

Your baby’s first trip to the dentist should be when the first tooth erupts, which is usually on their 6th month. For some babies, the first tooth eruption can be much later than that. In that case, their first dental appointment should be on their first birthday. 

From there on out, make sure to attend your dental appointments as scheduled to ensure that your baby develops healthy and strong teeth!