Teething

Also known as deciduous teeth, the first milk tooth appears between 6 & 9 months of age. Some babies will get their first tooth as early as 3 months or as late as 12 months.

Teeth usually come through in pairs, the lower central incisors are the first to appear, followed by the upper central incisors.  By the age of three, your child should have their full set of baby teeth.

Below is image showing typical eruption of baby teeth.

Signs of teething:

• When the tooth is about to erupt, the gum will be swollen & red & the gum will feel hard.

• Difficulty sleeping.

• Drooling and/or rash around the mouth.

• Loss of appetite.

• Chewing of objects.

• There seem to be differing opinions as to weather teething causes fever or not.  

Relieving teething symptoms:

• Teething rings to chew on.

• Some teething rings can be frozen, which can offer great relief to the teething baby.

• Teething gel may also be rubbed onto the gums if your baby is showing signs of discomfort.

• Ibuprofen or paracetamol may also be recommended for teething pain. Consult your doctor before giving these medications to a baby. Aspirin must never be given to a child as it can cause Reye’s syndrome.

Caring for baby teeth:

As soon as your baby's first tooth appears  you should clean their teeth. Your children's teeth should be cleaned twice a day, after breakfast & prior to bed. Children must be taught how to clean their teeth properly to ensure all plaque is removed from the teeth. Toothpaste should be spat out & not swallowed.

Dos & donts

• Don't let your child go to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice.

• Do use a toothpaste especially formulated for babies & children.

• Do avoid sugary sweets & snacks.

• Do avoid sugary drinks & juices. If you do give juice, water it down.

• Don't dip pacifiers in anything sweet such as honey or juice.

• Do feed your children a well balanced diet.

When to visit the dentist:

• Twice a year for routine checkups, this should begin around 13 months of age.

• Immediately if your child has a fall & the teeth are knocked.

• Immediately if your child loses a tooth in an accident.

• Immediately if your child complains of a toothache.

• If you notice bleeding from the gums.

• If you notice any dark spots/cavities.

• Don’t clean a dummy that has been dropped by putting it in your mouth. This transfers bacteria from your mouth onto the dummy. Rinse it under a tap instead.

• Do set a good example by properly caring for your own teeth.

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a doctor & should not be considered a replacement for a doctor visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate medical advice for any problems.

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.