Teething can be a frustrating experience for both parent and child. An unfortunate fact of being a new parent is that it can be challenging to determine why your baby is in pain and it’s terrible to know that you might not be able to make all of their discomfort go away.
The symptoms of teething are not always the same and can be very different from one tooth to another. Often, the eyeteeth (also known as the canine teeth or cuspids) are the largest and therefore tend to be the most uncomfortable teeth to come in. Babies can teethe for months without actually having a new tooth erupt through the gums.
Some babies will actually teethe, experience pain, diarrhea and a low grade fever for several days and just as you see the white tip of a new tooth starting to appear… the tooth goes back into the gum and you play the same routine within a few days or weeks. Every baby is different, but it is not unusual for a first tooth to appear as early as four months and it is more painful for some babies than it is for others.
So, What Can You Do About Teething?
As parents, you always want your child to feel better and you want to make the problem go away. Unfortunately, you may be able to limit their symptoms, but it is sometimes impossible for you to complete eliminate the symptoms of teething. Your pediatrician should be able to tell you if your child could take an infant’s over the counter pain medication, and if so, what the proper dosage is.
There are also several homeopathic remedies that many parents swear by. Teething tablets, which are made by several different manufacturers, work well without making your baby sleepy as many infant pain medications often do. Other options are frozen or chilled teething toys, which work by numbing the gums. However, many babies do not react well with the cold and refuse to use them.
Rubbing the gums and teeth can be soothing as well. A clean, soft washcloth is good for this. In previous generations, one of the most common remedies for teething was applying liquor directly to the gums and this is now known to be very dangerous. This could easily make your child very sick and in some cases, has caused death. No matter how often your parents or grandparents encourage it, know that modern medicine has proven how dangerous even a few drops of alcohol can be for a baby. With so many safe alternatives, it’s not worth the risk.
Finally, for many babies, the best thing you can do is to hold them, provide comfort and know that this will soon pass. Some babies get their teeth earlier, while some are still toothless at their first birthday. As soon as the first tooth appears, make sure that you take care of it and brush it, to encourage good dental health.
1 Comment
Thank you for great post.