With the advent of a new member in the family, other relatives and parents themselves have new questions and tasks. Upon returning from the maternity hospital, the newly-made mother is worried about where her baby will sleep, what he will eat and whether everything is normal for the baby with health. After receiving answers to these questions, a new problem arises: colic and increased gas formation in the sterile intestine. With the disappearance of this symptom, another concern appears - the baby's teeth. It is about them that we will discuss later. You will find out the main symptoms of teething in infants. You can also learn about effective ways to help. It is worth mentioning about the timing of teething in babies and what this or that deviation from the set time indicates.
Baby teeth
Before you find out the established terms and symptoms of teething in babies, it is worth learning some information about the bookmark data of bone formations. During pregnancy, the formation and development of all organs and systems of the child occurs. Teeth are no exception. Their rudiments appear already in the second month of pregnancy. During this period, the woman still does not feel movements and does not have a large tummy. However, her baby has already decided on the order of teething.
Around the middle of pregnancy, another important stage in the development of this system begins. The fetus forms the rudiments of permanent teeth, which will appear only after 5-8 years. Most of the children are born without these formations. However, medicine knows cases when teething in babies (there are no symptoms at the same time) began already in the womb.
Milk teeth
Teething symptoms in babies appear long before mom or dad can detect the incisor. These formations are called dairy due to the fact that they are mainly shown during breastfeeding (or artificial) feeding. It is worth noting that teething symptoms in infants are always different. They may be absent altogether or have a blurred clinical picture.
By the age of three, the baby should have a complete set of milk teeth. There are only 20. Most often, they appear in pairs and almost simultaneously. Doctors say that between teething of similar teeth should not pass more than one month. Otherwise, we may be talking about some violations.
Teething time
So, you already know what should be the number of deciduous teeth in children. Some babies can boast of the first incisor at the age of three months. While others acquire these entities only at the end of the first year of life. Everything is very individual. However, there are generally accepted terms for teething in babies. Consider them.
- The first group of lower incisors is shown in the period from 6 to 9 months. However, sometimes mothers find anterior medial formations already at 3-4 months of a child’s life.
- The upper incisors go almost immediately after the lower ones. The teething period is from 7 to 10 months. If the lower teeth came out at 8 months, then the appearance of the upper should be expected at about 9.
- Second incisors (lateral) first appear on top. This happens approximately in the period from 9 to 12 months of the child's life.
- Immediately after this, a lower pair of lateral incisors appears. The term is set in 10-12 months.
- The next are the upper molars. They appear earlier than fangs. This is a feature of the normal development of the baby's jaw. This process occurs on a period from 12 to 18 months of life crumbs.
- The lower pair of molars is not long in coming. They cut through almost immediately after the top. However, the time range for this is from 13 to 19 months.
- It’s time for the fangs to appear. First, parents discover the top pair. It is cut for a period of 16 to 20 months.
- Immediately after this, the lower symmetrical teeth make themselves felt. These fangs appear around 19-22 months.
- The penultimate pair are the second molars. They appear first on the lower jaw and have a teething period of 20 to 33 months.
- Last come out the upper molars. This can happen between 24 and 36 months of a baby's life.
Can there be deviations from the established deadlines?
No parent has the power to bring closer or move the process of teething in his child. The order of appearance of these bone formations is determined in the womb. However, there may be pathologies in which a strong shift in teething occurs.
If you notice the early appearance of teeth (aged one to three months), then this may be a consequence of a variety of diseases of the endocrine system. In this case, you should undergo an examination as soon as possible. Perhaps the early appearance of teeth is an individual feature of your baby. However, you should make sure that the problem is really absent.
If the little teeth did not appear at the end of the first year of life, then it is also worth worrying a little. It is worth noting that most newly mummies begin to sound the alarm at the age of 7-10 months. However, this is absolutely not justified. An obvious indication for the examination is the fact of the absence of at least one tooth at the age of 12 months of the child. Most often, teething lag is associated with a lack of calcium and vitamin D, which in turn can be a symptom of rickets. Thyroid disease can also inhibit teething in children.
Another deviation from the conventional terms for teething is their incorrect order. Often, mothers take this fact as an individual feature of the body. In fact, this consequence arises as a result of a failure of intrauterine development. If the expectant mother suffered a disease during the period of laying the teeth or led the wrong lifestyle, then you should not be surprised at this phenomenon.
In some cases, teething in babies (symptoms will be described below) can occur simultaneously. At the same time, for example, not just two, but four or more incisors go immediately. Of course, this fact somewhat shifts the generally accepted terms. However, this is not considered a pathological abnormality.
Teething in babies: signs
Most often, the appearance of the first incisors and their subsequent neighbors is not asymptomatic. In most cases, signs appear already several months before this exciting moment. Mom and Dad daily look in the baby crumbs to find the first tooth. However, this may not happen for a long time.
Teething symptoms in babies often begin when colic ends. One unpleasant moment replaces another. In most cases, this is expressed by anxiety of the child, poor appetite and sleep, irritation and itching of the gums and so on. It is worth noting that the symptoms of teething in a child per year are practically no different from three months of age. However, observant mothers may notice that with age, the baby begins to show his anxiety in a slightly different way. So, consider the most popular teething symptoms in babies.
Restless behavior and causeless crying
Symptoms of teething in a child (4 months and older) are almost always expressed by anxiety. The baby suddenly begins to cry and behave differently than a few minutes ago. Also, the pain from teething can be not sharp, but growing. In this case, the baby can whine for a long time and behave irritably.
It is worth noting that this phenomenon can be a sign of any other disease, for example, fever or headache, gas accumulation in the intestines or banal hunger. Before providing first aid to a child, it is worth making sure that these are precisely the symptoms of teething. In children, in addition to restless behavior and crying, they can also manifest themselves with other signs.
Itching and gum irritation
Symptoms of teething in children under one year of age are almost always accompanied by itching of the gums. The baby constantly wants to chew something. Everything that falls into the hands of the baby is in his mouth. A child can taste toys, their own clothes, a chain from a dummy, and so on.
Remember that nothing dirty should get into the baby's mouth. Otherwise, it is fraught with the development of infection or inflammation. Itching from the gums can be removed with the help of modern drugs: ointments, gels, rectal suppositories and syrups. However, only a medical professional should prescribe medication.
Fever
Teething symptoms in babies can manifest as heat. However, it is not worth attributing any increase in body temperature to this particular symptom. When teeth appear, the level of the thermometer can be at the level of 37.2-37.5 degrees. If your child has a fever and a thermometer shows 38-39, then you should worry and do not write off everything on cutting teeth.
The temperature during teething appears immediately when the gums are injured and decreases immediately after the appearance of education. Such a symptom should not accompany the child for more than one week. With this value of the thermometer, antipyretic drugs can be used, but this is not recommended.
Increased salivation
Symptoms of teething of the upper teeth, as well as lower ones, can be expressed in the form of profuse salivation. However, this is not always an accurate sign of the imminent appearance of bone formation. Kids up to a year do not have the ability to swallow saliva. That is why the accumulated liquid flows out.
Also, excessive salivation can occur when the child is hungry. Most often, this symptom does not appear on its own. Be sure to have concomitant teething symptoms in a child.
External sign
Each mom, having discovered suspicious signs, looks into the baby's mouth to assess the condition of the gums. If the mucous membranes are swollen and reddened, then these are obvious symptoms of teething in a child. You can see photos of irritated gums in the article.
In addition to redness and swelling, a strip of white or red can be found. In the first case, it is a tooth. If the strip on the gum is red or even purple, then the incisor is still trying to break through the mucous membrane.
Restless sleep
Symptoms of teething in children aged 5.5 months and later may manifest as a sleep disorder. It is worth remembering that this symptom can be with neurological abnormalities. If your baby does not sleep well from birth, often wakes up and cries, then do not blame it on your teeth. Contact your neurologist or pediatrician to find out the cause of the concern.
If a previously calm baby begins to suddenly cry at night and ask for another portion of mother's milk, then we can talk about the imminent appearance of a tooth. At the same time, babies after applying to the chest do not so much eat as they simply chew the nipple. This helps them calm down and fall asleep, but mom can be very unpleasant and painful. Many babies refuse dummies at this moment.
It is worth noting that most often the teeth bother the child precisely at night. In this afternoon, the baby behaves as usual and does not show any other signs. In this case, the baby can be helped by any children's painkillers. These include syrup and Nurofen suppositories, Tsefekon suppositories, Nise tablets, and so on. Many moms use a variety of gels. However, their effect is quite fast, and the use of the drug is often prohibited.
Decreased appetite
Symptoms of teething in children (4 months and later) can be expressed in the form of refusal of food. It would seem that just yesterday your baby was eating the offered food with pleasure, and today he is already refusing a spoon. If there are no additional signs of any disease, then this may well be a symptom of the fact that the teeth are climbing.
Often children refuse any feeding and constantly hang on their mother’s breasts. It is worth noting that with natural feeding, it is much easier for the child to transfer this condition. Do not refuse the baby in a portion of milk, and certainly, you should not scold him for the fact that the baby does not want to eat.
Chair change
Symptoms of teething in children can manifest as a change in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Since babies at this moment prefer to consume liquid food (usually mother’s milk or a mixture), a slight thinning of the stool occurs. Remember that do not confuse overt diarrhea with this sign of teething. If a child begins vomiting and fever, then this is a clear symptom of an intestinal infection.
Diluted stool with teething occurs no more than three times a day. In this case, the baby is not bothered by abdominal pain and fever.
Infection or disease
Teething symptoms in a 7-month-old baby can be expressed as an infection. This happens for the following reason: at this age, the baby is no longer limited to communication with his mother. He can chat with other children and walk for a long time. During teething, the baby's immunity drops. This is completely normal and does not require any intervention. However, in contact with an infected person, the baby can get a virus or infection. Due to the lack of normal protective function of the body, inevitable infection occurs.
It is worth noting that almost half of all children experience infection during teething. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the baby is trying to taste everything. Often children become infected with stomatitis or other bacterial infections during this period.
How to recognize teething symptoms in infants?
If you notice the above symptoms, but are not sure that these are really teeth, then visit a doctor. You can contact your pediatrician, pediatric dentist, or neurologist. Describe the child’s concern. A single glance at your baby’s gums will be enough for a health professional to tell you if their teeth are cut or not.
In some cases, such a consultation can prevent a variety of problems, since these signs are not always the only symptom of the imminent appearance of teeth.
If this is not the first time you have become parents, then you can easily recognize the symptoms of the appearance of teeth in a child. Remember, so that the incisor can emerge from the gums, it needs to go a long way and make its way. The first signs of a baby's anxiety may appear as early as 2-3 months before teething. If the crumbs have two or three pairs at the same time, then all of the above symptoms can be very pronounced. In this case, the baby does not feel local pain in the area of one tooth, but unpleasant sensations spilled throughout the jaw.
Can I somehow remove the symptoms of teething?
If the child is very restless, then you should use some tips. All your actions should be aimed at alleviating the condition of the baby.
- Do not swear and scream. Be patient. The child is now much harder than you.
- Use various medicines if necessary. Remember that many children's antipyretic drugs are also painkillers. Do not get involved in such treatment. Do not use the same remedy for more than five days.
- Massage your baby’s gums. Remember that while doing this, your hands should be sterile clean and your nails neatly cut. Now you can purchase special finger brushes in pharmacy chains. They are made of high-quality silicone and do not have a harmful effect on the structure of the mucous membrane.
- Give the baby a teether. This accessory can be purchased at any children's store. Remember that it must be thoroughly sanitized before use.
- Offer your child a bagel. If the baby is already eating complementary foods or adult food, then you can give him bagels or crackers. During the meal, he will be able to massage the itchy gums and feel relief.
- Wash your baby's hands regularly. To avoid joining the infection and worsening the well-being of the baby, you should wash his palms as often as possible. The fingers of a child whose teeth are being cut are always in the mouth.
- Wipe your face with a tissue. Due to excessive salivation on the chin and neck of the baby, a rash may occur. This is another sign of teething. All due to the fact that the secreted saliva irritates the delicate skin of the face. If you regularly wipe this area with a cleaning cloth, you can avoid this symptom.
Summary and short conclusion of the article
So, you now know the timing and signs of the appearance of teeth in babies. Remember that all kids are different. Do not be equated with the development of a neighboring toddler or child of a girlfriend. In some cases, teething symptoms in children (4 months and older) may be absent altogether. This does not indicate any deviation. Rather, the opposite. You need to be glad that your baby does not receive discomfort from this process.
When complaints and signs of an early appearance of teeth appear, it is worth gaining strength and observing the above rules. If necessary, contact your pediatrician for help. Remember that teething is inevitable. This process is experienced by all babies, most of whom experience discomfort. Easy appearance of teeth for your child and good health!