Newly made parents want to know as much as possible about how their baby will develop. They are interested in when he begins to smile, when he sits down, crawls and takes the first steps. But one of the main questions concerns the appearance of the first teeth in children. Surely most of them have heard from experienced girlfriends and friends about how complicated this process is and how many sleepless nights they had to endure. But do not panic in advance. Firstly, all children develop individually and it’s not necessary that your baby will give you a lot of inconvenience. And secondly, not all children have their first teeth appear at the same time. We will talk about how this happens in our article.
When does a child have first teeth?
The first months of life, the baby smiles a toothless smile. But by his half-year, everything could change. Usually the first teeth in babies begin to erupt by 6-7 months. However, sometimes this process is accelerated or, conversely, delayed, which is also the norm. Therefore, it is difficult to say exactly how many first teeth in children will appear by the age of 12 months. It all depends on a number of factors:
- genetic predisposition;
- calcium in the body;
- climatic conditions of residence, etc.
As a rule, the teeth erupt in pairs. This means that 2-3 weeks after the appearance of the first, the second will surely follow. Well, parents who worry that their child’s teeth are erupting inappropriately should reassure that the speed of their appearance does not affect longevity and health.
Symptoms of teething in a baby
For most children, “growing” teeth causes discomfort, and sometimes also pain. This negative moment for the baby you just need to go through. And, despite the fact that the teething process is purely individual, skipping the first tooth in a child (in the photo below) will definitely not work. It makes its way through the bone tissue and the mucous membrane of the gums. At first, a barely noticeable white line appears not in it, but after a few days a whole tooth “grows”.
But teething symptoms in a baby appear at least a week before the onset of this event. The following signs indicate them:
- gum inflammation and redness;
- sleep disturbance;
- uncharacteristic for the baby anxiety and irritability;
- profuse salivation;
- runny nose, nasal congestion;
- lack of appetite;
- diarrhea;
- temperature increase up to 38 °.
It is not necessary that the child will be bothered by absolutely all of these symptoms. Yes, and poor health is normal only a few days. If the signs are delayed, but all the teeth are missing, you must definitely contact a pediatrician.
When do I need to see a doctor?
With the eruption of the first teeth in children, simultaneously with the appearance of the above symptoms, a decrease in immunity occurs. Therefore, it is possible that a viral or intestinal infection will be hidden behind these signs. Only a pediatrician can dispel mom’s doubts about the baby’s health status. They must be consulted in the following cases:
- temperature increase to 38-39 °;
- diarrhea;
- runny nose;
- cough;
- the appearance of ulcers on the mucous membrane of the mouth.
The teething symptoms listed above cannot last more than three days. Otherwise, this may indicate the addition of a viral infection.
What teeth are the first to climb in a child?
Both pediatricians and dentists agree on the sequence in which teething should occur. But only not all kids want to follow the instructions of adults. Speaking specifically about which child’s tooth first appears, and on the upper or lower jaw it will be, then there are rules. According to the norms, the lower incisors erupt first. As a rule, they grow in pairs. First, a tooth can cut through on the right, and then on the left with a difference of 3-7 days.
However, there are often exceptions to the rules. This is also not a big deal, since each organism is individual.
Teething sequence
The generally accepted order of appearance of the first teeth in a child is as follows:
- 6-7 months - lower central incisors;
- 8-9 months - upper central incisors;
- 9-11 months - upper lateral incisors;
- 11-13 months - lower lateral incisors;
- 12-15 months - the upper and lower first molars;
- 18-20 months - fangs;
- 20-30 months - second molars.
The teething standards used by pediatricians and dentists around the world are presented above. But it is impossible to indicate the exact date of the appearance of the first teeth in children. And which of them will grow earlier than others is clearly visible in the scheme. The first, as a rule, the lower incisors erupt, and after them, after 1-2 months, the upper ones will follow. Small deviations in one direction or another are the norm. The main thing is to adhere to the rule that at 12 months the child should have at least 1 tooth. If this is not so, then you should immediately contact your dentist.
Cause for concern
The first teeth that have not cut through at a certain age in children in many parents cause real panic. In fact, not everything is as scary as it might seem right away. This earlier late teething was considered a sign of rickets or lack of calcium in the body. But still, significant deviations from the deadlines may indicate certain violations in the body:
- late teething - for metabolic or intestinal dysfunction;
- early appearance of teeth - on problems in the endocrine system;
- violation of the sequence of eruption, non-standard in shape and position tooth formation - on abnormalities in the development or illnesses transferred during pregnancy;
- temperature increase above 39 ° - for a viral or infectious disease, or other disturbances in the functioning of the child's body.
All of the above problems do not always indicate developmental abnormalities and diseases, but are only an excuse for visiting a dentist.
How to relieve teething pain?
When the first baby teeth appear in children, crying is heard in every house. The following tools will help the child survive this unpleasant moment for him:
- Teething toys. Soft rubber rings filled inside with water or gel, the baby is happy to massage his gums. To relieve pain and eliminate swelling, gel teethers are recommended to be pre-cooled in the refrigerator.
- Homeopathic remedies ("Dentokind", "Dantinorm baby"). They can eliminate the painful effects of teething, accompanied by fever and diarrhea. Preparations in the form of tablets are dissolved in a teaspoon of water and are offered to the baby half an hour before feeding twice a day. The desired effect can be achieved only with prolonged use.
- Gum massage. You can hold it with your finger, carefully washing your hands in front of it, or with a special fingertip with a brush. Massage should be careful not to injure the gums.
During teething, excessive salivation can irritate the baby’s delicate skin on the chin and neck. At this time, the child is advised to wear a bib and wipe saliva, which can cause a rash and irritation.
Teething Gel
To stop the pain that accompanies the process of the appearance of the first teeth in children, you can use local drugs. Teething gels are absolutely safe for babies, but provide a short analgesic effect of no more than 2 hours. But, along with this, the desired effect can be achieved within 2-3 minutes after application.
All teething gels can be divided into groups:
- Local preparations based on lidocaine, providing a quick but short result.
- Homeopathic gels containing plant extracts that have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Antiseptic-based drugs that have a stronger composition and act as efficiently as possible.
Before using this or that gel, it is recommended to study the instructions for its use in order to exclude the development of an allergic reaction in a child.
The use of traditional medicine
Some parents are wary of using teething medications. They prefer folk remedies:
- Massage the gums with a finger wrapped in a bandage and moistened with hydrogen peroxide.
- Use refrigerated pacifiers or a silver spoon as an alternative to teething toys.
- Lubricating the gums with honey, which has a calming effect.
- Rubbing inflamed gums with chamomile decoction, which has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
- Lubricating the area near the mouth with baby cream to avoid irritation from excessive salivation.
However, pediatricians and dentists do not share the opinions of parents about the use of traditional medicine, since some of them can lead to an allergic reaction in the child.
Oral care
With the appearance of milk teeth, parents have new responsibilities. From now on, they should pay due attention to the cleanliness of the oral cavity. No matter what time the child’s first tooth appears above the gum surface, he needs care. To do this, it is recommended to use a special silicone nozzle on a finger or a bandage soaked in boiled water.
After a year when the baby will have not only one, but 6-8 teeth, you can buy a toothbrush with soft bristles and a paste with a minimum fluoride content. Cleaning should be done by parents. All actions must be careful so as not to damage the thin and brittle enamel.
Early care not only ensures the prevention of dental diseases, but also from childhood contributes to the formation of a good habit of brushing your teeth in the morning and evening.
Dr. Komarovsky about the first teeth
The famous pediatrician has his own opinion about teething:
- He believes that a violation of the sequence of appearance of teeth is not a sign of any disease.
- According to Dr. Komarovsky, deviation from the terms of eruption for 6 months in one direction or another is not considered a pathology.
- There are no ways to affect the speed and order of teething.
Dr. Komarovsky has a positive attitude towards teething-cooling toys, but does not recommend using bagels and cookies instead, as some parents do, as this can lead to sad consequences.