Children’s Dentistry Expert Explains: Everything You Need to Know about Teething and First Teeth
As a new parent, you have so many questions. How much should my baby be eating? How can I establish a sleep schedule? And while it’s relatively easy to find answers about eating and sleeping, information regarding children’s dentistry is often lacking.
Fortunately, at Gallery Dental of Oakbrook, Dr. Peter Noto offers complete family dentistry services. He is always ready to answer questions about dental development. And he provides gentle preventive care for all ages – even infants!
If you are ready to schedule your child’s first appointment, contact our office today.
When does a baby start teething?
On average, the first baby tooth comes in around the age of 6 months, although some babies can begin teething as early as 4 months. If your child is a later teether, you may not see the first teeth until around the first birthday.
What are the signs of teething?
The most common symptoms of teething are:
- Fever (16%)
- Fever and drooling (15%)
- Drooling (12%)
- Diarrhea (8%)
- Drooling and diarrhea (6%)
Be sure to contact your pediatrician if your child has diarrhea or a fever above 101 degrees.
How can I alleviate teething symptoms?
You can easy your baby’s discomfort with simple home remedies:
- Soft rubber teething rings
- Rubbing your baby’s gums with your finger or with gauze
- Infant Tylenol (Be sure to check on the proper dosage with your pediatrician.)
- Extra snuggles and attention
The FDA has issued a warning against benzocaine numbing gels, which can have rare but fatal side effects for babies. They have also warned against homeopathic teething tablets, which may contain unsafe levels of belladonna.
How quickly do teeth come in?
Your child is born with 20 baby teeth below the gum line. Typically, these all erupt by the time a toddler is 30 months old.
The two middle bottom teeth are the first to come in, followed by the two middle upper teeth. These typically erupt between 8 and 12 months.
How do I care for my baby’s first teeth?
Good dental care starts even before teething. Use gauze or a soft piece of fabric to wipe your baby’s gums twice a day, especially before bedtime.
As soon as the first teeth come in, you should start to care for them much as you would your own. Use a baby toothbrush and a tiny smear of toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice, to clean your little one’s teeth twice a day.
When should I schedule my child’s first dentist appointment?
Dr. Noto recommends that you bring your child in for his or her first visit around their first birthday. If your baby does not have any teeth by age one, you should bring him or her in for an evaluation.
Contact Us for More Information about Children’s Dentistry
We are proud to offer outstanding dental care for the whole family.
To learn more about baby teeth or to schedule an appointment for a child of any age, contact Gallery Dental of Oakbrook today. Reach us online or call (630) 620-8300.