Baby’s First Tooth: Important Facts Parents Should Know

Are you finding your baby crying more, harder to soothe, and chewing their gums on everything they can? You might be discovering your baby's first tooth! This is an exciting milestone and a period of sleeplessness, pacing with the baby, and looking for anything to help ease their pain. You will indeed hear some exciting suggestions from older generations, and some may work, but some tried and proper methods of helping are as suitable today as they were years ago.

One of the most common ways to find that first tooth is through feel. You will likely feel the tooth before you can see it as it sits just beneath the gums and readies to come out. The process may take several days in some cases, as they will begin to erupt through the gums and then retreat, but often, the first one or two will be faster than when they are older. Once it starts to peep through more, you will see the small bump on the gum and the white spot as the tooth comes through.

You will also notice a change in behaviour during teething. It is often harder to settle the baby, get them to sleep, and stay asleep. They will chew on things more and drool. Teething may also cause increased dirty diapers and red cheeks that may accompany a slight fever. While these may be concerning, especially for first-time parents, if you can feel a tooth under the gum, it is likely the cause, and the following suggestions may ease their symptoms.

Some of the older wives' tales for teething are not suggested now, and perhaps they never were that common, but they are fun to hear about, and some are rooted in helpful ideas. One that is not recommended is rubbing whiskey on the gums to numb them, but Anbesol and other teething products are based upon that premise and safe for the baby. Providing the baby with your car and or house keys because the metal is excellent is also no longer recommended due to the dirt and the sharp points, but this wasn't a method shared as commonly. Some ideas that still work and can be quickly done are to provide a teething baby with a frozen waffle or put a teething ring in the freezer to cool. The coldness eases the pain and numbs the gums slightly. Rubbing your fingers along the gums also helps you locate the tooth and confirm its progress as it tries to break through.

The current methods of soothing a teething baby rely more on over-the-counter medications, foods, and teething items. There is a wide range of items that are designed for teething babies to chew, and they are made of materials that will feel good on the gums, are soft enough not to hurt while some are hard enough not to give too much, and are all shaped in ways that will fit along the gums comfortable. It may take a few tries to find the right fit for your baby, but with so many to choose from, one will certainly fit. Some of the most popular are teething rings with liquid that can be put in the fridge or freezer. These are easy to hang on to and are designed to massage the gums as they chew. Sophie the Giraffe is a trendy, popular teeth toy made from soft, velvet-like rubber. The shape of the head and feet offer many opportunities for the baby to find the right fit against their gums, and they are easy to hold and grasp with their tiny hands.

If teethers are helping or aren't, baby Tylenol can be used. This liquid has amounts measured by the infant's weight and how often it can be administered, and it can be used to ease the pain of teething. It will help to bring down a fever that has occurred and reduce the pain of the gums. Some may prefer to avoid the ongoing use of pain or fever reducers. Still, there are guidelines for when the fever has been going on for some time, or if it is getting too specific temperatures, it is necessary to address the baby's health; please consult a nurse or paediatrician for guidance.

Some pain relief can be found in gels placed directly on the gum, providing a numbing effect. These include Anbesol and Orajel, and they both have an infant version that is safe for use during teething. Providing cool or cold foods can also be helpful, and the older the baby, the more foods they can safely chew or eat.

If you are not expecting a tooth soon, having your baby develop a fever, red cheeks, upset stomach, drooling, and crying while hard to soothe can feel scary and cause worry among parents and care providers. It is a normal process, though, and once you can see or feel the small tooth beginning to go through the gums, you can rest assured that teething is causing the symptoms. When seeking comfort and soothing, a few options include a gel to numb the gums, teething toys and rings to massage the gum and ease the discomfort, and pain and fever relievers. The pain should recede once the tooth has gotten through the gums, and the baby will return to expected behaviours.