When New Teeth Arrive

Your little bundle of joy is born with twenty teeth. These teeth are still buried deep in their gums. These teeth will break through the gum line over time. Teething usually starts at around six months, but this can vary from child to child.

Teething is generally uncomfortable for the child. This discomfort lasts for a total of seven or eight days per tooth. In this post, we’ll look at how you can help your child feel more comfortable during this trying time.

Tips to Help Your Child Cope With Teething

Try the following tips:

• Gently massaging the gums: Wash your hands first, or use a soft, moist cloth.
• Use a teething ring: These should be kept in the refrigerator, not the freezer. The cold soothes the pain for the child. Be sure to check all the care instructions so that you clean the ring without damaging it.
• Teething biscuits or rusks: If your child has started to eat solids, and is over six months, these can be helpful. Make sure that they don’t contain sugar.
• Use analgesics sparingly: Paracetamol is your best choice for small children. If the pain is very severe, you can use a low dose of Ibuprofen instead. Just ensure that the child has eaten before giving them Ibuprofen.
• Dry off the drool: The drool itself is not harmful. The problem is that the constant moisture can irritate the skin.

Tips to Steer Clear Of

Several products on the market could put your child in danger. Avoid the following:

• Amber teething necklaces: Amber necklaces have been misused for teething. Amber is said to have analgesic properties when it touches warm skin. The problem is that the child is likely to chew on them and could be strangled by them.
• Teething gels: These seem like a heaven-sent product. They are effective at relieving pain. You do, however, have to avoid gels that contain Salicylate, or Aspirin. Aspirin should not be used before the age of sixteen because it can cause Reye’s Syndrome.
• Products containing Benzocaine: Benzocaine is too powerful to risk using it on children.

Final Notes

Seeing your child in pain is discomforting. Fortunately, the pain is fleeting. There are a few great tips in this post about how you can help your child. Our best advice? Keep up the gum massages – research shows that massage is more effective than using teething gels.