Mark Twain had humored, “Adam and Eve had many advantages but the principal one was that they escaped teething.” Few will disagree with him. The discomfort one experiences when a tooth is growing is not comparable with any other discomfort. If adults cannot handle the gnawing pain of a growing tooth, imagine what infants go through when they are teething. Here’s what you should know about teething in your baby.

• The teething process starts when your baby is around six months old. However, teething can also begin early when the child is three months old or late when the child is twelve months old.

• Take your baby to the dentist when she gets her first tooth.
• Your baby is more likely to get her lower front teeth before the upper front teeth.
• Your child will have 20 primary teeth by the time she is three.
• When she is teething, your baby may want to chew on anything she finds accessible. Give her safe objects like teething rings.
• You may have trouble feeding your baby during the teething phase because your baby is uncomfortable with the growing teeth.
• Clean the baby’s teeth, gums, and tongue on a regular basis.
• Some babies get sick when they are teething. This is not normal. Let your pediatrician and dentist know if your baby is not keeping well.

It is important that you take utmost care of your baby’s primary teeth. The primary teeth lay the foundation for permanent teeth and give a definite shape to your baby’s face.

Tags: dental care in children, teething