Teething babies
At least once a day I am asked, “When will my baby get his teeth? ‘Cause the books say…” The truth is that all babies are born with a full set of teeth. They are just covered by the gums. So it does not matter what the sequential set of events are meant to be. All babies eventually get their teeth and all of these teeth will eventually be replaced by permanent teeth. I have seen newborns with teeth and I have seen 12-monthers without any. Teething will usually start with drooling, fussiness and sometimes fever. If the fever is high, always suspect that there is another cause. Treatment can be local with cold cloths or chewable teething rings, local topicals such as Orajel®, and—probably the most beneficial—Advil or Motrin which as anti-inflammatories will reduce the swelling in addition to the analgesic benefits. Teeth should be brushed once they are poking through and should also be flossed regularly. Bottle-feeding before bed is a major cause of dental caries. If you feed before bed, brush before bed. Bottle-feeding should be stopped at 18 months or sooner to avoid caries. Fluoride is an effective and inexpensive way to prevent tooth decay. Many communities automatically fluoridate their water systems. Fluoride supplements are supposed to be implemented at 3 years, but this is controversial as often tooth rot is seen a lot earlier. Your baby’s teeth will benefit by placing a smear of fluoride toothpaste on a clean wet cloth or baby toothbrush and wipe or brush every day. As your child gets older, increase the amount to a pea-sized amount on a baby toothbrush. Dental check-ups should begin at about 2 years old.
