Everything about the development of your baby’s teeth

When do babies start to grow teeth?

As with any stage of development, we need to remember that the teeth-growing process is different for every child. However, the first teeth usually appear during the first 6 months of the baby’s life.

This usually coincides with a change of diet when the baby starts to consume foods other than milk. However, this is an average figure rather than a rule: some children are born with teeth while others don’t get their first teeth until they are 12 months old.

Teeth usually appear in the following order:

• Lower central incisors (bottom front teeth): between the ages of 5 and 12 months old
• Upper central incisors: between the ages of 7 and 10 months
• Upper and lower lateral incisors: between the ages of 9 and 12 months
• Upper and lower first molars: between the ages of 12 and 18 months
• Upper and lower canines: between the ages of 18 and 24 months
• Upper and lower second molars: between the ages of 24 months and 30 months

The discomfort your baby suffers because of teething

It has always been said that teething is a very painful process. The pain is such that we would not tolerate it as adults.

But what are the main symptoms?

A loss of appetite. Sucking can cause some discomfort in the baby’s gums, and this can result in the baby not wanting to eat a lot. It is very important to make sure that both solid food and milk are at room temperature. Hot food can irritate the baby’s gums.

Gum pain. Something cold and some slight pressure will help to ease gum pain. It is advisable to give the baby a high-quality liquid-filled teether to cool his or her gums. This will stop the baby from biting anything that comes in its way and, strange though it may seem, it will stop the baby from biting his or her hands.

Increased dribbling. When babies are teething, they produce an extra amount of dribble. You should take this into account because the baby’s neck and face will be wet as a result, and this can cause eruptions and irritations to appear.

Fever and diarrhoea. These symptoms are commonly associated with teething. If they appear, you should consult a doctor who will be able to tell you whether it is a symptom of a bacterial or viral disease.

What can we do to promote our baby’s oral health?

A balanced diet Food is one of the cornerstones of a healthy mouth, and therefore we should make sure that the baby has a balanced, calcium-rich diet, which should not include any food with added sugar. We should also avoid the use of feeding bottles with artificial milk at night.

Using a dummy or pacifier Dummies (also known as soothers or pacifiers) should not be used during the first two weeks of the baby’s life, and they should never be used to postpone feeding time. On the other hand, dummies are always preferable to one of the baby’s fingers or thumbs. Other factors such as taking only liquids, thumb-sucking or overusing a dummy can also harm the child’s oral health and this could lead to future diseases or problems such as crooked teeth. In this case, the child might have to wear an orthodontic device in the future to reposition these teeth. It is best to correct these habits before the baby reaches the age of 3.

Dental hygiene The dental hygiene of small children should start as soon as their first teeth appear. You can start off by cleaning the baby’s teeth with a soft cloth or a toothbrush with separated nylon bristles. As the child grows and reaches the age of 2, it is preferable to teach him or her how to brush his or her own teeth.