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Every moment of your baby’s first year of life is precious, since every day your child grows a little, develops new skills, and discovers new things. Most of it is wonderful, but parents don’t like to see their babies in pain. That’s why teething can be such a hard experience. However, you can take steps to make it easier for you and your baby.

What to Expect

Most babies begin teething around the age of six months, when the lower central incisors start to appear. Shortly after this time, the upper central incisors poke through, followed by the lateral incisors, first molars, canines, and second molars. Unfortunately, you’ll probably know that your baby is teething not because you see these teeth come in, but because your baby will be in discomfort. These are some of the signs to watch for when you’re expecting your baby to begin teething.

• Tender and sore gums

• More drooling than before

• Being crankier than usual

• Chewing on hard objects

What You Can Do

As a parent, you want to do everything you can to make your child more comfortable. These are some approaches that our team recommends:

• Take a clean moistened wash cloth or use your own washed finger to rub your baby’s gums and provide relief due to the pressure.

• Provide a firm rubber teething ring for your baby to use, but don't use the type that is filled with liquid.

• Use a bottle. A bottle filled with cold water can be soothing. Don’t give your baby formula, milk, or juice constantly because the sugar can cause tooth decay.

• Medications can help for extreme crankiness. Infant Tylenol is an example, but it’s best to check with your pediatrician before giving your baby medications.

You might also want to take special care to dry the drool. It’s not just to keep yourself and your baby dry. Keeping your baby’s skin dry can help prevent irritation.

When to Visit Us

Once your child’s first tooth comes in, it’s time to start thinking about your baby’s first trip to our office. The American Dental Association suggests that you bring your child to the dentist within six months of the appearance of the first tooth, or at about one year of age. We can do a quick check for tooth decay, and we’ll make sure you know how to take care of your child’s new teeth.

Kids love getting dirty: finger food, playing in puddles, creating mud pies, and clothes riddled with marker stains. Messes are part of childhood, but when it comes to oral hygiene, it is super important to keep teeth clean! In addition to brushing and flossing, here are some tips to keep your child’s breath smelling fresh all day long:

1. Drink lots of water: The leading cause of bad breath is a dry mouth. Water washes away leftover food particles and can dilute any stinky chemicals or bacteria that may be sitting around.

2. Snack on fruits and vegetables: The abrasive quality of fibrous fruits and veggies like apples, celery, pineapple, and carrots, helps to clean teeth and naturally scrub away bacteria. 

3. Yogurt or cheese: The active bacteria found in cultured dairy, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, reduce bacterial compounds that cause bad breath! (Make sure to have unsweetened yogurt, because added sugars can have the opposite effect!)

4. Herbs: Home garden? Let your child chew on herbs like mint, dill, or sage. Essential oils in the leaves naturally freshen breath.

5. Sugar free gum: Any snack that increases the amount of saliva in your mouth acts as a natural mouthwash. Sugar free gum and candy contain xylitol, an artificial sugar, which the bad bacteria will cling to.

Pro tip: When deciding between mint or cinnamon, go with the latter! Although mint is good at masking smells, the essential oils in cinnamon are known to fight pesky bacteria!

Adding these habits to your child's daily routine will be a sure way of keeping bad breath away! Creating a daily oral health routine for your child is immensely important, because an achievable oral hygiene routine goes hand in hand with fresh breath and a healthy smile. 

Have any tips yourself? We'd love for you to share them with us next time you're in the office! 

Some lucky babies wake one morning displaying a brand new tooth to the complete surprise of their unsuspecting parents! But your happy baby is irritable and drooling. Or your hearty eater doesn’t feel like finishing her food. Perhaps she finds it hard to go to sleep when she’s usually nodded off before you finish the first lullaby. A small number of children suffer little or no discomfort teething, but for the majority of babies who do, here are some helpful ways to ease their teething pain.

• Massage--Rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger or piece of gauze—gentle pressure is all you need. And do be careful of your fingers once those teeth start coming in!
• Chewing—there are many colorful and easy to grasp teething toys available, including BPA-free models.
• Cool Relief—Cool a solid teether in the refrigerator to help ease discomfort. Placing a teething ring in the freezer is not recommended, as extreme cold can be damaging to little mouths and gums.
• Comfort Food—If your baby is eating solid foods, try cold applesauce or other purees.
• Skin Care—Drooling is often part of the teething process, but try to keep your child’s face free from rash and chaffing by wiping with a clean cloth when necessary.

And while you are trying to keep your baby comfortable, also be sure to keep them safe!

• Know what your baby is putting into their mouth. All teething items should be non-toxic and free of harmful chemicals. Teethers filled with fluids may break or leak, so a solid toy is best.
• Make teething items size-appropriate. Avoid anything small or breakable that might present a choking hazard.
• Over-the-counter gels and liquids containing benzocaine, meant to reduce pain in the gums and mouth, may on rare occasion lead to serious health conditions in small children. Always check with us or your pediatrician before buying an over-the-counter teething medication for your baby.

For many babies, teething can be a long and sometimes difficult process. If there is anything we can do to help you and your baby in this journey, please give our office a call!

Kids are active, and with lots of activity comes the potential for mishaps. Before an emergency occurs, you’d be smart to stay informed about the problems your child may encounter.

Here are a few things you should keep in mind about teething pain, loose baby teeth, and other common dental issues.

Teething Pain

Discomfort while teething is common for babies from the time they are four months until they are about two and a half. Teething can cause drooling, tender gums, and irritability. To help relieve your child’s discomfort, gently rub his or her gums with wet gauze or offer a cold teething ring.

Loose Baby Tooth

It is normal for a child’s first set of teeth to become loose and fall out. If a tooth is knocked out by a forceful blow, however, you should make an appointment with our office to determine whether any damage may have occurred. You should also book an appointment if the baby tooth that’s on its way out develops a crack but doesn’t fully fall out.

Issues with Permanent Teeth

Sometimes, permanent teeth can come in before the baby teeth have fallen out. In this event, schedule an appointment with us even if your child does not report discomfort or pain. Our team will need to determine if the permanent teeth are coming in correctly to avoid problems later on.

Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums can have multiple causes: periodontal disease, rough brushing, or an injury to the gum tissue. If your child experiences heavy bleeding, it’s vital to call our office immediately. Wash the youngster’s mouth with warm salt water and put gentle pressure on the area to soothe it before your appointment.

Our team is always here to address any concerns you may have regarding your child’s dental health!