Marriage and Family Blog: When Does My Baby Start Teething?

Teething is that stage in the baby’s development cycle that most mums are most excited about and also seem to be a bit worried and confused. Teething happens somewhere between 4-8 months when you are trying to help her sleep through the night and the nature tries to undo it for you.

The babies normally become restless and cranky when the tooth is cutting through its jaws. Common symptoms of teething are:

biting
facial rash
decreased apetite
mild temperature
sucking
irritability
drooling

Teeth vary in size, shape and their location in the jaws. These differences enable your teeth to work together to help chew the food, speak and smile. The three types of teeth are incisors, molars and canine.

Apart from the known advantages of the teeth it also adds beauty by giving your face its shape and form. At birth, babies usually have 20 baby or milk teeth, which start to erupt out at about 6 months. They fall out at various times throughout childhood.

A child’s baby teeth are highly important. It allows solid food to be broken into smaller pieces for easy consumption. Even if babies are incapable of chewing thick wads of meat, they still need their baby teeth to bite and tear soft bowls of baby cereals and other food. Also baby teeth would be a child’s first set of teeth before it is replaced by the permanent teeth. You may be wondering about facts about milk teeth, how many are they, and how to take better care of them. Listed below are some of the common facts you need to know about baby’s teeth:

● The First Set of Baby’s Teeth

This is something that most dentists expect based on observations and studies. There may be instances when the first few teeth pop out before 6 months but those cases are rare and generally, baby tooth appears after 6 months have passed and the baby is in the early stage of development. It’s not just the teeth that are starting to develop. Most vital organs of a kid are constantly developing and it’s a very critical stage on the baby’s part. That is why it is highly recommended to regularly visit pediatricians during the baby’s early growth period to ensure that he or she is well taken care of. It is also best to have your dentist check the baby to ensure teeth and gum care.

If you’re wondering about the structure of teeth and the components that complete it, then you should know, first and foremost, about enamel and what it does. Enamel is non-translucent substance that is the hardest substance found in the body. A child’s enamel protects the inner structure of every tooth in order to prevent damage whenever you tear or chew food. It protects and covers the innermost layers of a tooth to make it stronger and less sensitive.

After the outermost layer of the teeth comes another layer of substance called dentine. This is another substance that comprises most of the entirety of a tooth. It also provides a layer of protection but it’s not as strong as the enamel’s layer. The purpose of the dentine is to form a large layer around the most sensitive parts of the teeth or the innermost part. The innermost part of the tooth is known as the tooth’s pulp. This pulp is connected underneath the teeth and into the gums. This is the part where you can find the tooth’s blood supply and the inner nerve endings that connect with the tooth. This may probably be unbeknownst to you but the blood spilled from baby tooth removal is actually a natural thing because the blood that flows inside every tooth is critical because it keeps them healthy and strong.

The purpose of the nerve endings is to deliver a message to the brain when your teeth feel discomfort while you eat because of its high or low temperature. Nerve endings also make you feel tooth pain and sensitivity if complications arise such as tooth cavities or other tooth diseases. Cementum, which is a powdery substance, envelops the core of the tooth while fibers of periodontal link the teeth to a person’s jawbone.

● Clean Your Baby’s Teeth Regularly

This task is highly important and it is something that must be done with or without the presence of the first set of teeth at his sixth month. Always wipe your baby’s gums after every food intake with a clean gauze wrapped on your hand. You can also use a wet cloth as long as the fabric is neat and clean. You can also buy cleaning devices that are suited to cleaning excess food stuck on the child’s mouth.

● Caring For The First Few Teeth

When you’ve seen the first few baby teeth come out, immediately tend to them and realize its importance. Some parents neglect the importance of baby teeth because they will be eventually replaced. But you must realize that baby teeth are used for the child’s food digestion and losing these teeth early before the permanent teeth arrive would be hard on the kid. Suffering from gum diseases such as gingivitis is also troublesome for a child and the best way to avoid this is to tend to your child’s dental needs

● Avoiding Cavities

This is a crucial thing to understand because cavities cause discomfort on chewing and biting and may lead to further complications if left untreated. Early signs of cavities are notable if parts of the teeth are marked with dark, black spots and rough edges on the top part. Exposing your baby to too much milk without ingestion may cause cavities so never forget to remove the bottle of milk if your child is done with it. Always observe if he is only keeping the bottle in his mouth for comfort instead of consumption purposes.

● Give Water After Each Meal

Never forget to hand a small glass of water to your baby and assist him in drinking it after he or she has finished eating his baby meal. Although, baby cereals and meals are easy to ingest, there may still be some of it remaining on your child’s teeth after feeding time. It is best to clear that up and let him drink a small portion of a glass of water.

● Using Toothbrush

It’s important to have your baby get used to the feel of a toothbrush circling his teeth and mouth. After the initial stage of baby teeth is development and thimble-like devices and damp cloth are no longer suited for dental care, it is best to help him familiarize with the use of toothbrush. Dentists recommend starting using a regular baby toothbrush once the baby reaches 18 months. This may be done earlier if the baby starts growing teeth at a much earlier rate.

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