The Baby Tooth Timeline

When it comes to teething, most babies follow this general toothing timeline:
● 6 months: lower central incisors
● 8 months: upper central incisors
● 10 months: lower and upper lateral incisors
● 14 months: first molars
● 18 months: canines
● 24 months: second molars

Some babies will not appear fussy at all and their first tooth seems to simply poke through the gums in no time. Other babies can struggle when teething and deal with fevers, pain, redness, and swelling. At South Davis Pediatric Dentistry, we have noticed several common symptoms associated with teething babies.

Excessive Chomping or Chewing

We often see babies have a need to chew or chomp on several things to take away the pain. The pain of a tooth erupting from the surface is often relieved by counter-pressure, which is why babies often chew on a variety of things. Give your child a cold chew toy as it helps to soothe the gums.

Puffy or Swollen Gums

Before a new tooth erupts, the gums can become red or swollen. The gums often start to bulge where a tooth begins to emerge. Try offering a cool washcloth for the baby to chew on as it will help to reduce the swelling.

Excessive Drooling

A lot of babies will drool excessively when they start teething. Keep a bib and cloth handy to help wipe up the excess drool!

Fussiness

Babies will start to fuss a lot when they are uncomfortable. If your child wakes up at night while they are teething, try using some numbing ointment on the gums. There are infant-approved numbing creams you can safely use to provide your baby with a few minutes of relief.

Ear Pulling

If your baby is tugging at their ear, it can be a symptom of teething because the pain is transferred to the ear canal. If the ear pulling is accompanied by a fever, this may indicate that your baby could have an ear infection.

Change in Eating Habits

When babies are in pain, they can struggle to eat. You need to monitor your child’s eating habits to ensure they are getting enough fluid and food.

How to Help Your Teething Baby

If your baby is teething, you can find yourself trying a number of things to help them feel better. We recommend trying a few tips our Bountiful Pediatric Dental Office has used for years:
● Let your baby chew on a wet, frozen washcloth to help numb sore gums.
● Try using a pain reliever like Acetaminophen and ibuprofen as they help to provide a reduction in pain for a few hours. Alternating the medicine can reduce problems with fevers as well.
● Massaging the gums is another way to help your infant as they are teething. Rubbing the area with your finger is a simple way to help your infant feel better.

When to Call the Dentist

If you are concerned the teeth are taking a long time to erupt, or your child has red, swollen gums that seem to be lasting for several days or weeks, call South Davis Pediatric Dental Office. We will examine their teeth and gums to monitor their growth. If your child has yet to develop teeth by 15 months, bring them in for an x-ray to check on the development of their teeth.

For more information about teething babies, and how you can help your child, contact our Bountiful Pediatric Dental Office (801)294-8880.

Should I Brush my Infants Teeth?

Infants do not need their teeth brushed, but you do need to clean them with water and a simple washcloth or soft brush. There are specific infant toothbrushes made to fit on your finger. Gently brush around the teeth and over the gums to prevent decay.

Rinsing Your Infant’s Teeth

If your child loves to drink milk or juice, use water to rinse out their mouth after they drink it because long-term exposure to sugars in milk, juice, and formula can lead to cavities. Water can prevent sugars from sticking to the teeth, helping to reduce the risk of tooth decay. You should also avoid letting your child go to bed with a bottle. Baby bottle tooth decay is the most common problem we see when infants first start growing their teeth. Water is the only thing they should go to bed with as it will prevent decay at night.

Prevent Thumb Sucking

Another major issue we see is that infants like to suck on their thumbs. Thumb sucking can lead to serious problems with the way teeth grow. You should prevent your infant from using pacifiers past their first birthday as it too can lead to problems with the way the teeth grow.

When Should My Child Visit the Dentist?

The best time to visit the dentist is six months after their first tooth has erupted. The first visit will normally focus on helping a child become comfortable visiting the dentist. Our goal is to help them enjoy visiting the dentist and prevent them from being scared. We will also teach them how to care for their teeth to prevent cavities.

When Should I Begin to Use Toothpaste on my Child?

When you bring your child in for a visit, we will examine their teeth and gums and let you know when it is time to start using fluoridated toothpaste. We recommend starting toothpaste with fluoride at about age two. Begin the brushing process with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste.

Starting Brushing Habits Early

It is wise to start brushing your child’s teeth when they are six months old or younger. They need to grow up with the routine of brushing each morning and evening. By age 5, your child should be capable of brushing their teeth independently. Until this age, we recommend keeping an eye on your child’s brushing habits. Children can struggle to clean between the teeth and within the deep fissures of the teeth where plaque loves to stick.

Be a Good Example

If you really want to help your baby have great oral health habits, be a good example! Show your children healthy brushing and flossing habits so they can follow suit. Brushing and flossing your teeth with your children can be a fun nighttime routine, and it makes it easy to make sure your kids are caring for their teeth!

Visit the Dentist

The first few years of your child’s life are essential when it comes to helping them develop great lifelong oral hygiene habits! Make sure you don’t let this time slip by.

If you have any questions about your baby’s first few teeth, please feel free to give us a call at (801) 294-8880. Also, if you’re ever in the area, feel free to stop in at the office and come see us or schedule an appointment through our website.

The Pros of Pacifiers

Finger and pacifier sucking are normal behaviors in toddlers and infants. When a pacifier is used correctly, it can heave great benefits for a child’s oral health and development. Here are some of the pros about pacifiers:

• They can soothe your child
• They can relieve pain
• They improve development of muscles around the mouth
• They decrease the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

The Cons of Pacifiers

While pacifiers are great to help a child relax and feel comforted, every parent knows there comes a day when a child will need to say bye-bye to the binky once and for all. Pacifiers cause developmental problems in the way your child’s teeth grow. Here are some pacifier cautions to be aware of:

• Overuse of pacifiers will misshape the position of the teeth and the shape of the mouth.
• They cause an increased risk of cavities in teeth, especially if the pacifier is not cleaned properly.
• Pacifiers can lead to an increase of ear infections.

When Should my Child Stop Using a Pacifier?

The Academy of General Dentistry recommends weaning a child from a pacifier before their second birthday. Continued use of a pacifier can harm the growth and development of the roof of the mouth. Tooth alignment problems will start to occur as the pacifier restricts the teeth from growing correctly.

The process of weaning a child from the pacifier can be rough—we know! Consider beginning by limiting the amount of time your child is using a pacifier. Here are some helpful tips:

• Use a pacifier to help an infant fall asleep.
• Keep the pacifier clean and never place syrup or any type of food or substance on it. This can contaminate the pacifier and increase the risk of tooth decay.

Saying Bye-Bye to the Pacifier

Simply taking away the pacifiers is going to cause your child to become upset. If you aren’t prepared to handle a lot of screaming and temper tantrums, breaking the pacifier habit “cold turkey” can be hard on both parents and children. Consider some of these ideas as you help your child break the habit

• Dip the pacifier in white vinegar.
• Place the pacifier in a stuffed animal to show them the pacifier is safe.

Often, parents are concerned about permanent damage a pacifier may cause in their child’s mouth. As long as the pacifier habit stops before age 2, you can rest easy. Bone development normally corrects itself within 6 months after the child gives up the pacifier.

Every child is different, especially when it comes to quitting pacifier use and how you as a parent can tackle that challenge. We are here to help! If you have any questions about your child and pacifier usage, call our dental office at (801) 294-8880 to schedule an appointment. You can also schedule an appointment through our website and plan to come visit us. We are here to help you make the best decisions for your child’s oral health.