Signs/Symptoms of Teething

The drooling starts at age of 3 to 4 months when baby’s salivary glands become active. It however doesn’t mean that teeth will appear the next month or so, as it may appear within next few days or month but can delay till 18^th month in case of late teething. The drooling is just a first sign to indicate that baby gums have started preparing for the teething with salivary glands being more active.

The first 20 teeth appear within first three years. The process for most children is little difficult with their gums itching and they are drooling most of the time. However it doesn’t go beyond that e.g., fever, cold or unusual bowel movements or diarrhea. These occur for other reasons but since babies like to put everything in their mouths to sooth their itching, it is not possible to avoid germs and these germs (bacteria and viruses) actually cause other troubles like fever, cold and unusual bowel movements or diarrhea.

Help with Teething Pain

Teething is difficult as the itching on gums bother babies and sometimes bothers so bad that they can’t even sleep properly. The first set of incisors and the primary molars are most painful. The drooling or salivation and chewing things is common in almost all babies but the level of difficulty varies from some teething with such less pain that they don’t at all bother their parents whereas others finding this so hard especially few days or weeks before the tooth is ready to come out that they can’t stop crying to express their pain and are unable to sleep properly.

Teethers

Babies feel relieved with chewing or rubbing things on their gums. It helps with itching and pain. You can easily buy teething rings from the market these days. They come in very attractive designs and styles and are made using material (rubber, fabric, silicon) that is safe for babies. Be sure to choose good quality that doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals. It is suggested not to buy liquid filled teethers as if broken the liquid may leak inside baby’s mouth or frozen teethers which may cause cold or are hard to chew. Make sure not to have any small toys or objects which babies can swallow as such small objects can block the throat and airway and can cause choking. Also never tie teethers around their necks as that too can cause choking. It is challenging to control germs as the teethers would fall every now and then. Keep them clean as much as possible by washing, boiling or sterilizing but don’t take too much stress and rely on baby’s natural immune system.

Pain Relieving Medicines

You may like to try some pain relieving medication e.g., acetaminophen (Tylenol etc), ibuprofen (not recommended for babies below 6 months age), Camilia, Hyland Baby or Bioplasgen 21. However be aware that pediatricians believe that pain relievers contain ingredients such as benzocaine, lidocaine or Calcarea Phosphorus which have harmful side effects. We therefore strongly suggest to consult your doctor before buying any over the counter medicine to make sure that you don’t select anything that contains harmful ingredients.