Parents have been astonished by a surprise first tooth breaking through the baby’s gums without warning signs. Other parents may wonder if their irritable baby is cutting teeth. With no signs of the first tooth, they speculate whether the baby is cutting teeth or if something else is bothering them.
When babies start teething, causing them pain and discomfort, all parents wish they can help their child quicker through the process. In this article, we answer the frequent questions parents ask, including the ultimate question, “How long does teething last.” We also give tips on how to help your precious little one through the process.
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How Long Does It Take for A Tooth To Break Through The Gums?
Children are born with 20 milk teeth hidden in the gums; it may take two to three years for all twenty new teeth to breakthrough. Your child should not experience teething discomfort for a consistent period of two years, but only a few days at a time. Although there is no exact period it takes for a tooth to cut, it could be as quick as one day or last a week.
Teething on babies may start as early as four months old or at seven months; 6 months of age is the average time frame when the teething process begins.
Although baby teething differs in each child, they generally cut the two similar teeth simultaneously. Here is a teething timeline that may guide parents in knowing at what stage is their baby’s teething process.
- 4-7 Months. The two lower central incisors, the lower middle teeth, generally breakthrough first.
- 8-12 Months. The two upper middle teeth, the upper central incisors, that match the lower incisors appear in the latter half of the child’s first year.
- 9-16 Months. When the lower and upper lateral incisors breakthrough, the lower incisors often push through first. These teeth are situated next to the central incisors completing the front teeth eruption.
- 13-19 Months. After teething of the four front teeth, the first molars at the top and bottom break through the baby’s gums. These are the flat-surfaced back teeth.
- 16-23 Months. The canine teeth or eye teeth appear at the top and bottom during this time.
- 23-31 Months. The second set of upper and lower molars at the back of the toddler’s mouth appear.
At three years old, your child should have a full set of 20 primary teeth. The permanent teeth start replacing the baby teeth at the ages of six and seven. At 21 years of age, your young adult may have 32 permanent teeth.
Does Teething Pain Stop Once Tooth Cuts?
According to a published study by M L Macknin, teething pain could last for about eight days. Parents recorded the teething symptoms of 125 children. The study showed that when a baby is teething, symptoms occurred four days before the teeth erupted, the day the tooth broke through, and about three days after that, making it 8 days.
What Are The Teething Symptoms and Remedies?
Your infant’s immune system establishes about the same time that the child starts teething their first teeth, which is when the child is about six months old. Until now, the infant has been relying on the immunities received from the mother via the placenta. As these immunities decrease and the infant’s immune system develops, the baby is vulnerable to minor infections.
During this period, parents may mistakenly confuse teething symptoms with symptoms of flu or other minor illnesses. Here are some symptoms of teething you may see from your baby. We also included some remedy suggestions to help alleviate gum pain.
Drooling and Skin Rashes
Babies drool, but teething causes excessive drooling, resulting in skin rashes around the mouth, cheeks, chin, neck, and chest. When the saliva bacteria come in contact with the baby’s delicate skin, it may irritate the skin and cause dryness and rashes.
Periodically wipe the area on the face and neck where the saliva touches the skin. Keep the area clean and as dry as possible. Do not wipe too often; it may irritate the skin more. A barrier cream may also protect the skin from drying out or becoming chapped.
Coughing and Gagging
The baby may cough occasionally or gag from the extra saliva that is formed during the teething process. If the cough continues and your baby has a high fever and flu-like symptoms, you should contact the doctor.
Diarrhea and Diaper Rash
Extreme drooling may cause diarrhea in some babies who may result in a diaper rash. Make sure the baby is hydrated when loose and watery stools occur. Contact the baby’s pediatrician if you notice blood or pus in the stools if the baby vomits or has a high fever with diarrhea.
Irritability
The breaking through of the first tooth and the back molars are the most uncomfortable and painful of all the teeth erupting. The discomfort of the teeth breaking through the sore gums may cause irritability in your little one. Spend extra time cuddling your child; it produces a feeling of comfort and reassurance that may decrease the irritability levels.
Biting and Sucking
The pressure from biting, sucking, or chewing something may help alleviate the pressure caused by the teeth wanting to erupt. Teething rings, teething toys, and chew beads may help release the pressure. Freeze or chill the teething ring or teething toy for the best effect. Alternatively, make frozen popsicles from fruit or vegetables for your little one to suck, chew, and bite.
Face Rubbing and Ear Pulling
Your infant may experience sore gums’ pain on their cheeks and ears, which causes them to rub their cheeks and pull their ears. Ear pulling may also be a symptom of ear infections. By massaging the sore gums with your finger may bring relief to your infant’s sore gums.
Low-Grade Fever
Teething may cause a slight fever ranging between 98-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Use age-appropriate pain medication at the correct dosage. If not sure, ask the child’s pediatrician for guidance. If the fever is higher than 100.4 degrees, it could be an underlying symptom of another illness; contact the baby’s pediatrician.
What Helps A Teething Baby Sleep?
Teething babies may have difficulty sleeping due to the discomfort and pain caused by the teething process. Parents may help teething babies sleep easier with these home remedies.
Massage Sore Gums
Wash hands before massaging the baby’s sore gums. Lay the baby down for sleep and use your finger to massage the gums. Feel where the teeth are breaking through and focus the gum massaging at those areas. Repeat the process if your baby wakes up during the night.
Cold Food Before Bedtime
Teething babies may not want to eat because of the sore gums. Feed the teething baby when it is bedtime. Cold food helps to soothe the pain, motivating the baby to eat; a baby sleeps better with a full stomach; it may also make them drowsy. Make sure you give age-appropriate food for infants and babies, avoiding them choking from swallowing too big pieces.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding soothes babies and calms them. A calm baby may fall asleep easier. Teething babies may gnaw and hurt the mother during breastfeeding. If the baby has already cut teeth, they may even bite. Avoid it by massaging the baby’s gums before you start to breastfeed the baby.
Bedtime Routine
Routine is good for all children. The sequence of set activities constituting a bedtime routine signals to the baby’s subconscious that it is sleep time. Babies, toddlers, and older kids’ bodies respond to these routines, and they become tired and sleepy.
Many parents have a bedtime routine for their babies without even realizing it. A warm bath, changing into pajamas, followed by rocking the baby in your arms, singing to them, or reading the baby a story is a relaxing routine parent across the globe have been doing for centuries.
Chamomile Tea Soothes
Chamomile tea soothes aches, reduces inflammation, relaxes a person, its relaxing effect may prompt sleep. Chamomile tea should only be given to a child 6 months of age and older, not during the first six months of your newborn’s life.
The tea may bring relief to a teething child. Give the tea in a feeding bottle or soak a clean washcloth in the tea, freeze it, and give it to the baby to suck and chew. Alternatively, dip your finger in chamomile tea when massaging the baby’s gums.
Which Teeth Are More Painful for Babies?
Teething for baby could be painless with minimum discomfort, or it could be a painful and traumatic experience. Often cutting the first tooth is the most painful for babies, but it varies from child to child. The molars may also be a source of pain for your little one, especially the big molars.
Babies who cut multiple teeth simultaneously may experience the worst pain.
What remedies would you recommend for when the baby is teething? Is there a specific symptom that signals to you that your baby is teething?
More Information on How Long Teething Lasts:
Macknin Teething Pain
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10742315/