Crying. Fussiness. Food strikes. If your normally content baby has become inconsolable and is soaking her bibs with drool, there's a good chance that she's teething. I talked to several pediatricians and dentists to find out what tips they give parents when their baby has a serious case of the teething blues.
It's Teething Time
Most babies start teething between four and eight months of age, when baby's first tooth emerges. Babies drool a lot during teething because, "increased saliva production in infants typically starts around four months of age, which coincidentally is around the same time teething begins," says Dr. Edward Moody, president of American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). "Babies drool in general because they do not constantly swallow the saliva they make like adults do. When teething, they have a tendency to rub their tongue against their gums to relieve the pain and that may push the saliva forward even more than usual," he explains.
Common Teething Symptoms
Besides drooling, infants experience tender gums due to teething. To relieve the pain, they may chew on their fingers and hands, as well as other objects within their reach. They may also have a slight fever, and of course they'll be more irritable. Unfortunately, as each tooth comes through, it may seem as though your little one is always uncomfortable.
"Teething happens with every single tooth until all the baby teeth are in. Sometimes molars seem to be a little more painful because they're more blunt and not as sharp as the front teeth and aren't able to cut through the gum as easily," says Dr. Matt Lawyer, a dentist near Nashville, TN.
What To Do During a "Food Strike"
Many babies become irritated because their gums are in pain, and they may choose to eat less or drink less for a day or two.
"Teething should not cause a baby to completely stop eating, drinking, or nursing for any extended period of time. However, gums that are tender due to teething may cause an infant to be irritable and lead to decreased appetite or changes in eating patterns for a day or two," Dr. Moody says.
Making Your Teething Baby Comfortable
Each child is different and "while some parents find their baby enjoys a chilled teething ring, others find it is just as effective to simply rub the baby’s gums with a clean finger," says Dr. Moody. Many parents will start looking for teething aids to soothe their child. "A variety of objects can be used to ease the pain of teething. Many infants enjoy a clean teething ring, cool spoon or cold, wet washcloth," he advises.
"There are tons of products out there, but as a dentist, what I have found with my children and my patients' children is that teething babies are receptive to just about anything you can give them that is cold. In fact, there are special teething devices that look like a pacifier, but come with a mesh bag. You can put frozen fruit in the mesh bag, so it tastes good, and that gives babies some relief," says Dr. Lawyer.
If your baby is inconsolable, an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen can be used, says Dr. Mark Gettleman, a pediatrician in Scottsdale, AZ. He also points out that since babies are teething constantly for their first two years, and most babies get between 8-12 colds a year, some of the fussiness that's attributed to teething is actually caused by illness.
Should I Use Topical Anesthetics?
The AAPD doesn't recommend topical anesthetics, such as over-the-counter teething gels, to relieve discomfort in very young children due to potential toxicity of these products in infants.
"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now warns parents that local anesthetics found in such OTC products as Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel, and Orabase are not safe for treating teething in infants or children under the age of two," advises Dr. Moody.
Teething can be trying with an infant, although like other difficult stages, it will eventually pass, and your not-so-little one will soon have a beautiful set of baby teeth to show off.
