Teething in children
What is teething?
In some children, the eruption of baby teeth (also called “primary teeth” or “baby teeth”) goes almost unnoticed, while in others it is accompanied by various discomforts or pains. In the majority of cases, at age 3, the child has all 20 primary teeth.
During this time, the second set of 32 teeth develops in the jaws. It appears between the ages of 6 and 16. As for wisdom teeth, they generally erupt from the age of 16 or later, sometimes never!
Symptoms of teething
The signs evoking teething are variable from one child to another and even from one tooth to another. Among the unmistakable symptoms, here are the ones that should make you think of teething:
- Irritability. Your baby is restless, fussy, cries easily. The pain makes him irascible.
- Swollen gums. We can even speak of “doubling of the gums”. Swollen or even swollen and sensitive to pressure, the gums are sensitized by the breakthrough of the teeth.
- Red or even blue gums. They change color as they swell. The area close to teething is then darker than the rest of the gums.
- Red and irritated buttocks. Diaper rash often accompanies dental diarrhea.
- Red cheeks. This redness often appears on the side of the push, where the tooth breaks through.
- A desire to bite. Your child puts all the objects he catches in his mouth and tries to chew on them.
- Abundant salivation. Your baby is salivating and drooling more than usual. This abundant salivation is important: it keeps the mouth hydrated and protects the gums when pushing.
- A fever. It should be of moderate intensity.
- A loss of appetite. Your child is less hungry than usual and balks at mealtimes.
- Difficulties falling asleep. He does not want to sleep and his sleep is disturbed, he wakes up during the night.
Care and practical advice
Do not hesitate to comfort and cuddle your child when there is a tooth that breaks. The few treatments that follow will help you relieve his discomfort or pain:
- Gently rub his gums with a washcloth soaked in cold water and wrapped around your finger (wash your hands well first). You can let him chew on the washcloth, but you have to watch him. You can also massage his gums very gently with a baby toothbrush with very soft bristles. Use it with great delicacy.
- Give him a teething ring. Choose one that’s unbreakable, doesn’t crumble, and is big enough that it won’t fit entirely in your baby’s mouth. Ideally, its surface should be textured. A teething ring can be refrigerated, but it should not be frozen. It should also not be tied around the child’s neck.
- Dental gels, which usually contain a local anesthetic and an antiseptic. They relieve pain and prevent infections. Application: with a (clean) finger on the gum that hurts. Use between two and six times a day (depending on the product).
- Homeopathy, ask your pharmacist for advice, and read the label carefully before use.
