Teething

the Babble Staff

Teething is an unexpectedly controversial topic. The degree of physical pain and symptoms attributed to teething has varied considerably over the last century. In Victorian times it was thought to be the leading cause of infant mortality. New teeth are no longer seen as a cause of severe illness, but pediatricians still disagree on whether teething causes symptoms like fever and diarrhea, or if they just sometimes occur at the same time. Symptoms that are caused by teething include drooling, gum swelling, biting and fussiness. Babycenter® says toddlers rarely have painful teething, while Today's Parent says toddler teething can be more painful than infant teething. The onset of teething tends to vary from baby to baby, experts say. First teeth can emerge at anywhere from 3 to 12 months, with the final teeth coming in as late as at 3 years. Pediatricians say that while timing may vary, teething always follows the same pattern; the first teeth to come in are the four front teeth, followed by side teeth, then molars, and eyeteeth last. Rubber teething rings, clean wet towels, or other gnawable child-safe items can help with teething pain and irritation. Some experts also recommend gum massage.

"Teething patterns vary greatly from child to child — some don't have any teeth at their first birthday, while others are sporting a mouthful by then. The vast majority of babies sprout their first teeth between 4 and 7 months of age. (If your child still doesn't have any teeth by 15 to 18 months, schedule a visit with a pediatric dentist.)" ...read the full article

"When Mitchell Gendron got his first tooth at five months, his mother hardly noticed. 'He just drooled a little,' she remembers, 'and the next thing I knew, he had four teeth.' The first four teeth (two top, two bottom) usually arrive somewhere between six and 13 months. But Mitchell is 15 months old now and the teething isn't over. 'In fact, it's much worse now.'" ...read the full article

"When teeth first appear is as unexpected as the timing of baby's first steps, but in general, expect the first sharp nubbin around six months; some babies teethe earlier, some later. Heredity plays a part. If you check your own baby book, if grandmother was a tooth-record keeper, your baby's teething schedule may resemble yours." ...read the full article

"No topic has gone through wider swings in medical opinion than teething. A little more than a century ago, teething was considered the leading cause of infant death. Most of the serious symptoms of that age group (including seizures and infantile paralysis) were blamed on teething. At the turn of the 21st century, the prevailing opinion has swung in the opposite direction, maintaining that teething probably does not produce any symptoms at all — even pain, crying, or problems sleeping." ...read the full article

"Teething, the emergence of the first baby teeth through a baby's gums, can be a frustrating time for many babies — and their parents. It helps to know what to expect when your child is teething, and what you can do to make the process a little less painful for you and your child." ...read the full article