Teething is the final stage of the tooth eruption process. During this process, the teeth of the baby cut through the gum and become visible in the mouth.  

Teething can start as early as three months and continue until the child is three years old. Children are different and their development is also different. It is very difficult to tell when the process will begin, how long it will take and how painful it will be. In some rare cases, there are children who are born with one or two teeth or start teething within the first few weeks of their lives. In most cases the first tooth comes in during the seventh month. Sometimes the process of teething follows a hereditary pattern. If the mother and the father teethed early or late then the baby might also follow the same pattern.

With teething often comes discomfort and pain. It is also difficult for parents to cope with the situation when they watch their little ones feeling so much pain. First of all you'll notice your child starting to put all kinds of objects into its mouth.  A teething child will chew on everything that s/he comes across. Chewing helps to reduce the pressure on the gums, which relieves some of the discomfort being felt. Some parents give their children teething rings to chew on, for the same reason.

Symptoms of Teething:-

Symptoms of teething differ from child-to-child. See the list below for some symptoms that a teething baby may experience:-

• Drooling- this starts from three to four months of age. You may see your baby start drooling more often than normal. Teething stimulates drooling.
• Biting and Gnawing- a baby will bite and chew anything s/he can get their mouths on. The pressure from biting on something helps to relieve the pressure from under the gums.
• Diarrhea- This is a common symptom of teething. Parents usually notice slightly looser bowel movements when a baby is teething. It is believed that this might be caused as a result of the extra saliva being swallowed ??" this loosens the stools. Please take your child to the doctor if the diarrhea continues for more than a day, as babies dehydrate very quickly.
• Irritability- As the sharp little tooth rises to the surface; your baby's gums may become increasingly sore, leading to your baby being very cross. The pain and discomfort is worst for the first teeth and again when the molars come in because of their bigger size.
• Coughing- The extra saliva can cause your baby to cough or gag. There's nothing to worry about as long as your baby seems fine and shows no signs of a cold or flu and does not run a high fever.
• Chin rash- If your baby is a big drooler, the constant contact with saliva can cause the skin around the chin and mouth to become irritated. To prevent the rash, gently wipe your baby's mouth and chin periodically throughout the day.
• Cheek rubbing and ear pulling- Pain in the gums may affect the ears and cheeks particularly when the molars begin coming in. This is why you see babies rubbing their cheeks or pulling at their ears. Please bear in mind that pulling at an ear can also be a sign of an ear infection
• Sleepless nights- with teething pain happening during the day and night, you may find your child wakes more often at night when the pain gets bad enough. Cited: 07/2009, New Parents Guide.

Teething tips:-

• Salt of the earth - Give her a salty stick of biltong. The salt seems to act as a local disinfectant and the texture is exactly the correct balance between firm and pliable.
• Iced comfort - Iced lollies provide relief for swollen gums, while ensuring nourishing liquid intake.
• Homeopathic help - Chamomilla 30x is the most effective homeopathic teething remedy, and Belladonna is helpful if your baby is feverish.
• Essentially handy - Essential oils such as Eucalyptus, lavender and chamomile may reduce fever. Add one drop of chamomile to 10ml of base oil (sweet almond is good) and massage gently into baby's cheeks. Please avoid the mouth and eye area.
• Potions and powders - Teething powders and gels help, but should be used with caution. Cited: Women24

Teething Tablets and Rings

You can give your baby a teething ring to chew on. The teething rings are made of soft plastic and are full of liquid so they are smooth and soft.

Teething tablets for babies are a very popular teething remedy choice and they can be very easy to find. One of the good things about teething tablets is their soft quality. They are very soft and dissolve almost instantly on the tongue.

If your baby has been crying or has been very upset, s/he may fall asleep after using a teething ring. Cited: Baby teething   

Whatever happens, remember that teething is a temporary phase, and that this too will pass.  Your baby's teeth will erupt and life will soon return to normal.

Sources:-

• Teething
• Dictionary for dads
• The new parents guide
• Women24

Last Update: 19 April 2011