Pediatric

Babies are as individual in their teething as they are in everything else, they do. It's not uncommon for some babies to drool for weeks before their first tooth comes in. For others, teeth just seem to appear without much fuss at all. Quite often, a baby will have sore or tender gums that tend to make them irritable. To help soothe any sore spots, gently rub them with a clean finger or the back of a small cold spoon. Teething rings also work well. Try and avoid teething biscuits since many of them contain sugar and shouldn't be offered.

Some parents worry that their child's teething is either too early or too late. There is absolutely no link between when the child's teeth are coming in and how strong the teeth will be. Most babies begin to get primary teeth after the age of four months, usually six to nine months. Be sure to examine all of your baby's teeth, especially on the inside or the tongue side, every two weeks for dull whiter spots or lines. These can be signs of nursing bottle decay. If a bottle is left in an infant's mouth for a long period of time and it contains anything but water, decay can occur more rapidly.

Sugar in the liquid mixes with bacteria in the dental plaque to form acids that attack tooth enamel. Each time your child drinks liquids containing sugar, acids attack the teeth for at least 20 minutes. When your children are awake, their saliva tends to carry away the liquid. But during sleep, the saliva flow decreases, and these liquids pool around the child's teeth for long time periods bathing the teeth in acids. If your baby needs a bottle for comfort before falling asleep, fill the bottle with plain water. Regardless of your child's age, if you notice anything unusual in your baby's mouth, seek dental care immediately.