The first teeth in children: the period of appearance and signs

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

New parents want to know as much as possible about how their baby will develop. They are interested in when he starts smiling, when he sits down, crawls and takes his first steps. But one of the main questions concerns the appearance of the first teeth in children. Surely most of them have heard from experienced girlfriends and friends about how difficult this process is and how many sleepless nights they had to endure. But do not panic in advance. Firstly, all children develop individually and it is not at all necessary that your baby will give you a lot of inconvenience. And secondly, not all children have their first teeth at the same time. We will tell you how this happens in our article.

When do babies get their first teeth?

In the first months of life, the baby smiles with a toothless smile. But by half a year, everything can change. Usually the first teethbabies begin to erupt by 6-7 months. However, sometimes this process is accelerated or, conversely, delayed, which is also the norm. Therefore, it is difficult to say exactly how many first teeth children will have by 12 months. It all depends on a number of factors:

• genetic predisposition;
• calcium content in the body;
• climatic living conditions, etc.

As a rule, teeth erupt in pairs. This means that 2-3 weeks after the appearance of the first, the second will definitely follow. Well, parents who are worried that their child’s teeth are not erupting according to the norms should be reassured that the speed of their appearance does not affect longevity and he alth in any way.

Baby teething symptoms

For most children, growing teeth is uncomfortable and sometimes painful. This negative moment for the baby just needs to be experienced. And, despite the fact that the eruption process is purely individual, it will definitely not work to miss the first tooth in a child (pictured below). It breaks through the bone tissue and the mucous membrane of the gums. At first, a barely noticeable white line appears on it, and after a few days a whole tooth "grows".

But the symptoms of teething in the baby appear at least a week before the onset of this event. They are indicated by the following signs:

• inflammation and redness of the gums;
• sleep disorder;
• uncharacteristic for a baby anxiety andirritability;
• profuse salivation;
• runny nose, stuffy nose;
• lack of appetite;
• diarrhea;
• temperature increase to 38°.

It is not at all necessary that the child will be disturbed by absolutely all of these symptoms. Yes, and feeling unwell is normal for only a few days. If the signs drag on, but there are still no teeth, you must definitely contact a pediatrician.

When should I see a doctor?

When the first teeth erupt in children, simultaneously with the appearance of the above symptoms, a decrease in immunity occurs. Therefore, it is possible that a viral or intestinal infection will be hidden behind these signs. Only a pediatrician can dispel the mother's doubts about the baby's he alth. They must be contacted in the following cases:

• increase in temperature to 38-39°;
• diarrhea;
• runny nose;
• cough;
• appearance of sores on the oral mucosa.

The above teething symptoms cannot last more than three days. Otherwise, this may indicate the addition of a viral infection.

Which baby teeth come in first?

Both pediatricians and dentists agree on the sequence in which teething should occur. But only not all kids want to follow the instructions of adults. If we talk specifically about which tooth the child will have first, and on the top or on the bottomjaw it will, then there are rules. According to the norms, the lower incisors erupt first. They usually grow in pairs. First, a tooth may erupt on the right, and then on the left with a difference of 3-7 days.

However, there are often exceptions to the rule. There is nothing to worry about either, since each organism is individual.

Eruption sequence

The generally accepted order of appearance of the first teeth in a child is as follows:

• 6-7 months - lower central incisors;
• 8-9 months - upper central incisors;
• 9-11 months - upper lateral incisors;
• 11-13 months - lower lateral incisors;
• 12-15 months - upper and lower first molars;
• 18-20 months - fangs;
• 20-30 months - second molars.

The above are the teething standards that pediatricians and dentists around the world adhere to. But it is impossible to specify the exact date of the appearance of the first teeth in children. And which of them will grow earlier than others can be clearly seen from the diagram. As a rule, the lower incisors erupt first, and after them, after 1-2 months, the upper ones will follow. Small deviations in one direction or another are the norm. The main thing is to adhere to the rule that at 12 months a child should have at least 1 tooth. If this is not the case, then you should immediately contact your dentist.

Causes for concern

The first teeth that have not erupted by a certain age in children cause real panic for many parents. Actually, it is noteverything is as scary as it may seem at once. This earlier late eruption was considered a sign of rickets or a lack of calcium in the body. But still, significant deviations from the timing may indicate certain disorders in the body:

• late teething - for metabolic or intestinal disorders;
• early appearance of teeth - to problems in the endocrine system;
• violation of the sequence of eruption, non-standard in shape and position of the formation of teeth - for anomalies in development or diseases transferred during pregnancy;
• temperature increase above 39° - for a viral or infectious disease, or other disorders in the functioning of the child's body.

All of the above problems do not always indicate developmental disabilities and diseases, but are only a reason to go to the dentist.

How to relieve teething pain?

When the first milk teeth appear in children, crying is heard in every home. To help the child survive this unpleasant moment for him, the following tools will help:

1. Toys-teethers. With soft rubber rings filled with water or gel inside, the baby massages his gums with pleasure. To relieve pain and eliminate swelling, gel teethers are recommended to be pre-cooled in the refrigerator.
2. Homeopathic preparations ("Dentokind", "Dantinorm baby"). They help eliminate painteething, accompanied by fever and diarrhea. Preparations in the form of a tablet dissolve in a teaspoon of water and are offered to the baby half an hour before feeding twice a day. The desired effect can only be achieved with prolonged use.
3. Gum massage. You can carry it out with your finger, thoroughly washing your hands before that, or with a special fingertip with a brush. Massage should be careful not to injure the gum.

During teething, excessive salivation can irritate baby's delicate skin on the chin and neck. At this time, the child is advised to wear a bib and wipe off saliva, which can cause rashes and irritation.

Tempering gels

It is possible to stop the pain that accompanies the process of the appearance of the first teeth in children with the help of topical preparations. Teething gels are absolutely safe for babies, but provide a short-term analgesic effect for no more than 2 hours. But, along with this, the desired effect can be achieved within 2-3 minutes after application.

All teething gels can be divided into groups:

1. Lidocaine-based topical preparations that provide quick but short-term results.
2. Homeopathic gels containing plant extracts with anti-inflammatory effects.
3. Preparations based on antiseptics, having a stronger composition and acting as efficiently as possible.

Before using one ora different gel, it is recommended to study the instructions for its use in order to exclude the development of an allergic reaction in a child.

Use of traditional medicine

Some parents are wary of using medication for teething. They prefer folk remedies:

1. Massage the gums with a finger wrapped in a bandage and soaked in hydrogen peroxide.
2. Using a chilled pacifier or silver spoon as an alternative to teething toys.
3. Lubricating the gums with soothing honey.
4. Rubbing inflamed gums with a decoction of chamomile, which has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
5. Lubricating the area around the mouth with baby cream to avoid irritation from excessive salivation.

However, pediatricians and dentists do not share the views of parents on the use of traditional medicine, since some of them can lead to an allergic reaction in a child.

Oral care

With the appearance of milk teeth, parents have new responsibilities. From now on, they should pay due attention to the cleanliness of the oral cavity. Regardless of what time the first tooth in a child appears above the surface of the gums, he needs care. To do this, it is recommended to use a special silicone nozzle on a finger or a bandage dipped in boiled water.

After a year, when the baby will no longer have one, but 6-8 teeth, you canPurchase a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste with minimal fluoride. Parents should do the cleaning. All actions must be careful not to damage the thin and fragile enamel.

Early care not only ensures the prevention of dental diseases, but also from childhood contributes to the formation of a he althy habit of brushing your teeth in the morning and evening.

Dr. Komarovsky about the first teeth

A famous pediatrician has his own opinion on teething:

1. He doesn't think teeth sequencing is a sign of any disease.
2. According to Dr. Komarovsky, a deviation from the timing of eruption by 6 months in one direction or another is not considered a pathology.
3. There is no way to influence the speed and order of teething.

Dr. Komarovsky is positive about gum-cooling teething toys, but does not recommend using bagels and cookies instead, as some parents do, as this can lead to sad consequences.