Teething is the process by which infant’s teeth appear by emerging from the gums. It may start as early as three months or as late as one year. The first teeth typically appear between six and nine months. It can take several years for all the teeth to erupt from the gums. Teeth typically arrive in pairs. When teeth emerge through the gums, special chemicals are released within the body that cause slightly elevated temperature.
High temperatures during the process of teething are due to some infections such as herpes virus, initial infection of which is extremely widespread among children of teething age. Teeth start developing while the baby is in the womb when tooth buds form in the gums. Teeth breakthrough one at a time over a period of months and often in the following order: First the bottom two middle teeth, then the top two middle ones, then the ones long the sides of the back. They may not come in straight but they usually straighten over time.
Milk teeth tend to emerge sooner in females than in males. The exact pattern and initial starting times of teething appear to be hereditary. W hen and how teeth appear in an infant has no bearing on the health of the child. The level of pain a baby can handle is different for every child. The soreness and swelling of the gums before a tooth comes through is the cause for the pain and fussiness a baby experiences during this process.
The most common symptoms include drooling, mood changes, swollen gums and the baby becomes irritable. Other noticeable symptoms that a baby has entered teething stage include chewing on their fingers or toys to help relieve pressure on their gums. These symptoms generally fade away on their own but it is important to notify a doctor if they get out of hand.
Before treating a baby for teething, it important to understand the cause of upset in the baby. One way of doing this is rubbing finger gently along the gums in search for any swollen ridges. A teething ring, which is a soft plastic device, can be chewed on as it allows the baby to break down some of the gum tissue which promotes the growth of the teeth out of the gum.