Although signs of formation of the oral cavity in embryological life (in the womb) are seen in the 3rd week, the first signs of tooth development coincide with the 6th week. Starting from the 7th week, the tooth buds begin to appear week by week.
Although the time of the first milk tooth eruption varies from child to child, it generally begins when the lower incisor tooth erupts when the baby is 6 months old. During this period, symptoms such as increased saliva flow, redness and swelling in the gums in the relevant area, mild fever, diarrhea, loss of appetite and cold may be observed. Sometimes, a purple eruption cyst may form in this area, which worries families a lot.
Most of the time, the cyst sac ruptures and disappears with the eruption of the tooth without any intervention. Since the gums in the area where the teeth will erupt are itchy, the baby's hand is constantly in its mouth. It wants to relax by putting everything it can reach in its mouth, and this situation makes the baby restless after a while, causing crying sessions.
To comfort their restless baby, the family resorts to all kinds of methods, including using medication. However, the solution is often simpler than one might think. Since the real cause of restlessness is itchy gums, massaging this area with a cold spoon, teether or towel will be quite effective. Cold reduces itching by providing an anesthetic effect. Stage 1 toothbrushes can also be used for this purpose.
There is a common but wrong belief that a toothbrush can only be used after the teeth are complete and the child is conscious. A toothbrush should be used from the early stages of infancy to massage itchy gums and clean the tooth surfaces in the mouth as the teeth erupt.
Applying anesthetic gels to the gums during the teething period should not be preferred because the effect is short-lived and the milk teeth are a very long period that lasts until the age of 2.5-3. The use of gels that only provide momentary relief for such a long period of time is more harmful than beneficial to the baby.
Baby dentition is completed at the age of 2.5 - 3 with the appearance of 20 baby teeth in the mouth. The eruption times according to tooth groups are shown in the diagram below. Sometimes, there may be differences in these times for the child or situations such as one group erupting before the other. This situation is usually genetic and is likely to have occurred in other family members as well.
- There are 20 baby teeth in total.
- It is normal for baby teeth to have gaps between them. The reason for this is to provide space for the permanent teeth that will replace them.
- Decay can also occur in baby teeth. These decays must be treated.
- If the baby teeth are infected, root canal treatment should be tried first, if not possible, the tooth should be extracted.
- If baby teeth are extracted prematurely, there will be no room for the permanent teeth coming from below and there will be a lack of space. In such cases, a space maintainer should be applied.
Symptoms
Dropping: Many babies drool starting at two and a half to three months of age. Teething increases this in some babies more than in others.
Redness on the chin or face: It is not surprising that a baby who drools a lot will develop redness or cracks on the skin due to the irritation caused by constant contact with saliva on the chin and around the mouth. To prevent this, gently wipe the drool periodically throughout the day and place a towel under the bed sheet to absorb the drool while your baby sleeps. When the skin becomes dry, keep the area constantly moist with a mild skin cream.
Mild cough: Excessive drooling can cause your baby to choke and cough from time to time. If your baby does not show signs of a cold, flu or allergy, this is nothing to worry about. It is common for babies to continue coughing to attract attention or to enrich their vocal repertoire.
Biting: In this case, a bite is not a sign of hostility. A teething baby tries to soothe their gums by putting anything they can get their hands on - it could be their own hand, their mother's breast, or a stranger's finger - into their mouth.
Pain: Under the pressure of an emerging tooth, inflammation develops in the gums. While this condition causes unbearable pain in some babies, it may not cause any problems in others. The first teeth and molars are the teeth that cause the most trouble when they come out.
Restlessness: As the inflammation increases and the sharp tooth approaches the surface, the pain in the baby's gums can become constant. Like anyone with chronic pain, they can be distressed and deviate from their normal state. This discomfort can sometimes last for weeks.
Refusal to feed: A baby who is teething may refuse to feed. A baby who has started eating solid foods may lose interest in these foods for a while. However, this should not worry you. Because your baby also gets the necessary nutrients from liquid foods and his appetite will return after the teeth come out.
Diarrhea: Its connection with teething is very doubtful. Some mothers say that their babies have diarrhea every time a tooth comes out. Some doctors think that there is a connection between teething and bowel movements, most likely due to increased saliva secretion. However, some doctors do not want to accept such a connection; perhaps they do this because they are afraid that mothers will ignore important gastrointestinal disorders by attributing every diarrhea to teething. Know that your baby's stool may be watery during teething, but definitely report diarrhea that lasts longer than two bowel movements to your doctor.
Fever: Like diarrhea, fever is a symptom that doctors are hesitant to associate with teething. A fever below 38 C can accompany teething due to inflammation in the gums. If your baby still has a fever, do as you would any other time and notify your doctor if it doesn't go down in two days.
Sleeplessness: Even babies who sleep soundly through the night may start waking up at night while teething. Waking up at night, like other problems, is more common when the first tooth and molars are coming out.
Eruption cyst (bruising and swelling in the gum): Sometimes an emerging tooth can cause bleeding in the gums, which can be seen as a bluish stain. These hematomas are nothing to worry about and will resolve on their own without requiring medical intervention. Cold compresses can reduce pain and speed up healing.
Ear pulling, cheek scratching: Pain in the gums can be transmitted to the ear and cheek along the nerve pathways. It is important to remember that babies also pull their ears when they have an ear infection. Even if your baby is teething, consult your doctor if you suspect an ear infection.
What to do
Giving them something to chew or scratch their teeth: A cold banana or carrot, a piece of ice wrapped in cheesecloth, a rubber teething ring. Whatever you give your baby to chew on, be sure to be there and make sure they are in a sitting position.
Cold drinks: Give your baby a bottle of cold water. If they refuse the bottle, try giving them a cup. This way, you will also meet your baby's water needs and replace the fluids lost through diarrhea or increased salivation.
Cold foods: Peach puree, apple puree, and yogurt that have been cooled in the refrigerator may be more appealing to your baby than room temperature foods.
Medications to reduce pain: If nothing else works, paracetamol will make things easier. Consult your doctor for dosage adjustments. Do not apply anything else to your baby's gums unless your doctor recommends it. This includes alcoholic beverages. Gels that will reduce pain in the gums (such as Dentinox, Calgel) can be used.
