Teething can subject your little one to bouts of pain and discomfort as each tooth pushes its way through the surface of the gums. About three days of teething typically precedes the eruption of a single tooth. Teething often is accompanied by no symptoms at all. The teething process can begin when a baby is only 3 months old, but it is more likely to start between 4 and 7 months of age. The last baby teeth normally emerge sometime between age 2 and 3.
No Tooth Left Behind
Easing the Pain
To relieve your little one's pain, use something cold, like a damp, rolled-up face-cloth that has been in the freezer. Let him chew on it. You may want to keep several back-ups in the freezer. An ice-cold teething ring may work as well as an ice pop or a frozen juice slushy. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be used, just make sure to check the dosage. You might also want to try applying a teething gel or paste to the gums to provide relief.
Other Considerations
If teething bothers your baby for more than three days, you may want to consider seeing your doctor. If there is a fever, diarrhea or refusal to drink or breastfeed, a doctor's attention may be required. However, some signs of teething, such as drooling, may simply be signs of development. Although babies have been known to teeth at around 3 months of age, it is more likely that your baby's salivary glands are beginning to work and he's not able to move the saliva to the back of his mouth and swallow it.
