Tips forTeething

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Caring for your Baby’s Teeth•Assoonasyourbaby’steethstarttoappear,start cleaning them twice a day with asoft cloth or gauze pad. As more teetherupt,clean teethwithasoft toothbrush,usingonlywaterforthefirst18months–WITHOUTTOOTHPASTE.•Cleanteethusingasoftcircularmotion•From18monthsto5years–useapea-sizedsmearofLOWFLUORIDETOOTHPASTE•From 6 years and older – use a pea-sized smear of STANDARD FLUORIDETOOTHPASTE•Ifyouarebottlefeedingpreventdecaybyalwaystakingthebottleoutofyourbaby’smouthassoonasheorsheisfinishedanddon’tpropfeedtopreventmilkpoolinginthemouth•Whenyourbabystartseatingsolids,offerhealthy foods that are low in sugar, andkeepmilk feeding during the night to aminimum•Assistyourchildwithbrushingatleastonceadayuntilheorsheis8or9yearsold.

Note:Someparentsfeeltheirbabiesdevelopa fever or get diarrhoea when a tooth isabouttocomethrough.Mosthealthexpertsagreethatteethingdoesnotcauseillness.Itismorelikelythatyourbabyiscomingdownwithacoldortummytroubles,soifyouareworrieditisbesttohaveyourbabycheckedbyyourlocaldoctor.

Most babies get their first teeth by the age of six months; however some can

teethe much earlier or later.

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Signs of Teething•swollengums,cheekscanappearredandslightlyfuller;•increasedsaliva,whichcancausedrooling.Droolingmaycausea rash todeveloponthechin,faceorchest;•bitingonfingersortoystotrytorelievethegumdiscomfort;•refusingtoeatanddrinkbecauseofmouthsoreness;•ear rubbing on the same side as theeruptingtooth;•irritabilityanddifficultysleeping•low grade fever – any fever of 37.5˚C ina baby under three months or 38˚C in ababyoverthreemonthsrequiresamedicalreviewSymptomsusuallybeginabout3 to5daysbeforeatootherupts,andtheydisappearassoonasthetoothbreaksthroughthegum.

Management of Teething discomfort•Cuddle Therapy: A little extra tenderloving care goes a long way when yourbabyishavingahardtimeteething.Hugsandcuddleswillhelpcomfortandreassureyourbabyifheorsheisdistressed.•Rubbing Their Gums: Lightly massagingyour baby’s gum with a clean finger foronetotwominutescanbesoothingandhelpalleviatesomeoftheirdiscomfort.

1,2,3,4 Incisors 6-12months5,6 Babyfirst

molars12-20+months

7,8 Canines 18-24months9,10 Babysecond

molars24-30months

NB* A large range is normal and each child has his or her own timetable for eruption

The arrival of teeth isa natural process forall babies. The timeswhen teeth appearvaryfrombabytobabybut generally occursaround6-7monthsofage.Eachbabytoothemerges(‘erupts’)slowlyoverseveralweeksormonths.Theyusuallycomethroughinpairsstartingwiththebottomfrontfollowedbythetoptwomiddleandthenalongthesidesandback.Bytheageof3yourchildshouldhaveafullsetof20babyteeth.Youmayseea lumporanelevationof thegumforseveralweekspriortoeruption,whilesometimestherearenovisiblesignsuntil thetoothactuallyappears. Forsomebabies thearrivalofteethhappenswithoutanypain,whilstforotherbabiesteethingmaycausediscomfort.Itisimportanttoestablishthatteethingistheproblembeforeadministeringanytreatments.

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Maxilla (Upper Arch)

Mandible (Lower Arch)

•TeethingRings: Teethingbabies love tochewandbite-onanything!Manymumsfindthatcleanchilledteethingringscanbeuseful.•Food for Chewing: If your baby is oversixmonthsold,tryofferingthemasugar-freeteethingbiscuitorunsweetenedrusk.Alternatively,someliketognawonchilledbreadslicesorcarrotsticks.Whateveryouchoosetogiveyourbabymakesuretheyaresupervisedand that theycannotbitechunksoff,whichcouldcauseyourbabytochoke.Itisalsopreferabletoavoidfoodsthataretoohardasthesecouldbruisethegumsandcausefurtherpain.•Teething Gels: Teething gels massagedinto the gums with a clean finger canprovide relief. Look for ones that aresugar-free, colour-free and alcohol freeand make sure you check the dosageinstructionsandexpirydateverycarefully.(Alwaysreadthelabel).Ifunsureconsultyourdoctor.•SoothingSoreChins:Excessivedribblingcaused by teething can irritate babies’chin,neckandchestwhichmaybecomedry,chappedandsore.Trytokeeptheirskin as dry as possible (a bib will help)andchangeanywetclothing.Applyingasimplebarriercreamcanalsohelpkeeptheirskinsoftandsmoothandmayeaseanychappedskin.