Natural Solutions for Teething Babies

THIS TOO, SHALL PASS – WORRIED PARENT

Teething is the time when teeth (baby teeth) first come through your baby’s gums. The medical term for it is odontiasis. It’s understandably a difficult time for babies and their parents. It’s painful to watch your baby overcome the discomfort of having their first teeth. And of course, it’s instinct to do everything you can to help them get through it. This article talks about the basics of teeth and teething for babies and natural solutions that you as a parent may want to try.

A. FAST ANATOMY AND DEVELOPMENT OF TEETH

1. The Journey of Cute Pearly Whites Begin

Teeth start developing even before your baby is born. Therefore, adequate nutrition from the mother during pregnancy is essential in tooth development. The pregnant mother’s diet should have sufficient amounts of vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus. There are primarily four main stages of tooth development:

1. The first stage starts in the unborn baby at around six weeks of pregnancy. It’s the time when the fundamental substance and structure of the tooth form.
2. Approximately 3 to 4 months into the pregnancy, the hard tissue that surrounds the teeth is formed. This constitutes the next stage.
3. The following stage happens after the child is born when the baby teeth erupt through the gums.
4. The last stage is when the child loses all the baby teeth.

2. Parts of a Tooth

A tooth has four main parts. They’re the following:

1. Enamel is the outer layer of the tooth. It’s the hardest structure in the body
2. Dentin is the inner layer of the tooth. It’s the biggest dental tissue and the main part of the tooth.
3. Pulp is the soft tissue found on the inside of the tooth. It houses the blood vessels, nerves, and has the ability to make dentin.
4. Root basically secures and plants the tooth into the jaw.

3. Is it Time for the Tooth to Come Out?

The table shows when baby teeth (also referred to as primary teeth or deciduous teeth) erupt and fall out. Remember that the table is just a rough guide as the eruption timing can vary from child to child.

Baby Teeth Eruption Table

*At what age the tooth is likely to show up **At what age the tooth is likely to be lost

Every baby is different. The baby teeth start to come in between the ages of 6 and 12 months. The majority of baby teeth will erupt by 33 months. Girls will have a lead on this race to tooth eruption. Their teeth appear first compared to boys. The following are generalities regarding the eruption of baby teeth:

1. The first tooth to erupt is usually the middle front tooth on the lower jaw, called the central incisor. The second central incisor shortly follows this on the lower jaw.
2. The four upper incisors usually follow.
3. Next come the four first molars, followed by the remaining bottom two lateral incisors. Lateral incisors, as the name suggests, are beside the central incisors.
4. Then the pointed teeth, cuspids or canines show up.
5. Most of the time, after the child reaches two years old, the last of the baby teeth, the four second molars appear.

Generally speaking, the teeth on the upper jaw erupt 1 to 2 months after the same tooth on the lower jaw. There are a total of 20 baby teeth. About one tooth erupts per month once the teeth start coming in. There’s usually a space in between the baby teeth. This permits the larger permanent teeth to have some room to go in. All baby teeth should have erupted by the time your child is 2 or 3 years old.

Most children will begin losing their baby teeth around the age of 6 years old. The first teeth to go are usually the central incisors. This is soon followed by the first appearance of permanent molars coming in. The last primary tooth is often shed around the age of 12 years old. This is the second molar. There’s a total of 32 adult or permanent teeth.

Allow loose teeth to fall out on their own. Don’t try to pull the loose tooth out. It may not be ready to go yet. If you pull it out before it's time to go, you may injure the nearby teeth and gums. This can lead to an infection and more pain. You can appreciate a combination of both baby teeth and permanent teeth in the mouth of your child between the ages of 6 and 12 years old.

4. Types of Baby Teeth

1. Incisors. The incisors are the front teeth situated in the upper and lower jaws. They have a thin cutting edge and come together (like a pair of scissors) to cut and slice through food.
2. Canines. The canines are pointy teeth beside the incisors in the upper and lower jaws. They’re used to tear food.
3. Premolars. These sets of teeth have flat surfaces to crush food. The premolars are strictly speaking not a part of the set of baby teeth. Instead, they replace the baby molars. The first premolars appear around the age of 10, followed by the second ones approximately a year later.
4. Molars. The molars are larger than premolars. They are located at the back of the mouth and have flat, broad surfaces that grind food.

B. HOW TO KNOW IF IT’S TEETHING TIME

Well, for one, your baby is around the correct age to show some teeth. You don’t expect a newborn to show fangs just yet. And you may notice the following clues:

1. Fussiness (the baby term for irritability)
2. Crying
3. Swollen, tender gums
4. A slightly elevated body temperature (less than 38.3℃ or 101℉).
5. Copious amounts of drool. The drool may irritate your baby’s face and cause a rash.

6. Gnawing or desire to bite and chew on hard things.
7. Pulling their ear or rubbing their cheek
8. Coughing
9. Repeated episodes of bringing their hands to their mouth. Thumb sucking isn’t a sign of teething. It can even aggravate teething.
10. Difficulty sleeping
11. Loss of appetite or change in eating patterns.

If your baby has rashes on the body, diarrhoea, vomiting, higher body temperature (fever), and persistent coughing, call your baby’s paediatrician. You don’t usually expect these as signs of teething. Remember, the symptoms will not be the same for every baby. Also, each baby will differ in how he or she tolerates pain.

C. NATURAL REMEDIES AND SOLUTIONS

Note, what works to pacify or soothe one baby might not work for another.

1. Something cold such as a solid refrigerated teether, spoon, pacifier, wet washcloth (A clean one!), or a moist gauze pad. A teether, also called teething toy and chew toy, is a device designed for a baby to bite on during teething. Choose a teether made up of solid rubber or silicone and stay away from liquid-filled rings or plastic objects that could break and leak the contents. A piece of ice in a silicon feeder or securely wrapped in a cloth can be helpful too. *Don’t give anything else that’s frozen solid. It can be too hard for your baby’s mouth and gums.


2. Gentle rubbing or massaging of their gums with a clean and cold finger (Yours preferably?) will do the trick. If the teeth haven’t erupted yet, you can allow your baby to gnaw on your finger. If your baby is older than six months, you can try offering cool water from a sippy cup.


3. Try teething crackers or biscuits when your child is eight months or older. They’re biscuits that won't crumble or crack but instead dissolve upon contact with your baby’s gums. This stimulates and soothes the gum. Choose an unsweetened one. Make sure that your baby can eat solid foods first before giving him or her a teething biscuit.


4. Amber teething necklaces are made up of amber beads, which are fossilised tree resin. Amber has succinic acid, which is believed to have pain alleviating and anti-inflammatory properties. When the beads are in contact with the skin, the succinic acid is released and exerts its soothing effects. *The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and other concerned authorities worldwide have issued warning notices to the public regarding amber teething necklaces. Some of the products might break into small parts and become a choking hazard to children under three years of age. If you insist on trying them out, make sure that you supervise your baby when he or she uses them. Remove them when your baby sleeps or if unattended. For now, there’s not enough evidence to suggest that amber teething necklaces help in teething.


5. Traumeel® homeopathic drops is a frequently used herbal preparation for acute pain and inflammation in both adults and children. According to an article published in the journal of Cancer, Traumeel® was effective in treating inflamed and sore mouths (stomatitis) due to chemotherapy for children undergoing bone marrow transplantation. It can also help alleviate teething pain. If your child is below 12 years old, ask the help of your primary health care provider for proper dosing. It’s also a safe and effective alternative to NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). It contains a fixed mixture of mineral and biological extracts.


6. Essential oils like lavender, chamomile, and frankincense well diluted with a carrier oil (a must) and applied on the jawline can relieve pain and inflammation. They may also have a mild sedative effect. Alternatively, the oil can be applied to the soles of the feet while also giving a soothing (and preferably not ticklish) feeling.


7. Chamomilla recutita homeopathic powder doesn’t address teething directly but can soothe the baby and relieve fretfulness and restlessness. Chamomilla recutita is a relative of Matriacaria chamomilla (chamomile).


8. As much as possible, avoid using OTC medications to soothe your baby. Choose natural solutions instead. Consult with your child’s paediatrician/GP first before using OTC medications like acetaminophen and paracetamol.

Luckily for most of us, teething pain passes smoothly and quickly. More often than not, it can usually be handled at home. A word of caution though, if your baby doesn’t seem to respond or find relief from the natural, safe methods enumerated here, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with your baby’s dentist. Your baby might be experiencing something other than plain teething.