Our Location:
Nashua Smile Makers
Nashua, NH 03060
Call For Financing OptionsFind answers and other helpful dental topics in our digital library.
Our Blog:
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2011
Tags
- pediatric dentistry (8)
- celebrity smiles (60)
- orthodontics (9)
- palatal expanders (2)
- braces (8)
- veneers (8)
- prepless veneers (1)
- nightguard (1)
- grinding teeth (1)
- dental emergency (2)
- dental injury (5)
- porcelain veneers (7)
- snoring (1)
- sleep apnea (1)
- oral health (13)
- Oral Hygiene (20)
- Dentist (1)
- Nashua (3)
- diabetes (1)
- sealants (3)
- herbal remedy (1)
- cosmetic dentistry (17)
- missing tooth (1)
- replacing teeth (1)
- dental implant (2)
- nutrition (2)
- bridge (1)
- tooth pain (4)
- root canal treatment (1)
- dental implants (18)
- osteoporosis (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- crown (1)
- fluoride (2)
- social media (1)
- gum disease (5)
- laser dentistry (1)
- mouthguards (3)
- dental injuries (1)
- sensitive teeth (1)
- Cosmetic Dentist (1)
- mouthrinse (1)
- root resorption (1)
- root canal (2)
- TMD (1)
- TMJ (1)
- dental anxiety (1)
- smile makeover (2)
- Sugar (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- TADs (1)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- gummy smile (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- dentures (3)
- chipped teeth (1)
- Flossing (2)
- orthodontic treatment (8)
- tooth grinding (1)
- frenectomy (1)
- crowns (4)
- oral cancer (2)
- tobacco (1)
- dental crowns (2)
- restorative dentistry (4)
- tooth decay (3)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- Family Dentist (2)
- smoking (1)
- seniors (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- mouthguard (1)
- periodontal (gum) disease (1)
- palatal expander (1)
- teeth whitening (3)
- geographic tongue (1)
- bone grafting (2)
- bad breath (2)
- clear aligners (1)
- chipped tooth (2)
- x-rays (2)
- bonding (1)
- headgear (2)
- thumb sucking (1)
- adult braces (1)
- teeth grinding (1)
- medicine (1)
- bone loss (1)
- missing teeth (1)
- artificial sweeteners (1)
- Dental Bonding (1)
- Dental Repair (1)
- teething (1)
- sedation dentistry (1)
- periodontal disease (1)
- periodontal surgery (1)
- x-ray (1)
Categories:
Although it’s a natural part of dental development, teething is no picnic for your baby. This process in which each of their twenty primary teeth gradually erupt through the gums usually begins around their sixth to ninth month and may not end until around age three.
These periodic tooth eruptions can cause your baby to bite, gnaw, drool or rub their ears. Teething can also disrupt sleeping patterns, decrease appetite and cause gum swelling and pain that can turn your otherwise happy baby into an unhappy one.
Managing these teething episodes is one of the most common topics parents bring up with their dentists. Since teething is supposed to happen, there’s no need for medical intervention unless the child is also experiencing diarrhea, rashes, fever or prolonged irritability associated with teething episodes. In most cases, the best you can do is to make your child more comfortable. Here are a few things to help you do just that.
Provide cold items for gnawing. Rubber teething rings, wet wash cloths or pacifiers that have been chilled can give your child something to gnaw on and ease the pressure of sore gums while the chilled temperatures help numb pain. Be sure, though, that the items aren’t frozen because extremely cold temperatures can burn the skin.
Gum massage. You can massage your child’s gums with one of your fingers during a teething episode to counteract the throbbing pressure coming from the erupting tooth. Just be sure your finger is clean and don’t use any numbing agents unless advised by your dentist or pediatrician.
OTC medication. You can ease mild to moderate teething pain with over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen in dosages appropriate for your child’s age. But don’t apply rubbing alcohol to the gums or massage in any pain reliever—both practices can burn the skin. And, as mentioned before, only apply numbing agents like Benzocaine with the advice and supervision of a healthcare professional.
Besides these practices, be sure to keep up regular dental checkups to monitor the teething process and ensure all is going normally. And remember: though it may seem harrowing at times, the teething process won’t last forever.
If you would like more information on easing the effects of teething, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Teething Troubles: How to Help Keep Your Baby Comfortable.”