	Article Directory		Article Submission Service		Article Marketing Blog		Publishers		Member Log In

Article Directory :: Home & Family Articles

The Teething Process

By David Cummings

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 28Feb2009
Word count: 580
Viewed: 341 time(s)

Get Free Content For Your Site

All parents know their baby will grow teeth, but there is no set pattern to know when a baby will begin teething, nor is there a set pattern as to how long a baby will teethe, or how painful it will be. One baby might painlessly and easily cut a tooth over the course of one night, while another might have to go through a protracted, painful experience. You may see a rise or lump in the gums for several weeks. Other times there may be no visible hint until you can actual see the tooth.

Teething most likely will follow hereditary patterns. If the mother and father teethed early or late, there is a good chance that the baby could follow that same pattern. On average, the first tooth is likely to come around the sixth month. It can, however, arrive as early as the third month or as late as one year. In rare cases, it can be even earlier or even later; there is just no predicting, and it is all within the course of normal development and growth.

There are a total of twenty primary teeth. This is twelve less than the full set of thirty-two permanent teeth that a full grown adult has. Most children have all their primary teeth by the time they are 2 or 3 years old. The primary teeth last until about the age of six. That's when they start getting loose and coming out, as the permanent teeth grow in to replace them. The primary teeth continue being replaced by the permanent teeth through about the age of twelve. Again, bear in mind that these are only averages, and different timing is not an indication of abnormal development in your child.

Teething symptoms vary widely from one child to anther. Because of this, parents and physicians don't always agree as to how severe the symptoms of teething are, and how painful they are. If your baby experiences these symptoms, you should still check with a pediatrician to make sure that your baby does not have symptoms that are a result of some other cause.

Irritability is a common symptom of teething. The rise of the new tooth causes the baby's gums to become more and more painful, and this will make your baby very cranky. The pain and discomfort is worse when the first teeth are coming in, and later when the molars come in (they are the largest teeth). Babies can become accustomed to teething, so they are less cranky after the first few teeth.

Babies also drool and cough more during teething. Teething stimulates drooling, and the extra saliva can cause your baby to cough or gag. Normally, this will be nothing to worry about as long as your baby seems healthy with no signs of a cold or flu and no fever. Your baby may also develop a chin rash during teething, especially if he or she drools a lot. To help prevent chin rash, gently wipe your baby's chin and mouth at intervals throughout the day.

You can help to ease the baby's teething pain by using teething rings, and chilled teething toys. Cold water can also help. Additionally, you can do activities that can distract your child to help him or her 'forget' the pain of teething. Keep in mind that teething is a phase and will not last forever, and the end result will be a wonderful smile for your child.

David Cummings is a devoted husband and regular author on many topics. He is committed to helping parents create better family time and to working with children's organizations. David is also the General Manager for BustlingBaby.com - a company specializing in products for active parents, such as the Baby Sherpa Backpack Diaper Bag and offers baby travel systems for better baby mobility.

EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here