Baby’s first teeth

Do’s and don’ts 
Physician and philosopher Hippocrates of Cos said teething infants, especially the first tooth, experience symptoms like fever, diarrhoea and itching of gums.

All the way through the end of the 19th Century, teething was considered the number one cause of death of infants. This was treated through leeches, mercury-based powders and pricking of the gum. Apparently, the deaths were as a result of the teething remedies.

By 1954, there was a theory called “reflex stimulation’’ that explained the belief in teething. Today, most parents assign certain infant symptoms to teething. According to the Journal of Dentistry, recent surveys show that 75 per cent of parents with young children believe fever is related to teething. Another 64 per cent of dentists and 85 per cent of nurses believe the same.

They believe that symptoms such as fever, irritability, drooling, rashes, lack of appetite, loose stool and sleeping problems are as a result of teething. Most of these symptoms claimed to be connected to teething are mere coincidences.

A baby’s first tooth appears when they are around four to seven months old, even at three months for some. Some who delay get their first tooth after a year or so. This is a major milestone for parents and some even take photos of the teething kids to keep the memories.

The baby’s teeth start developing in the womb as the tooth buds form in the gums. They appear one at a time in an interval of several months. But the sequence varies as the bottom two teeth appear first, then the top two, followed by the rest.

All may not be straight but eventually they rectify after the milk teeth fall out. By age three, a child should have a set of 20 teeth, which stay in place until permanent teeth start developing, at age six.

A child who is teething usually has various symptoms like fever and diarrhoea and can become irritable. Some experts believe that the excess saliva formed during teething ends up in the stomach, leading to diarrhoea.

It is further believed that the inflammation in the gums is what triggers fever in children. However, some experts do not support this theory and believe that diarrhoea, fever and loss of appetite are not caused by teething. They believe that the stress brought about by teething makes children vulnerable to infections that are not connected to teething.

According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, Australian babies were given tranquilisers or pain medication to ease the pain, despite evidence that teething caused no illness in most of the children. A prior study monitored babies’ temperature and bowel movements to see if it related to a baby teething and found no connection between the two.

Nevertheless, they all seem to agree that the most important step is for parents to consult a doctor if the child’s condition is worrisome or if they have a fever of 38.3°C or 38°C for babies below three months. This is to rule out any other medical concerns like an ear infection.

Parents usually link irritability and severe fever in kids to the onset of teething. But studies published in the Journal of Paediatrics show these symptoms may be as a result of a more severe illness.

Although there are precise symptoms that are directly related to teething, a few are connected to the condition. Parents attest that their children experience discomfort during teething though some have no symptoms at all. The most common symptoms of teething are:

• Irritability
• Sleep disturbances
• Urges to bite
• Drooling – which often leads to a facial rash
• Sensitive gums and swelling
• Lack of appetite
• Diarrhoea

One of the best ways to alleviate your child’s teething symptoms is giving them something to bite or chew on. This could be a hard rubber toy or rattle usually available in supermarkets. If it is a weaned baby, it would be best to give them cold foods like yoghurt, to sooth their gums.

Sometimes the doctor may recommend Ashton powder to sooth the baby’s gums. It is advisable to avoid any self medication as it could have negative results.

Avoid giving your child Aspirin to ease pain as it leads to Reyes syndrome; a deadly condition that could harm your child. The best precaution is to check with your doctor first before trying any home remedies.

Also avoid giving pain relief gels to the child without your doctor’s advice. When these gels are excessively used, they can numb the back of the baby’s throat and reduce their gag reflex. This is what prevents a child from choking on saliva. The gels are safe to use but in some cases, they may trigger an allergic reaction.

If your baby has a fever, dress him in light, comfortable and absorbent clothing. You can lightly wipe him with lukewarm water to lower his temperature. If the temperature gets out of control, it is advisable to consult your doctor for intervention.

Sometimes, the doctor will recommend fever-relievers to regulate the temperature. For a child who has no appetite, the best thing is to feed him on the food he prefers. If the baby is still breastfeeding and does not want to eat, let him continue breastfeeding.

If your child is vomiting or having loose stool, ensure you give him enough fluids to avoid dehydration. Give him regular sips of milk, porridge, water and avoid sugary drinks as they increase diarrhoea. One of the ways of dealing with excessive drooling is by investing in enough bibs. This keeps the baby dry and comfortable. Just make sure you change them regularly to keep the baby’s chest dry. If you need to wipe the drool, do it gently as rubbing may cause discomfort because of the rash. Apply a baby jelly at night when the baby is about to sleep to prevent the irritated area from getting worse.

END: BL 40 / 24-25