Teething Signs, Symptoms, and Tips

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Teething can be a painful process for both you and your baby.  It’s important that parents know what to expect when their child’s first teeth come in so that they can help to ease the pain.  While the bottom two front teeth are usually the first to come in at 4 to 8 months, the molars are the teeth that cause babies the most pain.  The molars come in around your child’s first birthday and tend to be more painful because they are bigger and broader.

Here are a few of the symptoms associated with teething:

• Biting
• Drooling
• Irritability
• Decreased Appetite
• Mild Temperature
• Wakefulness
• Gum Rubbing

Biting on hard toys can sometimes damage incoming teeth. Ease the discomfort of teething by offering your child a chilled plastic teething ring.  Parents can also offer their children a wet, cold wash cloth, slushy applesauce, popsicles, or a frozen banana.  Any cold, healthy snack will help numb the gums and ease the pain. 

Remember to brush your child’s tooth with a clean piece of gauze or washcloth when they start coming in.  Parents should also schedule their first appointment at Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove when their child is 1 year old or when their first tooth appears.  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.

Infant Oral Health

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Many parents have a series of questions and concerns when it comes to infant oral health. They wonder why so early? Or why does my child need to see a dentist by their first birthday? Pediatric Dentistry of GardenCity & Glen Cove is here to answer some FAQ about Infant Oral Health.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to give us a call at either one of our locations or visit us on our Facebook page. 

Image Source: Wikipedia

Why so early? What dental problems could a baby have?

The most important reason is to begin a thorough prevention program. Dental problems can begin early. A big concern in Early Childhood Caries (formerly known as baby bottle tooth decay or nursing caries). Once a child’s diet includes anything besides breast-milk, erupted teeth are at risk for decay. The earlier the dental visit, the better chance of preventing dental problems. Children with healthy teeth chew food easily and smile with confidence. Start your child now on a lifetime of good dental habits.

How can I prevent tooth decay from nursing or using a baby bottle?

At-will breast-feeding should be avoided after the first primary (baby) teeth begin to erupt and other sources of nutrition have been introduced. Children should not fall asleep with a bottle containing anything other than water. Drinking juice from a bottle should be avoided. Fruit juice should only be offered in a cup with meals or at snack time.

When should bottle-feeding be stopped?

Children should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age.

When should I start cleaning my baby’s teeth?

The sooner the better! Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. As soon as the teeth begin to appear, start brushing twice daily using fluoridated toothpaste and a soft, age-appropriate sized toothbrush. Use a “smear” of toothpaste to brush the teeth of a child less than 2 years of age. For the 2-5 year old, dispense a “pea-size” amount of toothpaste and perform or assist your child’s toothbrushing. Remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively.

Any advice on teething?

From six months to age 3, your child may have tender gums when teeth erupt. Many children like a clean teething ring, cool spoon or cold wet washcloth. Some parents swear by a chilled ring, others simply rub the baby’s gum with a clean finger. 

Products Containing Benzocaine Can Be Hazardous To Children!

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City

585 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530

516-222-5100

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

When your child was younger and teething, you probably at some point or another reached for a pain remedy to help soothe your child’s sore gums. One of the pain remedies you probably gave your child was Anbesol, Hurricane, Orajel, Baby Orajel or Orabase. All of these products contain benzocaine, which can lead to a rare but serious condition called methemoglobinemia.

This is a disorder where the amount of oxygen carried through the bloodstream is reduced. In some of the most severe cases, methemoglobinemia can lead to death. The FDA has received 29 reports in regard to methemoglobinema. Out of the 29 reported cases, 19 of them occurred in children and 15 of the 19 occurred in children under the age of 2!

The FDA recommends that parents do not give children under the age of 2 any products that contain benzocaine except if told to do so by a health care professional.

If you suspect your child may have developed methemoglobinemia, some of the symptoms are:

Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips or nail beds

Shortness of breath

-Fatigue

-Confusion

-Headache

-Light-headedness

-Rapid heart rate

Have you ever used any of these products on your children? Let us know on our Facebook page linked HERE!