Teething Tips for Parents and Babies

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Baby teeth start to appear when kids are about six months old.  As teeth begin to erupt, babies can be sleepless and irritable.  Here are a few ways to offer chilly relief to babies while they teethe.

Teething Tips:

• Washcloths - A cold, wet washcloth can help ease the pain.  As an added benefit, the washcloths help clean their teeth as they grow in!
• Frozen Fruit - Frozen fruit pieces in a mesh feeder can help with chewing.  Just make sure that you clean their teeth and gums after.  Fruit can be high in sugar and damaging to tiny teeth.
• Frozen Bagels - Similar to frozen fruit, frozen bagels can help ease pain.  Don't forget to brush after.  Even though bagels aren't sweet, the carbohydrates and sugars are still bad for growing teeth.

For more teething tips, check out this article from What To Expect.  You can also contact our office with any questions you have about your child's oral health while they are teething.  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

Safe Teething Treatments for Kids

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Parents might be tempted to soothe a teething baby by rubbing medication on the gums.  However, the FDA warns that prescription drugs are not safe for treating teething infants.  These safer alternatives are a far better choice!

Safe Teething Treatments:

• Gently massage the gums with your finger.
• Give your child a cool teething ring.
• Let them chew on a cool, wet washcloth.

Cool objects act like a mild local anesthetic.  The cool temperature soothes the gums by dulling the nerves that transmit pain.  This is a great alternative to help sooth your teething baby.  However, you should always have adult supervision to make sure that they don’t accidently choke on the teething ring or wash cloth. 

The FDA reminds parents that drugs such as viscous lidocaine or benzocaine are not safe for treating teething in young children.  Small children can easily overdose when given medications to ease the pain of teething.  You should never use medications except for when they are prescribed by a professional.  Read more about the FDA recommendations on their webpage.

Contact Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove for more tips on how to care for your teething tot.  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office. 

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

photo credit: Ryan Dickey via photopin cc

Teething Tips To Soothe Sore Gums

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Teething can start when a child is anywhere from 3 to 12 months old.  As baby teeth emerge, your child may experience discomfort and even a slightly elevated temperature.  While this is normal, we understand that teething is a frustrating process for both parents and babies.  Here are a few tips to help get you and your baby through the teething process.

Soothing Teething Tips:

• Frozen Cloth – Take a clean cloth and soak it in water.  Fold it in third and place it in the freezer.
• Frozen Pacifier – Another great way to relieve tooth pain.
• Frozen Bagel – Cut a bagel into eighths and freeze it.  When your baby sucks and chews on the bagel, it will relieve some of the pain.  Just remember to clean the gums afterwards to keep the mouth clean and free of harmful sugars.
• Teething Rings – There are several BPA free teething rings and toys available.  Just be aware of any choking hazards.
• Celery – Cold celery is great for kids to chomp on.
• Frozen Fruit – Filling mesh feeders with frozen fruit can ease pain.  This is a good option because babies can suck on the fruit without parents worrying about them choking on the food.

Check out this article for more helpful teething tips.   You can also contact Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City and Glen Cove for tips on how to care for your child’s new teeth.  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.