Teething 101: How to Care for Your Baby’s First Teeth and Gums

How to care for teething teeth 

Most babies get their first tooth at around six months old. While it’s not a big deal if your baby gets their teeth earlier or later than this, what is important is good oral care early on in life. Here’s how to look after your baby’s teeth and gums before, during and after teething.

Teething: How long it takes

You can expect your baby’s teeth to come in around the six-month mark, but there’s no right or wrong time for your baby to begin teething. Teeth can come through in any order, but most of the time the central bottom teeth will break through first, followed by the central upper teeth.

Teething can last until your child turns two or three. In total, it can take around 33 months for children to get all 20 baby teeth. Every baby will respond to teething differently. Some don’t experience any pain or problems, while others might find it uncomfortable or even painful. 

Signs that your baby is teething

• More drool than usual
• A dribble rash on the cheeks or chin
• An increase in crying or being grumpy
• A slight fever
• Red cheeks
• Wanting to bite or suck on things
• Pulling their ear on one side
• Changes in eating or sleeping
• A change in how often they poo

If your baby is experiencing a fever or has a runny nose or upset stomach, it’s best to take them to a doctor for a checkup. 

How to help a teething baby

Teething can be upsetting for babies and a difficult time for parents! It’s never nice to see your baby in distress. If your baby is experiencing pain from teething, there are ways you can help.

Rub their gums: You can use a cold spoon or a clean finger to gently rub your baby’s gums. This helps stimulate blood flow to the area and helps ease their pain.

Place ice on their cheeks: Teething can cause your baby’s cheeks to flush. Use a cool facecloth or wrap some ice in a cloth to help them feel more comfortable. 

Give them something to chew on: Chewing on teething toys or a washcloth can help relieve some pressure from your baby’s gums. 

Try teething gel: Teething gels are available at pharmacies. There is some debate about their effectiveness, but some people find them helpful.

How to clean your child’s mouth before teething

Oral healthcare can start from the moment your baby is born. While your baby might not have any teeth yet, cleaning their gums every day will help create good habits from an early age. It also helps get them used to having their mouth touched. 

You can clean their gums by wrapping a piece of damp cloth or gauze around your finger and gently rubbing their gums. You can also use a soft toothbrush to clean their gums. Just make sure you don’t use any toothpaste at this stage. 

How to clean your child’s mouth during teething

It’s important to care for your baby’s first set of teeth. They not only help them eat and speak, they also guide the development of their adult teeth. 

Once your baby gets their first teeth, you can brush them twice a day. Use a soft infant-sized toothbrush and a flouride toothpaste. At this stage you should only use a very small amount of toothpaste. You can use more once your child is old enough to spit it out.

How to clean your child's mouth after teething

As more of your child’s teeth start to come through (usually between 2 and a half and three years old), you can introduce flossing to their routine. A good time to start is when two teeth begin to touch.

 As your child grows, you can teach them to brush their own teeth. Brushing your teeth together can be helpful as it creates routine, and they can imitate you as you brush and floss. Children often need to be supervised with their teeth brushing and flossing routines until around 7 years old. 

Baby teeth: Early teeth and white spots 

Some babies are born with teeth or may have white rings or spots on their gums. Here’s what to look out for.

Premature teeth 

Around one in 1,000 babies are born with a premature tooth. Premature teeth are either already in the mouth or break through the gums in the first month after birth. There is no reason to remove them unless they are wiggly or sharp. Some premature teeth can interfere with feeding or hurt the underside of their tongue. If you’re worried about their premature tooth, it’s a good idea to visit your dentist. They might remove the tooth if it’s wiggly or recommend antibacterial swabs.

Bohn’s Nodules

These white circles are often mistaken for early teeth. Around 75% of newborns will have white circles on their gums where their teeth will appear. They usually disappear in the first three months and are harmless.

Epstein’s Pearls

These are small white, pearl-like spots that can appear on your child’s gums or on the roof of their mouth. Again, they’re harmless and occur in around 60-80% of all babies. They usually disappear within the first few weeks.

When to visit the dentist 

Once your child turns 6 months old or gets their first tooth, it’s time for them to visit the dentist. Regular checkups from an early age are the best way to keep their baby teeth healthy. At your first visit, your dentist will check their mouth and gums and inspect their teeth.

Book your child’s first appointment with our friendly team at Gentle Dental.