The first year of life is filled with many milestones, one of which is cutting that first tooth. Most babies will get their first tooth between four months and seven months of age, but this can vary. Their teeth began developing before they were born, and will generally begin to erupt in pairs. The first is to arrive are usually the two lower front teeth, followed by the two upper front teeth. After this all the teeth will gradually erupt until your child has a complete set of 20 milk or primary teeth. These will last until the adult teeth or permanent teeth are ready to come through, and this generally happens around the age of six.

New parents will usually find it pretty easy to identify when that first tooth is coming through, as babies can become more irritable and fussier in the few weeks beforehand. It might even be possible to see a slight bump in the gum where the tooth is almost ready to push through. In addition there are likely to be a number of other symptoms which can include:

• Being less interested in food

• Having trouble sleeping

• Developing a slight fever

• Becoming more likely to drool

• Diarrhoea

Some of these symptoms can be associated with illness, so it’s always important to talk to your GP if they last for more than a few days or if they seem to be causing your baby extreme discomfort.

Helping Your Baby Teethe More Comfortably

The symptoms of teething can be quite uncomfortable, so if you notice your baby beginning to bite down or chew on anything they can, then it can be helpful to supply them with a cool teething ring or even a cold washcloth as the pressure created by biting down helps relieve some of the discomfort. Other things that can be helpful include supplying them with a bottle of cold water or chilled foods if your baby is old enough to eat some solids. It can even help to just rub their gums with a clean finger.

Once the first tooth has pushed through then contact us to make an appointment with one of our dentists in Guilford. We know it might seem very early for that first dental visit, but it’s really just a quick check to make sure everything is developing normally. In addition we can give you advice on how to look after those baby teeth to ensure they remain strong and healthy until they are ready to be replaced. Some parents think because these teeth are temporary but they don’t really matter, but this is not the case at all and in fact they’ve got a vitally important role to play in your baby’s development.

Healthy milk teeth can help ensure the adult teeth can erupt straight and true through holding open the correct amount of space for the adult teeth. They’ll also make it much easier for your child to be able to learn to speak clearly so they can communicate well with others, and to eat properly. Young children need a diet that contains plenty of vitamins and minerals that are generally found in a wide variety of foods. Being able to bite and chew these foods properly will ensure all the nutrients can be absorbed by the body.