Cutting teeth

Before a tooth erupts, the overlying gum may become red and swollen, and the cheeks often slightly fuller and flushed. At this stage, babies often chew on fingers or objects and dribble. If this is a problem, dab your baby’s mouth and chin gently to dry the skin and apply thin layers of barrier cream for added protection (a sore, inflamed skin area will only add to the misery) – fretfulness, waking up at night and an unwillingness to eat are also common signs of teething. If your baby refuses solid food, you can offer extra breast or formula milk, as well as cooled boiled water.

Simple methods of help can be:

• Rubbing the gums, or encouraging biting on teething biscuits or rings
• Relief by rubbing on cold objects – teething rings kept in the fridge, a piece of frozen bread, or eating cold foods like apple puree or yoghurt from the fridge
• relieving gels are available (Bonjela, after 4 months of age) Simple paediatric ‘over-the-counter’ analgesics can be used (Calpol, or Paracetamol liquids)

An American study has shown that teething is associated with a mild rise in body temperature and a proportion of children who were shown to be ‘teething’ did have some rise in temperature to 100˚F as well as a facial rash.

So the misery of teething can go on for some time, but console yourself with the fact that by the time your baby’s three, she’ll have a gleaming white set of twenty gnashers and, hopefully, that ring of confidence around them!

Find out more about caring for your baby’s teeth.