A divided baby food plate with orange and green purees, a bowl of mashed food, a fork, spoon, and green teether, all on a gray checkered cloth and green background.

Tips to Tame Teething Pain for Your Baby

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Has your baby started drooling buckets, gnawing on everything within reach, and getting fussy for no apparent reason? Sounds like your baby has entered the teething era. Having those hard little teeth break through can be an uncomfortable business, but it’s a whole new world when they finally arrive. Our team of pediatric dentists in St. Johns and Jacksonville, FL at Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry wants to share some tips for making that teething era a little easier:

1. Know What Symptoms to Look For

All 20 baby teeth are present underneath the gums at birth, but somewhere around 6 months of age, they start moving to break through. The most common pattern is that the two middle teeth on the bottom emerge first, followed by the two middle top teeth. The process can take weeks, but most children have all 20 teeth by around age 3. Symptoms of teething include:

  • A lot of drooling
  • The urge to chew on everything
  • Fussiness and irritability—because teething can hurt
  • Inconsistent appetite
  • A rash on the chin and face can develop from all the drooling
  • You may also notice the gums getting a little red or puffy

Teething is a normal process, and babies may have a slightly elevated temperature during this time, but it should not go over 100.4. If your baby has a higher temperature or diarrhea (not a sign of teething), your baby may have an illness that you should address with their pediatrician.

2. Wipe Away the Drool

To help prevent rashes, try to keep your baby’s face cleared of drool as much as possible. A soft, clean terrycloth bib can help absorb some of the excess.

3. Cool Foods and Teethers

Avoid teethers with liquids in them and use rubber teethers instead. Keep a collection of them in the fridge (not the freezer) and switch them out for cleaning regularly. This can help take the edge off the teething gum pain. If your baby is eating solid foods, try pieces of cold (but not frozen) fruit like a mashed banana. Always be present when the baby is eating to prevent choking hazards. You can also rub the gums with a clean, damp, cold washcloth, especially at night before bedtime.

Bring Baby to See Our St. Johns and Jacksonville, FL Pediatric Dentists

And when that happy day finally arrives and that first hard, little, white tooth finally arrives, schedule your baby’s first dentist appointment with us here at Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry. We can answer your questions, check to make sure the teeth and bite are growing properly, and help you set your child up for great dental health for life!