Anticipating Fussy Teething Babies

The first time babies teething is a precious moment that awaited parents. But this process can also be a troubling time because some babies will become more fussy than usual due to feeling itchy and painful gums. Baby teeth have begun to form and develop in the gums from the womb. Therefore, the teeth will be able to appear when a baby is three months old, and some even appear when a newborn baby is called Christmas teeth. But generally, baby teeth will be seen when he is 6 months old. Usually the first growing teeth are the two frontmost lower teeth, followed by the two uppermost front teeth. At the age of three, his teeth will be completely complete. Although the tip of the tooth has not been seen, but you can know that your little one is teething by recognizing his general characteristics, including biting the object he is holding, salivating more, more fussy due to gum pain or swelling, difficulty sleeping soundly, or don't want to eat. Other symptoms, such as fever and diarrhea, have not been medically proven to be associated with teething babies.

So Children Are Not Fussy When Teething

There are several ways you can do to reduce the discomfort felt by the baby when teething. You can choose one of them or combine the following methods:

• Teeth toy / teether

Teether is a circular toy that is easily held by a baby and is safely inserted into the mouth as long as it is kept clean. Some teether can be cooled first in the refrigerator, and then used to relieve itching or discomfort in the teething gums. Even so, avoid putting teether in the freezer so as not to endanger the baby's gums. Teether is widely available in various brands, shapes, and materials. Be sure to buy a teether with a label that guarantees that the item is made of material that is not harmful to the baby. Besides teether, you can use clean, cool flannelette. Don't forget to wash and clean all these items after every use.

• Healthy snack

Instead of babies putting objects that are not necessarily clean, give them healthy snacks as a substitute for teether if your little one is six months old. Carrot or apple pieces can be the right choice for babies to hold and bite. But avoid giving foods that contain sugar, such as candy or chocolate, to avoid tooth decay. In addition, always accompany the baby when eating food to reduce the risk of choking.

• Cold drinks

Sugar-free cold drinks can be given as pain or itch relief for babies over six months who are teething. Just make sure the drink isn't too cold.

• Rub baby's gums

Wipe the itchy gums with your fingers or clean small flannel cloth. This light pressure is expected to make the baby more comfortable.

Teething babies who often put objects in the mouth, generally salivate more and more often than usual. To avoid the appearance of skin rashes caused by saliva, wipe your face often, especially around the mouth and chin, with a soft, wet cloth. If it is very disturbing, your doctor may prescribe painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, in small doses. But make sure you don't give over-the-counter medicines without consulting your doctor first. In addition, do not occasionally give aspirin to toddlers, because these drugs have the risk of causing interference with the baby's brain and liver. The use of painkillers such as benzocaine topicals for baby's teeth should also be consulted first with a doctor.

Caring for Your Teeth

Caring for the teeth of a newborn baby requires special handling that is different from adults. Here is a little guide.

• To keep bacteria from sticking to new teeth, gently clean your teeth using a washcloth or clean flannel cloth that is wrapped around the tip of your index finger every time your child has finished eating and before going to sleep.
• After the baby is rather large, you can start using special toothpaste for toddlers who are not spicy.
• If the baby's teeth have grown a few, you can also switch to using a small soft toothbrush specifically for toddlers. Choose a toothbrush with a handle large enough for your hand, a small brush head, with a soft bristle brush.

Sugar is the main cause of cavities. Toddlers who eat sweet foods every day are more at risk of experiencing toothaches. But the most dangerous is a sweet drink consumed from a bottle or cup feeder, because it makes the teeth soaked in liquid sugar for a long time. Therefore, to prevent cavities, avoid giving it a drink other than breast milk or formula milk and mineral water. If you provide other drinks, don't add sugar to it. Also avoid giving drinks that contain high sugar levels, such as syrup or milk containing sugar. Liquids that contain acids, such as fruit juices, also have a similar risk. You can still give diluted sweets and juices only at meal times, but not outside this time. Some researchers suspect that when a baby is teething with fever and diarrhea, it may be caused by a virus and germs found in the objects that the baby puts in his mouth. If your baby has a fever while teething, especially if accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting and weakness, consult a doctor immediately to find out the cause and overcome.