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What is Teething?

Brendan McGuigan
Brendan McGuigan

Teething is when a baby's teeth begin to push through the gums. These teeth begin to appear as early as three months of age in humans, or as late as a year. It can take a few years for the entire first set of teeth to appear, though it is often complete within one or two years. Occasionally an infant will be born with one or more teeth already protruding from the gums, but this is no cause for alarm.

Though the order in which teeth appear during teething differs from person to person, it tends to follow a general pattern. The first teeth to appear are nearly always the central incisors, those two teeth in the center of the mouth on the bottom. The top central and lateral incisors appear next, which are the four central top teeth. Next come the bottom lateral incisors, the two teeth on either side of the bottom central incisors. Then the basic molars, in the back of the jaw. And lastly, the eye teeth, the pointed teeth on the top. Most infants have twenty baby, or milk, teeth in all.

When teething, babies tend to drool.
When teething, babies tend to drool.

Female infants tend to begin teething at a slightly earlier age than males, but the difference is negligible, usually no more than a few months between siblings who share two parents. During teething, infants may experience a considerable amount of discomfort and pain, which leads to a high level of irritability. Other infants may have virtually no discomfort and make it through the entire teething process without exhibiting any signs of pain whatsoever. Slightly increased temperatures are common when teeth are breaking through the gums, but should not create feverish states, and any surprising shifts in temperature should be looked at by a physician.

Teething toys may help ease teething pain.
Teething toys may help ease teething pain.

While babies are teething they tend to drool a lot, and it is important to wipe the drool clean regularly to make sure no rashes develop. While teething, most infants also like to chew on things to help alleviate the discomfort caused by swollen gums. It is best to have teething toys or aids available to ensure that your favorite socks don't become impromptu teething cloths! Dampening a washcloth and putting it in a freezer for fifteen minutes to half an hour makes a wonderful teething aid, and a number of commercial teething rings which may be partially frozen are also available.

Signs a baby is teething include excessive drooling and fussiness.
Signs a baby is teething include excessive drooling and fussiness.

Even before the first teeth appear, brushing should begin. The gums should be brushed softly with water. Once teeth begin appearing, brushing with only water should continue. Even though these teeth will fall out before long, allowing them to decay can cause gaps which will lead to future problems, as permanent teeth squeeze in to try to fill the gaps and leave the mouth an orthodontic nightmare. Once the child is old enough to spit out toothpaste, brushing may begin to incorporate toothpaste as well as water.

While the term teething refers to the process of the teeth breaking through the gums, in the common vernacular it may also be used to describe the tendency on infants and the young of other species to chew on whatever is handy while they are going through the teething process.

Discussion Comments

Fiorite

My child is almost done teething, but I don't think that I would have been able to make it without teething tabs, teething biscuits, and a baby toothbrush. The teething tabs helped throughout the teething process. Sometimes I give her some when she is throwing a tantrum simply because they help to calm her down.

The teething biscuits were great; although they always ended up as a slimy mess stuck to the bottom of one of our feet. We only used teething biscuits through the early stages because when her molars were working their way through she would bite off large chunks. We also never used the Gerber biscuits because they broke more often than the flat kind, and they took longer to dissolve; in my mind posing a greater choking hazard.

The toothbrush was great for the last six months of her teething. We would brush her teeth and then let her chew on the toothbrush for a little while. FYI, there are also infant toothpastes on the market that are swallow safe. Getting her used to toothbrushes early is also a good idea. We brush her teeth twice a day, and she absolutely loves it. She often brings her toothbrush to us after eating to let us know she wants to brush.

Georgesplane

My daughter started teething at about 6 months, and it caused her to become irritable. This was especially true for the first set of molars that came through. I had many people recommend things like baby Motrin and baby Oragel. We decided to go with a more natural remedy which we discovered worked very well. We chose homeopathic teething tablets which contained herbs that help to calm infants. They dissolve under the baby's tongue and start to work in about 15 minutes.

She is about a year and a half now, and working on her "I" teeth and last set of molars. A trick we use now is to give her frozen raspberries, or refrigerated blueberries. She loves them as a snack, and it helps to alleviate her gum pain. The teething tabs and frozen foods worked well enough that we rarely have to give her baby Motrin.

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    • When teething, babies tend to drool.
      By: Ana Blazic Pavlovic
      When teething, babies tend to drool.
    • Teething toys may help ease teething pain.
      By: Pavla Zakova
      Teething toys may help ease teething pain.
    • Signs a baby is teething include excessive drooling and fussiness.
      By: Szasz-Fabian Erika
      Signs a baby is teething include excessive drooling and fussiness.