When your baby is teething

When your baby is finally teething, you have a mixed reaction of joy and anxiety. You feel anxious because you are not sure how difficult or easy the journey is going to be. You are not sure as to how much pain the baby will endure or how ill will they feel. But not all babies have problems with teething. In this article DUMASE ZGAMBO-MAPEMBA writes from experience and help from Baby Centre and WEBMD.

Majority of babies have their first teeth when they are between four and seven months old. An early developer may get them as early as three months, while a late bloomer may get them when they are a year old or more.

Of course there are rare cases of babies born with a visible first tooth. Unfortunately, in Malawi these babies are still hidden from the public; just like in the old days when they were being killed for fear that they will be mfiti.

By age three, your child should have a full set of 20 baby teeth until they are five or six.

Teeth break through one at a time over a period of months, and often — but not always — in this order: First the bottom two middle teeth, then the top two middle ones, then the ones along the sides and back.

Some teething symptoms

Drooling, gum swelling and sensitivity, irritability or fussiness, biting behaviour, refusing food and sleep problems.

How to ease baby’s discomfort?

Give your baby something to chew on, such as a firm rubber teething ring or a cold washcloth. If the baby is old enough to eat solids, they may also get some relief from cold foods such as applesauce or yoghurt.

Simply rubbing a clean finger gently but firmly over your baby’s sore gums can ease the pain temporarily, too.

Rubbing the gums with topical pain relief gel like Teejel, or Bonjera or even Ashton powder is also an option. But you may want to ask your baby’s doctor before trying it.

If you use too much, it can numb the back of your baby’s throat and weaken their gag reflex (which helps prevent them from choking on their saliva).

Brushing Baby’s Teeth

Wipe your baby’s gums after feedings and before bedtime with a soft clean cloth or gauze. This will wash off bacteria and prevent them from clinging to your baby’s gums. Bacteria can leave behind a sticky plaque that damages infant teeth as they erupt.

When the first baby teeth start to pop up, you can graduate to a toothbrush with a soft brush, small head and large handle.

At first, just wet the toothbrush. From age one to two; you can start using a pea-sized amount of non-fluoridated toothpaste. Brush gently all around your child’s baby teeth ­– front and back.

Without a healthy set of baby teeth, your child will have trouble chewing and speaking clearly. That’s why caring for baby teeth and keeping them decay-free is so important.