The first emergence of teeth from your baby's gums can be quite painful. It is a challenging process not only for babies but also for parents. So, what should you expect during this period? How should you act?

What Are the Symptoms of Teething in Babies?

During your baby's teething process, you may notice redness and swelling in the gums, along with excessive drooling. Your baby may feel discomfort due to these changes, putting anything they can grab into their mouth to relieve the itching in their gums. These reactions are completely normal.

This restless period often brings sleep problems and feeding difficulties. Due to feeding issues, conditions like diarrhea and constipation may also occur.

How Long Does Teething Discomfort Last in Babies?

Your baby may express discomfort during teething by crying. While some babies experience this period without pain, for many, it is a painful process. Short-term irritability, crying episodes, sleep disturbances, and changes in feeding habits are very common. Each tooth typically causes discomfort for about 4 to 10 days. Depending on how frequently the baby is teething, this period may extend.

How Long Does It Take for the First Tooth to Emerge in Babies?

You might be wondering how long it will take once your baby starts teething. The difficulty and duration of this process vary for each baby. However, research shows that the teething process can last more than 8 days.

Symptoms often begin to appear 4 to 8 days before the tooth erupts. If the gums are swollen when you check, the milk tooth may emerge within 4 to 10 days.

What Helps with Teething in Babies?

The teething experience in babies varies. Here are some things you should know to help ease the process:

• To reduce drooling and prevent redness around the mouth, gently wipe your baby's face with a clean cloth at regular intervals.
• Massage your baby's gums with a teething brush.
• Give your baby foods they can chew on.
• Cool a hygienic rubber teething toy in the freezer for 30 minutes and give it to your baby to relieve their gums. However, avoid teething toys filled with liquid, as they may break or leak into the mouth.
• If your baby appears uncomfortable, you can use pain relievers, fever reducers, or teething gels as recommended by your doctor in the appropriate dosage.

How Should Dental Hygiene Be for Babies?

You should begin cleaning your baby's teeth once their first milk teeth appear. So, how should you maintain dental hygiene?

• There are soft, bristle-free toothbrushes designed for babies under the age of 1. You can find this product in many baby stores. The parent places the toothbrush on their finger and brushes the baby's teeth hygienically using water or edible organic toothpaste.
• If your child is between 1 and 2 years old, they may not be able to brush their teeth properly depending on the teething stage. You can assist them and help establish a toothbrushing habit.
• If your child is between 2 and 6 years old, you can help them brush their teeth at least once a day using a pea-sized amount of organic and edible toothpaste.