Teething Pain in Newborns – What to Expect as New Parents?

Teething pain in newborns is something experienced by many parents worldwide. At least one baby in about 2000 is born with already 1 or 2 teeth, it is rather around the age of 4 months that the majority of babies see their first tooth come out.
But red cheeks, diarrhea, grumpy baby, and crying are not fun, so how can you best relieve them?

Teething is simply when the first so-called primary or temporary teeth, better known as “milk teeth”, are put in place in the mouth.

The teeth are formed inside the jawbones, they move gradually to come out, then they cross the gum before appearing in the mouth of the child.

These teeth continue to progress until the entire crown of teeth is visible. Only the root of the teeth then remains in the jawbone. That’s the end of teething!

Teething: from what age?

One baby in about 2000 is born with one or two teeth, but the 20 baby teeth most often form between 4 and 7 months and they are all present in general before the child is 3 years old!

Of course, there are exceptions and variations in the ages of onset and each child develops at their own pace if baby teeth appear late then don’t panic it does not mean there is a problem!

Finally, the development of teeth can be hereditary, if you had your teeth very early or very late, then there is a good chance that it will be the same for your child.

The baby teeth will only fall out when the child’s permanent teeth are ready to come out, around the age of about 6!

The first baby teeth to appear are usually the lower central incisors (front and bottom teeth) and the others come out gradually without really establishing an order.

If the baby teeth seem spaced out, there is no need to worry since this corresponds to the development of the jaw and these spaces will be occupied later by the larger permanent teeth.

Finally, these permanent teeth appear around 5 or 6 years old and until the age of 12 and around 18-20 years for the last teeth also called “wisdom teeth”.

These dental flares are then generally less spectacular than for babies even if pain related to these flares may be present.

What treatment for teething pain? How to relieve it?

Most often, if a few simple measures are enough to relieve the symptoms of teething in infants, beware, however, of the few dangerous actions that should be avoided.

Simple gestures that relieve pain!

Sometimes simple gestures from parents are enough to reduce the discomfort of teething pain in newborns :

• Comfort and reassure him gently.
• Wipe the face with a clean damp cloth and thermal water to prevent irritation due to saliva.
• The gums can be rubbed gently with a perfectly washed finger or a clean, damp cloth, but above all do not use other techniques (see dangerous gestures below).
• A local painkiller can be applied with a very clean finger, these first teeth gels have a calming and slightly anesthetic effect, but it is above all the gentle massage of these products and the massaging action that mainly relieves the baby the most.
• A teething ring can also help the child. Choose it well, compliant, and approved with the standards in force.
  Having 2 is a plus because while one is used to relieving gums, the other cools in the refrigerator. The child can chew it. Preferably choose a ring without liquid so that the part that contains it does not break when the baby chews.

What not to do to relieve teething pain?

• Do not use products that are not suitable for the pain of teething and especially not purely anesthetic gels because they are dangerous if the baby swallows them because this then reduces the swallowing reflex allowing the baby to eat or drink his water and milk correctly.
• Do not rub the gums with a piece of sugar, bread, a spoon, which attack the gums even more and risk injuring the baby.
• Never pierce the gum to help the tooth come out.
• Do not rub the baby’s gums with alcohol.
• Beware of amber necklaces because, in addition to their more than discussed effectiveness, there is a high risk of strangulation and more than 30 child deaths are attributable to them.
• Also be careful with excess teething biscuits because they do not really relieve but above all, they contain sugar which as soon as the teeth come out can cause cavities.

It will be advisable to remain very careful in case of fever and especially of temperature higher than 38 ° C and which does not regress in 48 hours.

Diarrhea with heavy watery stools is also not always linked to teething. These symptoms should not be treated lightly and if in doubt consult your pediatrician or doctor.

Signs and other things to know about teething pain

The first signs that are often very suggestive of teething pain in newborns are usually hypersalivation and a lot of pain! The pain is due to the movement of the teeth in the jawbone and/or when they pass through the gum.

The most common signs are:

Local inflammation: red cheekbones, swollen gums with sometimes a change in the color of the gums: the appearance of a more swollen and darker area, where teething is supposed to take place.

Hypersalivation: it is necessary because it keeps the child’s mouth well hydrated and protects the gums during pushing.

A red and irritated chin due to hypersalivation may appear.

Digestive disorders with acidic, watery diarrhea and diaper rash are common: this is called false diarrhea because it is not due to a virus or bacteria.

Irritability: baby is grumpy and cries easily.
Disturbed sleep is linked to pain, it is then possible to raise the headboard slightly to relieve the baby.

Loss of appetite.

Greater fragility and susceptibility to infections during this period.

Wrap up

There are a couple of things parents can do to relieve teething pain in newborns, the most important one is to be there for their kids since their presence is great support for the newborns in the moment of pain.

When the pain is severe, a dentist should be consulted immediately.