A pediatric practitioner with Metro Dentalcare, Deanna Alevizos, DDS, serves dental needs in the Burnsville, Minnesota, area. Emphasizing friendly, personalized care, Dr. Deanna Alevizos strives to ensure proper oral health care from infancy.
One of the essentials of oral health care during the first year involves ensuring healthy teething. With tooth eruption typically occurring during the sixth month, the two middle teeth are usually the first to appear. While the process of tooth eruptions can last up to two years, most of this does not involve teething, which is the process of teeth cutting through the gums for the first time.
Symptoms of teething include fussiness and irritability, with appetite decreasing and the gums becoming swollen. The infant trying to bite down on the crib can be the first sign. Easing young children through the process can involve a gentle gum massage that relieves discomfort. The baby often will appreciate a malleable plush teething toy, or even a frozen or cold washcloth.
The baby may want something harder, in which case child-safe hard teething toys are available. Always seek out quality toys made from rubber, silicon, or plastic that is free from toxins.
