When do Babies Start Teething?

Ah, teething: the nightmare that all parents expect and dread. But once it’s passed, many realize that it wasn’t that bad. Although every child has a different schedule for teething, there are some commonalities you can expect. Most children begin around the same time and have the same duration and severity of teething symptoms. If you think your child might be suffering beyond expectations, reach out to one of our pediatric dentists at Treehouse Dental care for a free consultation.

Keep reading to find out more about soothing your baby’s teething symptoms.

When Do Babies Start Teething?

You can expect your child to develop teething symptoms around 6 months of age. This can vary by a few weeks, so don’t be surprised if your child starts early or late. Usually, the front bottom two teeth (the lower central incisors) pop up first followed by the two top front teeth (the upper central incisors). This is a universally painful experience and is often a child’s first real experience with pain and soreness at this level. Remember that this can be very challenging and frightening for a child, so our first tip for soothing teething symptoms is patience.

Are you looking for more information about when your child loses their baby teeth? Check out this article!

Teething Symptoms

So your child is approaching the age when teething begins. What can you expect? Check out this quick list of the most common teething symptoms:

• Irritability or fussiness
• Drooling
• Chewing on firm objects
• Sore and sensitive gums

Many parents also report diarrhea and fever, but the evidence on these claims remains unclear. Keep reading to find out more about signs of teething in a baby.

Baby Teeth Chart

Check out this image as a reference for your child’s teeth! In just 25-33 months, your child will develop each of these. Every stage is unique and comes with different expectations.

Let’s take a look at the timeline for this teething chart!

5 Stages of Teething

Did you know that teething happens in five stages? It lasts a long time and can be really hard for both parents and children. Knowing what to expect during these stages will help parents ease their stress and their child’s physical discomfort.

Baby Teeth Stage 1: 0-6 Months

From birth, babies actually have the full set of their baby teeth embedded into their jawbone. If you saw an x-ray of this, it would look a bit strange. These are commonly called, “milk teeth,” because, during this time, a baby only feeds on milk. There’s not much pain or discomfort to be expected at this stage. That occurs when your child’s teeth first emerge.

Baby Teeth Stage 2: 6-8 Months

The teeth are coming– the teeth are coming! Ready or not, here they come! At around 6 months, the lower and upper front teeth emerge. Teething symptoms can actually occur before this though, so keep an eye out for drooling or discomfort. The drool can irritate your baby’s skin, so make sure to attend to it carefully, with a soft touch and gentle products should you choose to use any.

Baby Teeth Stage 3: 10-14 Months

We’re halfway there! During this stage, the first molars erupt. These teeth come in the back of the mouth, both lower and upper. This stage is very similar to stage 2, but you will likely notice more drooling and irritability. It’s at this stage that many babies start chewing anything they can get their hands on, so be prepared with soothing techniques. Pressure on the baby’s gums can help alleviate pain, but we’ll get into pro-parenting tips in a bit.

For now, let’s take a closer look at the final stages of your baby’s teething symptoms.

Baby Teeth Stage 4: 16-22 Months

We’re almost there! Following your child’s molars are the canine teeth. The recommendations for this stage are the same as stages 2 and 3. However, you can expect your child’s irritability to increase as time goes on. It’s a lot of work pushing bone and enamel through gums!

Baby Teeth Stage 5: 25-33 Months

33 months– Did you read that correctly? Yes, teething is a long process! And the worst news? The final stage is without a doubt the most painful. During this time, large molars appear. These are the biggest teeth found in the back of your mouth. It’s likely at this point that many of your soothing techniques will fail, and you will have a very unhappy child. Try freezing vegetables and allowing your child to suck on them under supervision. The mixture of coldness and firmness can provide some relief.

Think you’re on your way to becoming a pro parent? Now that we understand the answer to, “when do babies start teething,” let’s take a look at what you can do as a parent to alleviate teething symptoms.

How to Soothe Teething Symptoms

Check out this guide for soothing your baby’s teething symptoms:

• Massage your baby’s gums. You can try your finger. The pressure on the gums can alleviate the baby’s pain.
• Hard rubber teething devices, like a rubber ring. Don’t get a liquid-filled object, as these can break.
• Cool washcloth. Don’t freeze it or make it too cold!
• Hard foods to suck on. Solid peeled vegetables work really well!
• Prevent drool irritation.
• Teething medicines. Ask your doctor first!

Remember that the Canadian Dental Association strongly recommends against rubbing painkillers directly on your child’s gums. Have your child’s teeth grown in? Check out this article on how to make brushing your child’s teeth fun!

TLDR: Patience is the Best Response to Teething Symptoms

Teething can be a daunting task for babies and parents alike. The good news is that with the right information and techniques, you can ease through this transitional period. Remember that every child is unique in how they teethe. Your child may start earlier or later. Maybe they’ll have an easier or harder time than most. As a parent, all you can do is stay updated on information, stay calm, and stay prepared.

And now, you have everything you need to manage your baby’s teething symptoms! Looking for more information? Check out this article on how pacifiers affect your baby’s teeth!

Treehouse Dental offers a range of pediatric dentistry services to fit any smile. Find one of our pediatric dentistry offices nearest to you and book your next appointment with us today.