Closing an Unattractive Gap between Your Two Front Teeth

Teething usually begins when a child reaches about six months of age. Your child might appear cranky, have sore or tender gums and may be looking for solid objects to chew. If your baby appears very uncomfortable, there are many things you can do besides giving your child medications that may come with side effects.

What if My Child Already Has Teeth?

Normally, your child will not have any teeth initially. However, if your child is born with teeth, you should take him or her to the dentist. These early teeth might need to be removed because they can become loose and can become a choking hazard.

What Should I Do About Drool?

Your baby's mouth likely feels uncomfortable because of excessive drool which is caused by the teething process. Use a wash cloth to wipe away as much drool as possible. Also, if you use rinse cool water over the wash cloth, you can place it over your baby's gums to sooth them. Never place anything frozen in your child's mouth. You could also allow your child to suck on the cloth. Wash it before using it a second time.

How Can I Alleviate My Child's Pain without Medicines?

Wash your hands and use a finger to massage your child's gums. Or, you could use a cool spoon to massage the gums and also to apply a cooling and therapeutic effect.

Teething rings are commonly used to help alleviate discomfort, but you should be careful. Avoid any teething rings that might break and avoid teething rings that contain a liquid. You can chill the teething ring to better sooth your child's teeth and gums, but do not freeze it.

What you feed your child can affect his or her comfort. Hard foods, such as carrots and cucumbers, can help alleviate pain induced by teething, especially if you chill them beforehand. Be with your child while he or she eats to make sure a piece of food does not break off and become a choking hazard.

When Should I Take My Child to the Dentist?

Teething is the best time for your child to be taken to a pediatric dentist. Your child's first teeth are not far away and a pediatric dentistry office might have more advice on how to alleviate the side effects of teething. Also if your child meets with the dentist at a young age, your child is less likely to be afraid of dentists.