Top 5 Teething Tips for Parents

Posted by: Dr. Sirakian Categories: Uncategorized

The eruption of your baby’s first tooth is an exciting milestone that parents often look forward to. However, it can also be a confusing, stressful time if you aren’t sure what to expect from the teething process. Whether you’re a veteran parent looking to improve your next child’s teething experience, or a new or expecting parent just looking for some guidance, look no further than this handy guide.

Tip #1: Know the Signs

The most important way to help your baby teethe is to properly identify signs of teething! If your baby is drooling more than usual, acting crankier or more irritable than they have been, or biting everything in sight, those first couple of teeth may be on their way.

Tip #2: Stock Up

As soon as you’re certain that your child is teething, you’re going to want to have a few things on hand. Teething rings are commonly given to babies to gnaw on; the pressure can be soothing to them. Alternatively, you can freeze small pieces of soft fruit like banana or mango to cool and numb your baby’s mouth while also serving as a nutritious snack. Clean, chilled washcloths can also be helpful to chomp on, as they mold more easily to the shape of the child’s mouth, and can get toward the back teeth more easily than a plastic ring can.

Tip #3: Keep It Clean!

Make sure you’re consistently wiping drool away from your baby’s chin. If drool is left to run and dry, it can cause painful skin irritation on the face. Additionally, as soon as any teeth are visible, give them a gentle brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a tiny swipe of toothpaste no larger than a grain of rice.

Tip #4: Don’t Confuse the Symptoms

Many parents believe that fever and diarrhea are simply side effects of teething, but this isn’t the case. If your child is feverish or otherwise sick during the teething process, take them to the doctor!

Tip #5: Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Now that your child is growing their first set of teeth, it’s time to start caring for them! The American Dental Association recommends that children begin regular dental checkups six months after the eruption of their first tooth. If your child is teething now, it’s time to give your dentist a call and begin forming healthy dental habits that will last a lifetime!

Source

Why Do Some Healthy Foods Cause Tooth Decay?

According to a BBC article, one British mother was very unhappy when her five-year-old son needed a tooth pulled. Like many parents, she rarely gave her son soda or fruit juice and couldn’t understand how his teeth had gotten so bad. After asking her dentist, it turned out that the culprit was actually a “healthy” […]

Chew on This: Smaller Bites for Optimal Health

Although our parents always told us to take small bites and to take our time chewing food, we often forget about this sound advice as we wolf down meals in a our fast paced lives. Hopefully, understanding the damage that this may cause can remind us to be more mindful during our next meal. Lacerations […]

The Steps to Becoming a Dentist

If you’ve ever thought that a career in dentistry might be right for you, then read this! To become a dentist, you have to be willing to complete multiple years of school and be patient enough to work with people. How it starts: Complete a bachelors degree Completing a bachelor’s degree is step one in […]

Gum Health: Indicative Of More Than A Healthy Smile

What’s the cause of 90% of tooth loss? According to the ADA, gum disease and tooth decay are the major culprits. However, if we take the correct measures to keep our gums healthy, the future looks much brighter for our smiles… and our bodies. When there is a buildup of bacteria in the mouth, our […]

What’s the Link Between Gum Disease and Your Prostate?

Every year, more than 3 million men suffer from prostatitis. Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate that can cause pain, difficulty urinating, and even flu-like symptoms. While this is a fairly common disease, what isn’t as commonly known about it is that prostatitis and gum disease are linked. One study found that men who […]