Teething Symptoms
Babies may exhibit a variety of symptoms while they are teething. These symptoms are not always pleasant, but they are generally easy to recognize. It is difficult to predict how long teething symptoms will last. Some babies may experience a long, painful ordeal while others barely exhibit signs of discomfort. Often, early symptoms of teething may appear two or three months in advance. Teething symptoms can typically be treated with simple home remedies.
One of the most prolific symptoms of teething is increased drooling. The amount of drool may vary from baby to baby and over time. Increased drooling due to teething typically begins between ten weeks and four months of age. As a result of constant drooling, babies often develop a rash on their chins or faces. This rash will be dry and appear chapped. It is not harmful aside from causing a bit of discomfort, and a rash can be prevented by periodically wiping the drool from a baby’s face and chin. If a dry patch appears, this can be addressed by applying a lightweight, baby safe moisturiser, which a doctor can recommend. Any chapping around a baby’s mouth should be considered a sign of increased saliva production, and thus usually of teething.
Biting is another commonly occurring symptom of teething. Pressure on the gums relieves some of the pain of emerging teeth. Thus, a baby may bite down on anything he can get his mouth on. This gum pain is caused by inflammation of oral tissue and differs in severity from baby to baby. It is often most severe with the first teeth and becomes more tolerable for babies as they become accustomed to teething sensations.
The pain that comes along with teething unfortunately leads to other common symptoms, such as irritability and restlessness. Constant discomfort can cause babies, like anyone experiencing chronic pain, to be fussy and irritable. Often irritability will persist for as little as several hours to a day, but in rare cases it may last weeks. Again, the severity of this symptom depends on the degree of pain. This irritability may extend into the night, as tooth development does not take a break for sleep. Extended wakefulness may even increase irritability and vice-versa, resulting in an unpleasant cycle. Fortunately this cycle can be addressed with any of the remedies mentioned later.
Refusal to feed can also result from extended teething pain. Sucking motions required to feed from a bottle or breast can increase oral pain and drive a baby away from feeding. Typically, he will attempt to feed more frequently than normal in order to acquire an appropriate level of nutrition. However, if multiple feeding’s are rejected in one day, a paediatrician should be contacted immediately.
Some visible symptoms, such as gum reddening and bruising should be watched for as easy indicators of imminent teething.
Sometimes, more ambiguous symptoms such as low grade fever, coughing, and diarrhoea may result from teething, especially from increased saliva production. However, these symptoms can also be indicators of more severe problems and should be monitored closely.
Any of the above mentioned symptoms can be treated in a variety of simple ways. Relief may be as easy as providing something to chew on. The pressure on the gums relieves pain. This remedy is even more effective if the object provided is cold, such as a frozen teething toy or chilled carrot. Babies may also receive relief from the rubbing of a finger on their gums. Another fool-proof method of treatment is to provide something icy cold to eat or drink. Apple sauce and chilled water without ice cubes provide significant relief. Any of these remedies can be a parent’s best friend while dealing with a litany of teething symptoms.
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