How to take care of the first teeth: symptoms and remedies for newborns. The symptoms of the first teeth can be very different and vary from child to child and from tooth to tooth. However, there are some signs that can frequently be found in newborns struggling with this delicate moment of growth.
Starting from 5-6 months the symptoms of the first teeth that are found most frequently are:
-Pain, this is the most frequent symptom, especially when the first incisors and molars are about to appear. It is caused by the gingival mucosa which, irritated by the sharp tooth that wants to grow, becomes inflamed;
-Irritability, pain makes children particularly nervous and irritable;
-Reduction of appetite , often feedings increase gingival pain, so children may refuse breast or bottle, and this causes further irritability;
-Reduction of sleep (for them and for you), the three symptoms of the first teeth already described cause a greater difficulty in getting to sleep. Moreover, during the night, the lying position favors the inflow of blood to the already inflamed gum, therefore the increase of the pain that suddenly awakens the baby;
-Excessive salivation, with consequent irritation of the face, especially of the chin for contact with the continuously produced burr;
-Cough , usually dry, always linked to excessive production of saliva;
-Bites , at any time, to relieve pain.
-A widespread mistake is to associate, starting from the sixth month of life, any dentition problem with false myths about the first teeth that are handed down from mother to mother, but this is not always the case:
-Diarrhea is not directly related to the growth of the first teeth, but irritability and excessive production of saliva may cause a softer stool increase;
-Fever , even this is not caused by the eruption of the teeth, but if the inflammation is very important it could lead to slight feverish increases.
The phase of the first teeth is a very hard period both for children and for new parents, as mentioned by a pediatric dentist in Northern Virginia. The most important thing is to have a lot of patience, in most cases, the pain passes in a few days. But there are some small tips that can help your little ones, and you too, to feel better:
-Bite something, even better if cold or frozen. On the market, there are toys created specifically for teething. They are designed with the rough surface that massages the gums. And have coolant inside, so if put in the fridge a few hours the liquid cools. So also the game, giving relief to the little ones;
-Let the child sleep in a slightly raised position to avoid the blood supply in the gingival area. But do not use the cushions, better to lift the mattress a little;
-Gently massage the gums ;
-Spread a veil of gingival gel to alleviate the torment, in the pharmacy gels are available from natural formulations with plant extracts such as chamomile, aloe and boswelia;
-Bracelet or amber necklace , made of amber beads seems to be able to interrupt the flow of electromagnetic fields so as to reassure the children and encourage their rest;
-Cuddles , nervous children because of the symptoms of the first teeth can be calmed with the power of pampering mom and dad.