First Things First
As a parent, there are so many things you simply have to learn from personal experience. Each child is unique, and they grow and learn at their own pace. The same thing applies to teeth. There are general guidelines, however, that can help to teach you the timeline of eruption.
First thing’s first, the central incisors. These teeth are usually the first to appear, erupting on the lower arch in most cases, between the ages of 6-10 months. You will likely see the upper central incisors make their appearance between 8-12 months. Next in line are the upper lateral incisors (9-13 months), and the lower between 10-16 months. Enjoy that new toothy grin!
Embracing Change
Teething can be incredibly trying. Your happy, bouncing baby may start to exhibit telltale signs of discomfort as their incisors begin to erupt. Common symptoms during active teething include increased irritability, drooling, and mouthing hands or objects. Putting pressure on the gum tissue in this way helps to alleviate pain. Symptoms will usually arise about a week prior to eruption and should diminish once the teeth have fully broken through the gum tissue. It may be helpful to track your child’s eruption patterns and make note of how they act in the days leading up to the eruption of another tooth.
Myths and Misconceptions
As important as knowing when a tooth will likely erupt, is knowing what symptoms are considered normal. Teething advice is abundant and is mostly anecdotal- passed along by family and friends. So, let’s hear what the science has to say. While a child will most likely experience a slight rise in body temperature while teething, a true fever (100.4 or higher), is usually more indicative of an infection or illness and should not be dismissed as a normal symptom. Also, while homeopathic teething remedies containing belladonna and topical benzocaine are both popular remedies amongst parents, it is important to be aware that the FDA has advised against both due to possible side effects.
Slice of Life
The last phases of eruption are where your child really gains their chewing capacity. Between the ages of 13-19 months, most babies first molars will have erupted on both arches. The canines will follow, generally between 16-23 months. The final teeth to erupt are the two-year molars. The second molars usually make their appearance between 23-33 months, just in time for a slice of birthday cake! It is in this phase that babies will likely experience the most pain, as the molars are the largest teeth to erupt and may take longer to break through the tissue completely. Some helpful pain management strategies for molars include giving hard foods that are safe to chew on (under direct supervision), using a clean finger to massage babies gums, and using clean, cool washcloth or teething rings. If necessary, consult with your pediatrician regarding the use of over the counter pain relief medications.
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