Your baby is born with all their primary teeth already in their jaw. In rare cases, a child will be born with one or more visible teeth, but for the majority of parents, they won’t see their children’s teeth begin to come in until around the age of six months.
Every baby is different and some children won’t have their first teeth begin to erupt until the age of one year or later. Any parent or caregiver who’s been around a fussy teething baby wants to know—how long is this going to last? Here’s what you need to know when it comes to the duration of your child’s teething pain!
Expect Teething to Last a Few Days
You can expect teething pain to last a few days for each tooth or set of teeth [1]. Your baby’s discomfort comes from a tooth slowly working its way through their gumline. Although your baby may be uncomfortable, don’t worry if you don’t see a tooth—it’ll come in within a few days’ time!
To check for incoming teeth, you can inspect your child’s gums, which may appear more red or swollen at the area where the tooth will soon appear. You may also notice a small blister at the area as well, which should go away once the tooth erupts.
Signs and Symptoms of Teething You May Notice
It’s normal for children to be in some discomfort during their teething process. Normal signs and symptoms to expect include irritability, drooling, restlessness or trouble sleeping, and decreased appetite [2]. Fortunately, these symptoms should only last until the tooth has pushed through the gumline!
A fever, rash, or diarrhea are not normal symptoms of teething and you should follow up with your pediatrician if your child has any of these conditions, whether alone or in conjunction with their teething pain.
What Can You Do to Help Your Child?
It might feel like a long few days, but once your baby’s teeth come through the gumline, they’ll begin to feel better. In the meantime, you can try giving your baby a gum massage, cold or cool foods to eat, and firm objects to chew on that are approved for children.
Your pediatrician may recommended medication or teething gel as necessary [3]. Around the time that your child’s first tooth comes in, you can take him or her to the dentist for a checkup. Remember, as soon as your child has teeth, they’re susceptible to tooth decay!
It can be difficult to see your toddler in pain, but rest assured that their teething pain will pass. In the meantime, try some of the above suggestions, and should you have any questions about your child’s teething pain, follow up with your kid-friendly dentist!
Sources:
1. https://www.medicinenet.com/teething/article.htm
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/t/teething
3. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002045.htm
