Baby teeth begin to emerge in children from the 6th to the 8th month. These baby teeth help children begin to chew their first foods and allow them to speak better.
The eruption of the teeth occurs according to a very specific order and this order is independent of the moment from which the first tooth erupts. This process is known as teething and can cause various disorders in children such as pain and sensitivity in the gums. However, the disorders are quite varied and change considerably from child to child. Some children experience only mild discomfort, others experience more intense pain. Among the most common symptoms are:
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Excessive salivation
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Sensitivity in the gums
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Irritability
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Refusal of food and difficulty sleeping
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Rash around the mouth
How many baby teeth are there?
In total there are 20 teeth, 10 lower and 10 upper. For each hemiarch we find 2 incisors, 1 canine and 2 molars.
What is the chronology?
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Between 6 and 8 months the lower central incisors erupt, followed after about 2 months by the upper central incisors
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Between 9 and 13 months all the upper and lower lateral incisors erupt
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From 16 to 20 months the canines erupt
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The last part of the first and second molars erupt between 15-25 months
The teething period is a very delicate period for our children who often develop the first signs of irritability linked to a new situation of generalized annoyance and malaise where a series of new and boring symptoms often appear for the first time.
Very effective for relieving discomfort are:
cold: the cold in fact has a calming and anesthetizing action on the gums of our children, making children suck something cold like a fruit popsicle will certainly have a calming action
aloe vera: there are gels on the market based on natural substances such as aloe vera that help relieve symptoms such as pain, burning and discomfort.
breastfeeding: breastfeeding a baby is not just a way to nourish him but often represents a moment of cuddles and reassurance for our babies.
chewing toys: the various "gum massagers" with soft and rough surfaces that can be kept in the freezer represent the ideal "nibbling" toys, these toys with rough surfaces, together with the anesthetic action of the cold, will immediately calm children.
chamomile: there is nothing better than a little chamomile to help our children sleep and soothe the gums irritated by the eruption of the first teeth.
You should start brushing children's teeth as soon as the first teeth appear.
Initially you can start with a soft gauze soaked in water, then when the child is older you can move on to using a rubber toothbrush.
However, the important thing will always be to take care of the baby's oral hygiene from the very first moments.