Teething

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There are many questions that come up about teething. It is important to remember that every child is different. My son had a full set of teeth by the time he was a year old, my daughter didn't have a single tooth when she turned one! Whenever their teeth come in, it is important to keep their new teeth and the gums clean. There is no reason to use a toothpaste on infants. A simple finger brush (the rubber ones with the rubber bristles) are good for infants with no teeth or one or two. As soon as they have more teeth, I wouldn't recommend putting your finger in their mouth! :) Their little jaws are very strong! Then you can move to a teething brush. They are designed for the infant to hold them alone and chew on the bristles. It is shaped like a ring so that it can't be shoved too far into their mouths. The following is from the mayo clinic website. Please pay special attention to the highlighted area. If you have any questions about teething or anything else, just post it or email me and I will do my best to answer it!

What's the best way to soothe sore gums?

If your teething baby seems uncomfortable, consider these simple tips:

• Rub your baby's gums. Use a clean finger, moistened gauze pad or damp washcloth to massage your baby's gums. The pressure can ease your baby's discomfort.
• Offer a teething ring. Try one made of firm rubber. The liquid-filled variety may break under the pressure of your baby's chewing. If a bottle seems to do the trick, fill it with water. Prolonged contact with sugar from formula, milk or juice may cause tooth decay.
• Keep it cool. A cold washcloth or chilled teething ring can be soothing. Don't give your baby a frozen teething ring, however. Contact with extreme cold may hurt, doing your baby more harm than good. If your baby's eating solid foods, offer cold items such as applesauce or yogurt.
• Dry the drool. Excessive drooling is part of the teething process. To prevent skin irritation, keep a clean cloth handy to dry your baby's chin. You might also make sure your baby sleeps on an absorbent sheet.
• Try an over-the-counter remedy. If your baby is especially cranky, acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) may help. Don't give your baby products that contain aspirin, however, and be cautious about teething medications that can be rubbed directly on a baby's gums. The medication may be washed away by your baby's saliva before it has the chance to do any good — and too much of the medication may numb your baby's throat, which may interfere with his or her normal gag reflex.

From the mayo clinic website