Teething in children - when children cut their first teeth: calendar, symptoms, behavior

How teeth are formed

The appearance of the first tooth is a milestone in a child's development. Now he's almost an adult! After all, his teeth will help him chew solid food and develop speech.

Baby teeth begin to form in the fetus as early as the 6th week of pregnancy. Between the 3rd and 6th months, enamel has already formed on the teeth. All this will be hidden under the gums for the time being. At the same time, deep in the jaw bone there are already the rudiments of molar teeth.

For most children, their first tooth appears between 4 and 7 months, but for some it happens later. With early development, it can erupt at 3 months or earlier. If the child grows normally and has no problems with skin and hair, then it’s okay. But if your baby is already 1.5 years old, and teeth have not appeared, you may need the help of a dentist.

The lower teeth usually appear about a month earlier than the upper teeth.

Approximate order of appearance of baby teeth:

Lower central incisors (at 6 – 7 months).
Upper central incisors (at 8 – 9 months).
Upper lateral incisors (at 9–11 months).
Lower lateral incisors (at 11 – 13 months).
Upper small molars (molars) (at 12 – 15 months).
Lower small molars (molars) (at 12 – 15 months).
Upper canines (at 16 – 18 months).
Lower canines (at 18 – 20 months).
Lower large molars (molars) (at 24 – 30 months).
Upper large (root) (at 23 – 30 months).

By age 3, your baby should have all 20 teeth, which will last until he is about 6 years old, when his first baby tooth falls out.

Don't be discouraged if your teeth grow crooked at first. Over time they will all fall into place.

When teeth start cutting

The first incisors appear between 4 and 7 months of age. The pattern of teething in children is approximately the same, but the timing is different. Some babies remain toothless for up to a year, but then quickly catch up with their peers. And others already by 6–8 months become the owners of 2–4 teeth.

The process of formation of the milk chewing apparatus ends by 3 years. By this time the baby should have 20 teeth. If there are minor delays in the appearance of the first incisors, then there is no need to worry. If by the age of one and a half years there are no signs of their eruption, seek help and advice from a doctor.

How to understand that your baby is teething (symptoms)

Many people believe that the process of teething must necessarily be accompanied by general anxiety of the baby, fever and diarrhea. However, not all experts share this point of view. Some consider this a mere coincidence. There is an opinion that children, when they start teething, are more likely to put dirty objects in their mouths to scratch their gums, and cause an infection.

Some lucky people go through this period painlessly.

But most children still experience some discomfort:

Anxiety;
Increased salivation, which can lead to facial irritation;
The gums swell and become more sensitive;
Refusal to eat;
Bad dream.

If your baby has a fever or diarrhea, consult a doctor.

Signs of teething

Symptoms of teething in infants

The appearance of baby teeth is a little more difficult than that of permanent teeth, since the baby has not yet encountered pain and cannot understand what is happening to him. Teething in children under one year of age is accompanied by the following signs.

The most common symptom of teething is fever. An increase to 38 degrees within three days is normal.
Swelling of the gums. Often, when children are teething, their gums swell, their sockets itch, and they have a desire to chew hard objects. It is important to prevent the child from damaging the mucous membrane; it is better to buy a special teether to relieve discomfort.
Decreased appetite. Children refuse to eat due to stress or itchy gums.
Teething syndrome. Neurosis, tearfulness, anxiety, poor sleep and whims may indicate the imminent appearance of the first tooth, even if the child does not experience pain, fever or swelling of the gums.

Important!

An increase in white blood cell levels during teething should not be a cause for alarm. This is a common occurrence associated with a weakened immune system.

Symptoms of eruption of permanent teeth

A change in temporary bite is accompanied by other unpleasant sensations. The process has the following characteristics.

Root resorption and loss of baby teeth. A sure signal of the appearance of a new tooth in the coming months.
Increase in jaw bone size. Permanent teeth are larger than baby teeth, the jaw grows, creating conditions for a change in bite.
Pain in the gums. Redness and swelling of the mucous membrane are a reaction to teething.

Important!

Body temperature above 38 degrees, cramps, refusal to eat and difficulty breathing are not symptoms of the appearance of milk and permanent teeth. These are signs of an infectious disease. It is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.

How to help your baby when teething

Give your baby something to chew on, such as a teether, which can be pre-chilled in the refrigerator.
Massage your baby's gums with a clean finger. You can first wrap your finger in clean gauze. This will relieve the pain for a while.
If your baby is already eating solids, give him cool foods (applesauce or yogurt).
You can give your child something hard to chew on, such as a cracker. Just make sure your baby doesn't choke.
If all of the above does not help, you can give your child a baby pain reliever or a special teething gel - strictly after consulting a doctor.

Vomiting, runny nose and diarrhea are not always symptoms of teething. If your baby appears unwell, call the doctor.

Choosing a toothpaste and brush

Has your baby cut his first tooth? Congratulations!

Until one year of age, parents need to brush their baby’s teeth without toothpaste using a special silicone brush placed on their finger at least once a day.
At one year old, the baby needs to pick up his first children's toothbrush - without toothpaste for now. It is better if the child chooses it himself. She should interest him, but not scare him away.

What should you pay attention to when choosing a children's toothbrush?

Decor - kids love bright colors and funny characters.
The handle should be comfortable, preferably made of non-slip material with a protective ring to avoid injury. Its length should correspond to the age of the child.
It is important that the brush head is not too large and awkward. The optimal size is 2–3 teeth of a child. To avoid damaging your gums, it is better to choose a brush with a rounded head.
Soft brushes with a bristle height of no more than 11 mm are suitable for children. It should be even so that the pressure on the surface of the teeth is uniform.
From 2 to 2.5 years old, it’s time to start using toothpaste and teach your child to brush his teeth on his own. You need to choose a special baby toothpaste without fluoride, because the baby may want to eat it. You can switch to fluoride toothpaste when he learns not to swallow it.

Teething

This stage is characterized by the active movement of temporary teeth from their places of origin inside the jaw until the crown completely exits into the oral cavity. This process is accompanied by active changes in the surrounding tissues, increased development of the root part, restructuring of the alveolar bone structure, as well as the formation and strengthening of the periodontium.

The first temporary teeth, which are usually the lower central incisors, erupt at the age of 5-6 months. Behind them appear the upper antagonists, other incisors and first primary molars. The last to erupt are the lower and upper canines. Typically the process lasts from 4-6 months to 2-2.5 years. With late eruption, the timing of the appearance of temporary teeth shifts from 8-10 months. up to 3.5 years.

How to brush your teeth correctly

Your baby's teeth need to be brushed 2 times a day - in the morning and in the evening before bed.
Use a small amount of toothpaste at first, about the size of a grain of rice, then work up to a pea-sized amount.
If you use such a small amount of toothpaste, there is no need to rinse your mouth.
Brush your teeth gently from the outside and inside.
The tongue also needs to be cleaned, because bacteria accumulate on it, causing bad breath.
Remember to change your toothbrush every 3 months.

At this stage, it is too early to floss because the teeth are usually far apart.

Creating a good habit

The habit of brushing your teeth should be established in childhood. If you don’t force your child, but figure out how to turn this activity into an interesting game, your baby will brush his teeth with pleasure. Here are some tips:

Children love to copy adults, so lead by example by brushing your teeth with your child.
If you brush your teeth with your baby, at the end open your mouth and show each other how you handled this “task.” If necessary, clean your child's teeth yourself.
Don't scold him, no matter how badly he cleaned it. Children at this age have not yet developed fine motor skills, so do not expect precise movements from them.
Let your child associate brushing his teeth with something joyful. Play his favorite children's music, tell him stories about teeth, and draw on a dental theme.
Keep a piece of paper with a schedule for brushing your teeth. Divide the day into morning and evening (you can draw the sun and moon there) and check the box when you brush your teeth.
Finally, talk to your child like an adult. Explain to him why brushing his teeth is good. Draw scary microbes on a piece of paper and together figure out how you can fight them.

If your little one refuses to brush his teeth, try buying him a new toothbrush with his favorite cartoon character on it. Get him interested. Get several toothbrushes and let him choose a new one each time.

What microelements are needed for teeth growth?

Fluorine

Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, making it more resistant to acids and harmful bacteria. Thus, it helps prevent the development of caries.

Fluorine is found in:

Toothpaste - however, remember that toothpaste with a small fluoride content can only be used by children over 4 years old;
Fluoride-enriched water;
Chewable tablets or drops;
Some fruit juices.

Remember that too much fluoride can lead to fluorosis, which is when white spots appear on the teeth. Therefore, it is important not to use too much toothpaste, especially if the child has not yet learned to spit it out.

Calcium

Calcium takes an active part in the mineralization of teeth. A 3-year-old child should receive 800–1100 mg of calcium per day.

Products containing calcium:

Milk, yogurt;
Spinach and other green leafy vegetables;
Broccoli;
Fish.

In order for calcium to be better absorbed, it needs helpers. One is vitamin D and the other is vitamin K2.

Vitamin K

Calcium is collected and transported into bone tissue using the protein osteocalcin, which normally “dormants” peacefully in the blood. In order to activate it, you need natural vitamin K. It is found in dairy products (milk, yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese - for example, Agusha K2 cottage cheese).

When should I take my child to the dentist?

The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation recommends showing a child to the dentist once a year starting from 12 months.

The purpose of the first trip to the dentist is prevention. The doctor checks whether teeth are growing correctly and gives recommendations on oral hygiene. It is better to do this no later than your first birthday, so that the specialist does not miss caries and possible problems with your bite.

The first trip to the dentist should not frighten your child.

Here are some tips to make it painless:

Do not pay too much attention to this event, do not prepare your child on purpose;
Don’t worry yourself so that your baby doesn’t get nervous along with you;
If possible, arrive early to your appointment to give your baby time to look around.

Timing and order of teething in children -

The first teeth erupt in a child normally, starting from 5-6 months. The very first tooth (or rather a pair of teeth) that a child appears are the central incisors of the lower jaw. In some cases, this can happen several months earlier - including even in the first month of the child’s life. The reasons for premature teething have not yet been established, but it certainly negatively affects the health of baby teeth, contributing to their early carious lesions.

In this case, the development of the enamel structures of the tooth crown and their mineralization have not yet reached a certain degree - as a result, tooth enamel is more vulnerable to cariogenic microorganisms and the acids they secrete. Therefore, if your child has premature teething, then ideal oral hygiene is needed, as well as mandatory adherence to a number of recommendations on nutrition and feeding regimen. Ideally, a course of remineralization of teeth can be carried out, which will further increase their resistance to caries.

With normal development of the child, the timing of teething corresponds to what you can find in diagrams 1 and 2. A slight delay should not cause any alarm, however, a delay of 3-4 or more months - in some cases, may indicate a violation of the child’s physical development, metabolic disorders or the presence of a general somatic disease. Also, a delay in teething in children may be associated with the health of the mother and the influence of adverse factors on the fetus during pregnancy.