Teething

During the infant development stage, babies learn new skills and reach new milestones. One of those milestones is teething. Teething is the growth of babies’ teeth through the gums http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002045.htm. Typically, babies start teething in approximately six to eight months. However, the teething process can start in some babies as early as three or four months old http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/teeth/teething.html#. By the time the teething process is complete (at approximately 30 to 36 months old) all 20 deciduous teeth have emerged through babies’ gums. Deciduous teeth consist of molars, incisors and canines.

During the teething process, the lower central incisors, or bottom teeth, break though the gums first. Parents will notice the upper central and lateral incisors emerge before the teeth on each side of the incisors. The last teeth to appear are the pointy teeth, or eyeteeth in the upper jaw gum. http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/teeth/teething.html#

When babies go through the teething process they can experience discomfort. For instance, the pressure of teeth emerging for the gums can cause pain, soreness and swelling. Signs of teething start about three to five days before the tooth breaks through the gum. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/tc/teething-topic-overview Thus, parents or guardians may notice signs of teething before they can actually see any teeth. Babies may bite on hard objects such as toys. Babies will drool more than usual. Drooling can result in rashes on the face such as the chin area and the chest. Also, they may refuse to eat because of their sore or swollen gums.