Baby & Teething
When baby's first teeth come in
Estimated reading time: 4 min.
When the first teeth erupt, it is usually painful for your baby. Taking care of the oral cavity can also cause discomfort on the part of your child. Nevertheless, thorough oral hygiene is very important - and that even before the first tooth. You can find out how to get your baby used to its first teeth and support it during teething here.
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Baby & teething: The most important at a glance
Babies usually start teething between 6 and 8 months of age
Teething can be very uncomfortable for your baby
Signs of teething include whining, crying, drooling, red cheeks, rash, diarrhea or mild fever
Teething rings, teething massage gels or chilled food provide relief
If in doubt due to slightly elevated temperature during teething, consult pediatrician
When will the first tooth come?
When babies start teething varies from child to child. For most babies, however, the first signs become noticeable between the sixth and eighth month of life. From this point on, it takes about two years for all 20 milk teeth to grow. The teeth grow in a specific order, starting with the middle teeth of the lower jaw.
How can I tell that my baby is teething?
For most babies, the eruption of their first teeth causes pain. Is your baby more whiny than usual and putting his finger in his mouth more often? Then it's probably time for the first tooth. You can tell that your baby is teething by the following signs:
Side effects of babies teething
| side effect | |
| Unrest | Your child whines and cries more than usual. However, not every child suffers equally from the first teeth. |
| Drooling |
Increased drooling is also a common sign that the first tooth is on the way. |
| Need to bite | Teething babies have an increased need to put things in their mouths and bite down on them. It doesn't matter if it's their own fingers or objects lying around. |
| Red cheeks | Reddened cheeks may also indicate that your child has started teething. |
| Rash | Due to the increased salivation, your baby may develop a rash around the mouth. A sore bottom is also not uncommon. |
| Fever |
An increased temperature or slight fever during teething is quite normal. This is probably due to the fact that your baby's immune system is weakened during this time. |
| Diarrhea |
Some babies also get diarrhea when their first teeth are announced. |
Attention, fever and diarrhea can also have other reasons. Your baby's body temperature does not normally rise above 38°C due to teething alone. Therefore, if you have a fever during teething, do not hesitate to go to the doctor early. The same applies to diarrhea: this does not necessarily have to be due to teething. If in doubt, consult the pediatrician.
When the baby starts teething
Before the first tooth
It is important to get your baby used to regular oral hygiene before he or she starts teething. A fingerstall is suitable for this purpose. This allows you to gently clean your baby's toothless chewing area.
When the first tip is visible
As soon as the first tooth peeks out of the gum, you should start to care for it. Use a fingerstall to remove any food debris. Alternatively, you can clean the tip of the tooth with a wet cotton swab. There is nothing to stop you from already using some children's toothpaste for this.
When the first tooth is there
Brush your child's first teeth with a baby toothbrush. These have particularly soft and short bristles. After a while, your child will be able to try brushing their teeth for the first time. Nevertheless, you always have to clean them up in the first years of life. Your child's motor skills are far from sufficient to clean all corners.
Teething aid for your baby
When the first teeth grow, it can sometimes hurt a lot. If the gums are red and swollen, these teething aids can help:
Teething rings
A special teething ring from the refrigerator provides relief. However, you should not put the ring in the freezer, as it will get too cold. If you do not have a teething ring at hand, a piece of hard bread, crunchy vegetables or a cold spoon can also be used.
Teething gel
Teething massage gel, such as Kamistad® Baby Gel, cools irritated skin and thus relieves teething discomfort. It is best to combine the application of the gel with a soothing gum massage.
Massages
You can try gently massaging your baby's gums with the gel. When the jaw itches, many babies find this particularly pleasant. The fingerstall they use to clean the mouth is suitable for this. If you do not have a fingerstall, you should wash your hands especially thoroughly before you start massaging the gums.
Cold porridge and tea
If your child is old enough, chilled porridge also provides relief for your baby. If babies are teething, unsweetened herbal teas can also soothe irritated gums. Chamomile or sage tea are especially good.
This is why milk teeth are so important
The milk teeth will fall out again soon anyway? This is a thought that quickly crosses the minds of parents, especially of little toothbrush muffleurs. However, it is a misconception that milk teeth are not that important. Although the first teeth fall out again quite quickly, they serve as a placeholder for the teeth that will follow. And ideally, your child should keep them until the end of his or her life.
Healthy milk teeth are also important for learning language. If some or even all of the first teeth fall out too early, malocclusions or speech disorders can develop.
Healthy teeth right from the start
Breastfeeding contributes to your child's dental health. Breast milk provides your baby with everything he needs. Sucking at the breast also trains the chewing muscles and thus promotes jaw development. Later, too, the right food during teething provides the best conditions for healthy teeth:
- To prevent tooth decay, babies and toddlers should drink only water or unsweetened tea.
- Avoid very sweet or sour foods as much as possible. These attack the teeth.
- After one year, most children can chew food and should do so - this ensures strong chewing muscles and removes plaque from the little teeth.
- In addition, your child should then drink from a cup rather than a water bottle.
More interesting articles
For daily oral hygiene, toothbrush, mouthwash and interdental floss should not be missing. Learn more with our tips for oral care.
The gums protect our teeth and keep them in place. Read here about how best to ensure healthy gums.