If your baby is crying, irritable, drooling, and chewing on hard objects, he or she is likely teething. Although some discomfort while your baby is teething is inevitable, learning a few basic approaches can ease painful gums and soothe your frazzled nerves. Caring for a teething baby can be challenging but with the right approach, you can help alleviate their discomfort and make the process more manageable. Here are some tips:

• Provide Gentle Pressure: Babies often find relief from teething discomfort by applying gentle pressure to their gums. You can do this by gently massaging your baby’s gums with a clean finger or by giving them a soft, rubber teething toy to chew on.
• Use a teething ring. A firm rubber teething ring allows your child to gnaw, and alleviates pain. If your baby seems to like sucking on a bottle, replace the milk or formula with water during teething periods. This reduces sugar intake and decreases the risk of tooth decay. Cold can help numb your baby’s gums and reduce inflammation. Chill teething toys in the refrigerator (not freezer) before giving them to your baby. Avoid freezing teething toys as they can become too hard and may cause harm.
• Stick a clean, moist washcloth and offer that to your baby. The cooler temperature of the chilled cloth eases the pain of teeth erupting through the gums. Soaking the washcloth in non-caffeinated tea, such as chamomile, may reduce inflammation associated with teething.
• If your baby has started eating solid foods, you can offer them cold foods such as chilled applesauce or yogurt. Be sure to supervise your baby closely while they eat to prevent choking. Grab some hard foods too. Certain foods allow your kiddo to gnaw, and can ease teething pain. For example, frozen bananas, large chunks of chilled carrots, an apple, or frozen bagels make good teething pain relievers. If you’re offering your child solid food, watch carefully to ensure that your infant doesn’t bite off a piece and choke.
• Try a natural remedy. Years of grandmotherly wisdom suggest that home remedies might help with teething. Try rubbing clove oil, peeled ginger root, or vanilla extract onto your child’s gums. Although there isn’t scientific evidence to prove these remedies are effective, they may help your little one through the painful teething process. Just remember to test the method out on your own gums first to ensure any tingling or numbing is bearable for your child.
• Use medications. If your baby seems to be especially uncomfortable, over-the-counter medications may be appropriate. Giving an age-appropriate dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) may reduce discomfort. Avoid giving aspirin to babies as it can be dangerous. Make sure you check with your child’s pediatrician or our office first to ensure the medication is safe.

Stay Patient: Teething can be a long and drawn-out process, so it’s essential to remain patient and understanding. Remember that this is a temporary phase, and your baby will eventually get through it. If nothing seems to be helping your child’s teething pain, you can always schedule an appointment with our office. Our team at Smilez Pediatric Dental Group understands the unique health needs of your little one, and are more than happy to help find your find your baby comfort.

For more information about teething, or to schedule an appointment please give us a call at our convenient Gainesville, VA office today! Click the following hyperlink if you live in Loudoun County and are looking for Pediatric Dentist In Loudoun County.