Teething | Toothcare

Usually, babies experience pain as early as 3 – 5 days before the tooth begins to show. The swelling of the gums and the soreness of the actual tooth coming through is the root of the discomfort. Symptoms that your baby may be teething include:

1) Irritability: Baby may start to fuss more and become agitated at small things
2) Dribbling: The increased saliva in the mouth helps to cool down the inflammation of the gums
3) Sleeplessness: We all know what it’s like to try and fall asleep with a toothache, and it’s not different for baby!
4) Chewing on fingers: Some children try to relieve the pain and pressure on the gums by chewing on their fingers
5) Pulling on ears: Babies will often pull on their ears due to the pain being felt all over their head, they believe it will help to relieve it
6) Temperature: Teething can cause a fever in some babies, which should be brought down immediately. If your baby’s temperature exceeds 38.3 degrees Celsius, this could be a sign of infection and you may want to visit the doctor.

Do you want to know about teething, and when to expect those adorable little chompers to appear? Well, it typically takes around 7 to 8 days for a tooth to emerge (4 days before and 3 days after), with your baby's top incisors usually appearing at 6 to 8 months. The top lateral incisors (located on either side of the top front teeth) usually appear at around 9 to 11 months, while the bottom lateral incisors (located on either side of the bottom front teeth) follow at around 10 to 12 months.

When your little one reaches around six months, their previously soft mouths will start to experience the awkward feeling of their milk teeth coming through. Whilst it’s something we as adults know about (wisdom teeth can cause some serious pain later in life), our teeny counterparts deal with some confusing and sometimes acute pain and discomfort.

Keep your little one's smile healthy by starting good habits early on. Clean your infant's gums after feeding and begin brushing as soon as their first milk tooth breaks through (around 6 months). Don't wait for a problem - schedule your child's first dentist visit by age 1 or within 6 months after their first tooth comes in. You can therefore prevent tooth decay and cavities with consistent care.

Starting dental care for babies is important as soon as their first tooth appears. For babies aged 0-2 years old, it's recommended to start brushing their teeth when the first tooth starts to erupt (around 6 months old). You can use a smear of fluoride toothpaste, with a minimum of 1000ppm*. If your teeth are at higher risk of decay, you may want to consider using adult toothpaste with 1450ppm*, but it's always best to seek advice from your dentist first.