Teething

Our first teeth typically appear around the age of 6 months, sometimes earlier. Although very rare, a baby may be born with a few teeth. By two or three years of age, children will have all their baby teeth, 20 in all.

Signs of teething are a slight rise in temperature (< 38°c), an="" increased="" salivation,="" as="" well="" as="" slightly="" swollen="" gums.="" see="" your="" health="" care="" professional="" if="" the="" child="" has="" a="" temperature="" of="" 38°c="" or="" higher,="" or="" diarrhea.="" it="" is="" likely="" caused="" by="" something="" else.="" the="" baby="" may="" also="" be="" more="" irritable,="" cry="" more="" easily,="" tend="" to="" chew="" on="" things="" and="" eat="" less="" than="" usual.="" to="" relieve="" the="" discomfort="" that="" accompanies="" teething,="" you="" can="" massage="" the="" baby's="" gums="" with="" your="" finger="" or="" use="" a="" cold="" damp="" facecloth.="" you="" can="" also="" purchase="" teething="" rings="" that="" can="" be="" chilled="" (but="" not="" frozen).="" another="" option="" is="" to="" give="" the="" baby="" acetaminophen="" (e.g., tylenol™)="" or="" ibuprofen="" (e.g., advil™)="" dosed="" according="" to="" the="" baby's="" weight.="" for="" more="" information,="" speak="" to="" your="" health="" care="" professional.="">

Some products sold to relieve teething symptoms, should be avoided :

• Teething biscuits, as they are high in sugar and may cause cavities.
• Teething necklaces, as they may cause the child to choke.
• Pain relieving buccal gel can contain substances not recommended for young children (e.g. benzocaine).

Dental health and going to the dentist for the first time

Although baby teeth are not permanent, it is still important to take care of them and to practise good oral hygiene. It is recommended that children visit the dentist for the first time as soon as their teeth begin to appear in or around the age of one year. The objective of this visit is to familiarize the child with the dentist's office and to make sure that the teeth are coming in normally. It is also important to brush the child's teeth daily, with a soft bristle toothbrush and a very small quantity of fluoride toothpaste. Until the child has learned to spit, around age 3, use about the size of a grain of rice of toothpaste.

Baby teeth fall out and are replaced

In children between the ages of 6 and 12 years old, the roots of the milk teeth gradually loosen and teeth fall out, making room for the permanent teeth. It is advisable to wait for the teeth to fall out on their own. It is important not to force the tooth out or try to hasten the process because if the roots are still strong, the gum will bleed needlessly. We have 32 permanent teeth, including four "wisdom teeth" which come in later on in life, usually between the ages of 17 and 25 years. Some people may not have any wisdom teeth.