4 Tips from a Pediatric Dentistry to Tell if Your Baby is Teething

Once your child’s first few teeth come through (usually before age one), it is time to schedule a pediatric dentistry visit. They can help ensure the teething process goes smoothly and address oral developmental concerns promptly. This review discusses several signs that indicate your baby has started the teething stage.

Pediatric dentistry tips: How to tell if your baby is teething

Teething can begin as early as four months of age and as late as 14 months. However, most babies start teething between six and twelve months. Parents can tell if their baby is teething by looking for physical signs, determining if they are uncomfortable, watching them closely to see if they are gnawing or chewing unusually, and taking their temperature. The following is a more detailed explanation of each pediatric dentistry tip.

Check for physical signs

Parents can start by checking their baby’s mouth for physical signs that teeth are emerging. When teeth emerge, gums can become sore and discolored; they can turn red and swell. As the teeth continually emerge, parents will also start to see them. If anything unusual (and mild) has changed with the child’s gums, they may be teething. If this is the case, it is time to visit the pediatric dentist.

Determine if your baby is in discomfort

Teething notoriously causes increased discomfort for babies. If the baby is crying more than normal and is not due to other medical or environmental causes, it may be teething. This is especially the case if there are also physical signs that teeth are coming through. In addition to crying more often than usual, baby teething may seem more irritable and fussy overall.

Watch if they are gnawing and chewing more than usual

Babies that are teething typically gnaw and chew more than they usually do. If parents have noticed that their child under the age of 14 months is starting to move their mouth more than usual, then it is time to visit the dentist and find out the condition of their baby teeth.

Take your baby’s temperature (check for a low-grade fever)

Of course, not all toddlers experience a low-grade fever related to teething. In addition, a low grade does not directly suggest teething is occurring. However, in many cases, teething symptoms can lead to a low-grade temperature of around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, they may be teething if a mild fever is evident, not due to other causes.