How Long Does Teething Last and How to Deal with the Symptoms?

When we talk about teething, it is important to know that behind this term lies a delicate moment in the life of a baby. As a parent, you certainly have many questions about this difficult period for your child. Don’t worry, by being vigilant and accompanying your child as they should, you will help them to get through this delicate period more easily. The initial teeth begin to appear in the mouth. However, this period is not very pleasant, because the formation of teeth inside the jawbones causes many symptoms that are difficult to bear. It is therefore not uncommon to observe a teething fever in such cases. When do the baby’s first milk teeth appear? How long does teething last? What are the teething symptoms? We will try to emphasize all of these topics. Before looking at how long a teething session lasts, it is important to understand when it appears. There are many stages in the growth of a baby such as the new era of walking and talking or teething! Generally, your baby’s teeth begin to form during your pregnancy. However, they will only appear between the fourth and sixth months. First of all, the incisors will appear…

What Is Teething?

Teething is a regular phase of a baby’s growth. During this time, baby teeth are forming in the mouth. They form inside the jawbones and gradually move out. They then pass through the gums and continue their progression until the entire crown of the tooth is visible. It is not a disease. What is the teething age? Teething is an expected, regular process that usually starts around 6 months. Nonetheless, each baby has their particular pace. Don’t worry if yours is much early or much late. The timing of teething has nothing to do with the rest of your child’s development. How long does teething last? Generally, teething lasts until the age of 3, at which time your baby’s teeth will have 20 teeth (10 per arch).

Timetable for the Arrival of Baby Teeth

Age of first teeth: The first teeth usually appear at about 6 months in infants. However, they can appear earlier. Do you know that some babies are straight born with one or even two teeth? In other cases, the first teeth do not come out until 14 months of age. The teething age and the date of arrival of baby teeth vary from one child to another, but one thing is certain: the order of teething growth and appearance remains the same.

• THE INCISORES: How long does teething last? Between 6 and 16 months. The 8 incisors (lateral and central). They are used to slice food.
• THE PREMOLARS: How long does teething last? Between 13 and 24 months. The 4 “first molars”. They are used to crush food.
• THE MOLARS: How long does teething last? Between 23 and 33 months. The 4 “second molars”.
• THE CANINES: How long does teething last? Between 16 and 23 months. The 4 canines. Very strong, they allow to shred food.

How many teeth does a baby have in total? In most cases, by age 3, a child has 20 primary teeth. Meanwhile, the 32 adult teeth are developing in the jaws. They appear between 6 and 12 years old. Wisdom teeth usually come in later. Do you know that not all people have wisdom teeth?

What Are the Symptoms of Teething and How Long Does Teething Last?

Before it appears, the tooth that grows will lead to an irritation of the gums which may also appear as an inflammation. This process is accompanied by many teething symptoms, which can vary from baby to baby. You must learn to recognize the signs and in particular teething symptoms. If your baby has some of these teething symptoms, it could be a tooth that’s growing. The teething symptoms differentiate from every child to another and in some cases, it differs from one tooth to another. But while teething causes discomfort for your child, it doesn’t make them sick. Teething can cause pain as the teeth move through the jawbone or through the gums. Because of this pain, your child may:

• Crying and irritability, are brought on by pain.
• Sore or swollen gums.
• Increased salivation (and tendency to put fingers or objects in the mouth and tends to chew): Your baby salivates much more during teething. This abundant salivation is necessary: it keeps your child’s mouth hydrated and protects the gums during teething. As a result, the skin on your baby’s chin can become irritated and red, leading to impetigo.
• Less and decreased appetite.
• Red cheeks, often only on the side of the teething
• Struggle in falling asleep or even experience disturbed sleep.

The first teething episodes of an infant are responsible for temporary discomforts: pain, abundant salivation, disturbed sleep, and teething fever not exceeding 38°C… but the infant remains in good general condition.

Other Possible Signs and Symptoms of Teething

If your child has red cheeks, chews on hard objects, or rubs their face around the gums or ears, it may be a sign of teething. Locally, the gums may also be swollen and sensitive to pressure. Occasionally there is an alteration in gums color and a soft, dark swollen zone near the suspected teething. Normally, teething does not cause complications. If your child has other symptoms, they is probably suffering from something else. If your child has a high fever, teething is rarely the cause. If these symptoms seem unusual, talk to your doctor or dentist.

Teething doesn’t explain everything… It´s a good idea to be cautious when your child cries or seems unwell: it could be due to an illness or another source of pain besides teething. Also note: teething does not cause teething fever over 38°C, nor does it cause deterioration in the general condition of diarrhea. In the case that your child has a higher fever and you’re concerned, see your doctor.

Babies can show very different symptoms during teething periods. During these periods, a slight teething fever may be accompanied by discoloration of the gums, swelling, softness, and a dark color in the gum tissue. Considering all this, your smile can be replaced by worry. But it should be remembered that teething is a predictable progression in a baby’s growth. Your baby’s first tooth eruption is different for every baby, but it usually takes place between 6 and 16 months. How long does teething last in infants? You should know that teething lasts about 8 days* and that your baby will have 20 baby teeth by the time they is 3 years old. How long do teething symptoms last? If your baby has some of these symptoms for more than 3 days, see your doctor to rule out another cause. A quick calculation of how long the teething symptoms will last: The average teething episode lasts 8 days*x 20 teeth = potentially 160 days where the baby may experience some not-so-pleasant moments. How long does teething last per tooth? Dear parents, be prepared! Out of an 8-day period for teething, the tooth breaks through the gum on the 5th day.

In some cases, and in some children, the presence of baby teeth goes nearly unobserved without any teething symptoms, nevertheless for some other children it goes together with unpleasant discomfort.

How Can I Treat Teething Symptoms?

We would like to share here some necessary information regarding care and practical advice. Tooth growths do not require treatment. There is nothing to do except relieve the discomfort. Don’t hesitate to comfort and cuddle your child when one of their teeth comes through. The following are small things that you may support to ease the discomfort of teething symptoms.

• Gently rub your child’s gums with a washcloth soaked in cold water wrapped around your finger. But be sure to wash your hands initially.
• You can let your baby chew on the washcloth under your supervision. You can also massage their gums very gently with a baby toothbrush with soft bristles. Use it very gently.
• Give them a rubber teething ring. Choose one that’s unbreakable, won’t crumble, and is big enough that it can’t go all the way into your baby’s mouth. Ideally, it should have a textured surface. Avoid PVC rings or rings with liquid in them. Teething rings may be cooled in the refrigerator; however please be careful not to freeze them. It should not be tied with a ribbon around the child’s neck.
• If necessary, you can give your baby acetaminophen.
• You must avoid hazelnut necklaces, raw vegetables, and teething cookies during teething symptoms. Hazelnut necklaces may be popular in some circles, but medical authorities advise against them because of the risk of choking if the beads come off. Also, do not give your child pieces of “hard” raw vegetables or fruits (apple, carrot, celery, etc.) before the age of 2 to prevent choking. Teething cookies are also not recommended because of the sugar they contain, which causes tooth decay. Topical analgesic gels are dangerous because they act superficially and may impair the baby’s ability to swallow. Yet, there is no way to prevent teething symptoms or discomfort.