There is no set pattern as to when baby teething begins and ends. While one baby may cut a tooth overnight with no pain, another may go through a long, painful and drawn out experience of infant teething.

Sometimes you will see a lump in the gum for a few weeks while at other times there is no clue a tooth was coming until it actually appears. On average, the first tooth comes in during the seventh month, but it can happen as early as three months or as late as 12 months. In rare cases it occurs earlier or later.

Twenty "First" Teeth

There are 20 "first" or "baby" teeth, 12 fewer than the 32 permanent adult teeth. Most children have their full primary set of teeth by two or three-years-old. They usually last until the child is about six, when they start to come loose and fall out as the second teeth start pushing through the gums.

Incisors, two central bottom and two central top teeth, usually appear at six to seven months, followed by two more incisors on both the top and bottom at seven to nine months. The first molars usually appear between 10 to 14 months. These are the double teeth used for chewing. The canines, or pointed teeth, usually arrive at 15 to 18 months and the second molars at two to three years. They are the second set of double teeth at the back of the mouth.

Teething Symptoms

Symptoms of teething vary from child to child and may include the following:

Irritability - Fussiness may occur when a tooth rises closer to the surface. Pain and discomfort can be worse with the first teeth to appear and then later when the molars arrive, because of their size. Every child will react differently.
Drooling - The baby may sometimes cough or gag due to the extra saliva. Unless the baby has signs of a cold, flu or fever, it is nothing to worry about.
Chin rash - If the baby drools a lot, the cons tant contact with saliva could cause the skin around the chin and mouth to get irritated. To help prevent this, wipe your baby's mouth and chin gently throughout the day.
Biting and gnawing - A teething baby will gnaw and gum down on anything she can get her mouth around. The counter pressure created from biting helps relieve the pressure coming from under the gums.
Cheek rubbing and ear pulling - Gum pain could travel to the ears and cheeks, particularly when the back molars are surfacing. Bear in mind that pulling at an ear could also signal an ear infection.
Some children may be more irritable than others, or experience the symptoms above to different degrees. If you are concerned with your child's teething symptoms don't hesitate to contact your pediatrician or a general family dentist to schedule an appointment.

Related Resources
Dentistry

Continue to: Ideal Symptoms of Teething for Infants

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