Articles and Advice: Your Baby 0-6 Months

Your baby may get her first tooth—usually a lower middle one—anytime between the ages of 4 and 7 months. But don't worry if your baby doesn't show any teeth during this period. Once your baby begins teething, the gums around the new teeth will be swollen and tender. Teething may occasionally cause mild irritability.

If your baby's gums are sore, try any of the following to soothe the gums, keep teeth clean and prevent tooth decay:

• Wash your hands and gently rub or massage your baby's gums with one of your fingers. Don't use medications that you rub on the gums, because they will wash out of her mouth within minutes after they are applied. Pain relievers taken by mouth may help relieve the discomfort.
• Give her a cold teething ring or a cold, clean, wet washcloth. Do not freeze the teething ring as injury may occur.

• Offer a drink of cold water, or a chilled, pureed food she normally eats.
• Offer limited amounts of fruit juice in a cup. Don't put sweetened water, soft drinks, or cereal in her bottle.
• If you use food to soothe the tooth, be sure your baby is in a sitting position and supervised by an adult.
• Never let your baby fall asleep with a bottle, because some of the liquid may stay in his mouth and cause tooth decay. This condition is called nursing caries.
• Brush your baby's teeth with a child's soft toothbrush or wipe them with moist gauze at the end of the day.
• The right amount of fluoride at the right age is important for proper development of your baby's teeth. The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends beginning fluoride supplements at 6 month of age if the water you're using does not contain fluoride. Ask the doctor if supplements will be necessary.
• If your baby seems especially irritable or has a temperature over 101ºF (38^o C), check with the doctor. These symptoms are probably not caused by teething.