They can be found in every person who has ever existed. Our ancestors and even monkeys, who share much of our DNA, have them too. Without them, we wouldn’t have evolved and our ancestors would have been wiped out. What I’m talking about is teeth.
In order for teeth to appear, teething happens. From the moment we are born, our bodies harbour the potential for teeth to emerge. The age when teething first happens is not exactly determined but it usually occurs during infancy. Teething begins when teeth start to break through the gums which, understandably, cause unbearable levels of pain for the child. During this painful stage of a child’s life, they produce more saliva than normal as the mouth starts to react to this change.
Comfort for your Baby’s Gums
When a baby starts to teethe, you have to put yourself in their shoes and think what would help them? Teething rings, which can be placed in the fridge and then given to the child to soothe their gums, are very popular as they help numb the pain but make sure to clean them thoroughly at the end of every day.
Analgesic gel is another popular form of treatment for teething. Applied directly to the gums by rubbing the gel onto the affected area, this can help your baby tremendously and can be purchased from a chemist.
Is there anything else I can do?
Throughout teething it is stressed that you do not give your baby any form of medication. However, if the teething causes your baby intolerable levels of pain it is permitted for them to have junior aspirin (for those aged over six months) or Paracetamol. But, before giving your child any medication, it is advised that you speak to a chemist or your GP.
Although this might be a traumatic time for your baby, helping them as much as you can will enable them to experience this as pain-free as possible. Child health is not something any parent wishes to see deteriorate and following these easy steps will make teething run as smooth as possible. It not only makes good common sense but your baby’s happiness will increase as well, as this incredibly painful time will be eased thanks to the great help their parents gave them.
