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Teething is the time in infancy and early childhood when children get their primary teeth.
What is going on in the body?
The age at which a child begins to get teeth can vary. The average age is about 7 months, but some infants' teeth erupt when they are only 3 or 4 months old. Other babies do not begin to get teeth until they are 12 months or even a little older. Getting teeth at any of these ages is normal. Sometimes infants are born with erupted teeth, but these are often abnormal and fall out.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Teething is a normal part of a child's growth and development. In general, children follow a certain pattern of tooth eruption. In some children, teeth may erupt late, in a different sequence, or not at all. Following are some of the conditions that affect normal tooth eruption:
- congenital conditions that affect tooth development, such as abnormal development of the embryo known as ectodermal dysplasia
- Down syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality that causes mental retardation and physical abnormalities, such as delayed tooth eruption
- malformation syndromes, or conditions in which some teeth fail to develop
- malnutrition
- progeria, a condition in which the body ages prematurely
- prolonged illness
- rickets, a condition of abnormal bone growth caused by a lack of vitamin D in the diet
TeethingWhat are the treatments for the condition?
If an infant seems to have discomfort during teething, it may help to do the following.
- Give the infant something hard to chew on, like a teething ring or an unsweetened teething biscuit.
- Gently rub the gums with a finger or a soft, cold washcloth.
- Give a pain medication, such as acetaminophen oral drops.
Oral teething pain relievers that are rubbed on the infant's gums probably are not much help, since the saliva in the mouth quickly washes the medication away. If the fussing is more than mild or is persistent, the situation should be discussed with the baby's healthcare provider.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
Pain medications such as acetaminophen may cause stomach upset or an allergic reaction.
What happens after treatment for the condition?
Once they have erupted, the baby's teeth should be cleaned with a damp washcloth after feedings.
How is the condition monitored?
Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.
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