Teething Advice
Teething in babies: teething advice and information
As tooth buds start to bite
Your baby started teething in the womb. While you were pregnant, he developed tooth buds in his gums - the foundation for his milk teeth.
Your baby's tooth buds begin to break through his gums from around 4 to 6 months, though it can take three years for the baby's gummy grin to grow into a smile with a full set of 20 bright milk teeth.
As each tooth develops, the gum above it starts becoming red and swollen and your baby's cheeks look slightly fuller and flushed. He may be irritable if his gums are sore, so prepare for restless nights and miserable days a month or two before any baby teeth grow through. It may take a month or two before his first tooth appears, showing as a tiny white cap on his gum.
If your baby refuses to eat solid food during teething, you can offer extra breast milk or formula milk. Also offer him plenty of cooled boiled water to drink.
Want to know more about teething?
Come to The Baby Show where you can speak to our experts including health visitors in our Health Professional Advice Centre.
When baby teeth start to break through did you know?
- One in 2000 babies are actually born with a small baby tooth or two.
- The lower central incisor tooth may start emerging as early as 3 months in an early developer, though some late developing babies may not show any signs of teething until they're nearly a year old.
- Most babies start teething at around 6 months old - about the time they start getting solid baby food in their diets. Premature babies may be a few months behind the rest in teething.
Babys teething timetable
| 6 to 12 months | Lower two incisors or front teeth, followed by the upper two incisors or front teeth |
| 9 to 16 months | Two more incisors break through, top and bottom |
| 12 to 18 months | The first back molars emerge |
| 18 to 24 months | The canine teeth start to appear between the molars and incisors, and finally, the second molar teeth break through in the lower and upper back of the mouth |
Quick soothers for sore gums
- Rub your baby's gums or encourage him to bite on suitable biscuits or teething rings.
- Cool objects relieve inflammation - keep his teething ring in the fridge, offer a piece of frozen bread or let the baby eat cold foods such as apple purée or yogurt from the fridge.
- Smooth on some pain-relieving teething gel or granules (as your health visitor or pharmacist for advice) or give your baby infant paracetamol.
- Teething can make your baby grizzly or downright miserable, but be careful not to ignore any signs of possible illness. Teething doesn't cause chestiness, rashes, fever, diarrhoea or convulsions, so if your baby has any of these, consult your GP.
An American study has shown, however, that baby teething is associated with a mild rise in body temperature and some children who were shown to be teething did have some rise in body temperature to 100°F and a facial rash.
Symptoms of teething and illness can be similar, so be careful not to get confused trying to understand what your baby may need. Don't just dismiss symptoms such as nappy rash, diarrhoea or fever as teething.
