The Creekside Dental team understands that teething can be uncomfortable for babies and parents. The fussiness, drooling and constant biting and chewing can be alarming to new parents, but it is a normal part of childhood. It’s recommended that you use cold teething rings to help soothe the baby’s gums when a tooth is coming through.

What’s normal and what isn’t?

The first set of teeth generally come in around six months of age. By the time a child is 30 months, they may have a full set of 20 teeth. When the first few teeth erupt through the gums, you should think about making an appointment with your Buffalo Grove, IL dental team to learn how to take care of your child’s teeth.

When a tooth is erupting, your child may drool more than normal. They may want to chew on anything and everything. The child may also be fussy from the mild gum pain, and may even get a rash on the face where the drool runs down. If a cold teething ring doesn’t help alleviate the discomfort, ask your Buffalo Grove, IL dentist about using an over-the-counter numbing medicine or pain reliever.

Some people notice a fever or runny nose during teething. Although there may be an indirect link between teething and a runny nose or fever, teething itself should not cause those symptoms for any prolonged amount of time. Your child may be experiencing an infection because of germs that got into the child’s mouth or that they were exposed to while the gums broke. You may want to talk to your doctor about the symptoms.

Make an appointment with Dr. Sara Chung, Dr. William McCune or Dr. John Micaletti to learn more about teething and taking care of your child’s teeth.