Teething Pain in Infants 0-24 Months

There is a false belief that teething brings on fever, diarrhea and rashes. If these symptoms are present while your child is teething it's likely just a coincidence and they should be seen by a doctor. Illness isn't a normal part of teething.

It shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks for a tooth to erupt once it is near the surface of the gum. If you're noticing swelling or discolouration and your baby seems to be in a great deal of pain you should take him or her to see a dentist. Sometimes a small incision needs to be made to help the tooth break through the gum tissue.

Thumb sucking is a normal reflex in young children. However, thumb sucking after the age of 4 or using a pacifier after 6 months of age can change the shape of your child's growing jaw bones and interfere with the proper eruption of permanent teeth, so it should be discouraged. Try spreading crushed garlic on your child's thumb for a few days, or —if you prefer a rewards system—keep a star-chart for thumb-free days with a reward after 10 stars.

You should call your dentist. Sometimes it's necessary to remove primary teeth to make room for permanent teeth. But don't try to remove the baby tooth yourself.

Yes. Children need their baby teeth until they are 12 or 13 years old. Untreated decay could continue to eat away at the tooth until it reaches the pulp or nerve and cause extreme pain and/or infection. If baby teeth decay to the point of needing extraction, these missing teeth will interfere with your baby's ability to learn to talk properly and the proper spacing and alignment when adult teeth come in.

There’s no need to stop breastfeeding. Sure, it hurts to be bitten when your baby has one or more teeth but if you remove your baby from your breast and say “no” firmly, your baby will learn not to bite.