Normal toddlers have a total of 20 milk-teeth, which starts to appear when they are about age 6 or 7 months and the last ones come out at about age 20 to 30 months. The teeth generally appear in pairs with the tooth at the lower jaw appearing first. These first set of teeth lasts until the toddler is about age 1 ½ to 2 years. However, this process of the teeth appearing and falling varies according to individuals. That is, in some individuals the teeth may appear at later intervals than their peers.
Although the growth process of milk-teeth is natural, it is often accompanied by pain and discomfort. This is mainly due to mismanagement of the kid before and during the appearance of the teeth. Special care need to be taken of the kid’s health and lessen his/her discomfort. Otherwise, it might end in serious health disorder. Let’s see how we can manage the pain and discomfort of teething so that it does not create any serious health problems for the kid.
First of all, the kids need to be properly fed on breast milk alone from infancy until they are physically ready for artificial food. Such kids experience only mild pain and discomforts during teething. As a result, it becomes easy to manage their teething problems.
Observant mothers can easily identify when their kids are beginning to show signs of teething. They begin to salivate more, and their gums appear swollen and hot, which often make their cheeks look flushed. They show an increased tendency to put their fingers or any other objects in their mouth. They want to breastfeed more often for shorter periods because they experience increased thirst.
And above all, they become restless and prone to crying even during bedtime. Some kids suffer from short bouts of vomiting or loose motions. These symptoms appear many weeks before the appearance of the first teeth for a short time, and resurface again a few days before the teeth actually come out.
The teething problems could be managed by home remedies, except in extreme cases. Give the kids a lot of fresh air, exercise and also keep the bowels clean by occasional use of castor oil. These measures will keep the kids relaxed and comfortable. Apply gentle pressure or massage the gums using your fingers. This method seems to sooth the kids to a great extent. You can also give the kid a teething ring to chew up on.
Sponging of the body with cold water and gently rubbing the skin dry with a rough towel will also calm the kid down. And finally, allow the kids to breastfeed often for short times so that they can satisfy their thirst, as well as keep the gums soft and moist. However, don’t breastfeed them too much, which may result in indigestion and stomach upsets.
Posted on April 11th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Baby, Breastfeeding, Child Care, Dental care, Toddler
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