San José, Costa Rica. December, 2015.

An increase in salivation, slight pain, inflammation, reddening of the gums and slight fever, which is not present in all cases, are part of the symptoms that children experience when they begin teething around 8 months-old or even since 5 months-old.

Infant teething is a natural physiological process that presents symptoms, generates discomfort and bother. According to Dr. Adriana Vargas González, pediatric dentist of the Clinica Biblica Hospital, “for an optimal development of the baby it is necessary that beginning with the appearance of the first tooth up to one-year of age, the child be assessed by a pediatric dentist, not due to illness but as prevention.

The first teeth that appear are the lower incisors and this process is completed even up to when the baby is 29 months old. A child might have teeth since birth (natal) or that begin to appear during the first month (neonatal); both situations are considered anomalies. 

Natal or neonatal teeth could have certain implications for the child. This type of teeth are usually characterized by having excessive mobility, which could generate complications if the baby broncho-aspirates the tooth and the latter enters the airways.

The natal or neonatal teeth can also compromise the breast-feeding process, if it injures the mother when sucking while feeding.

Some of the medical recommendations, with regard to the care that should be had with children, is the initiation of dental hygiene procedures, from the moment the first dental piece emerges, thus preventing caries since early childhood.

The hygiene processes may cause a bothersome irritation in the baby´s gums, generating changes in his/her mood, so that experts recommend waiting for that uncomfortable time to pass. In addition, hematomas may result in the gum due to the pressure the tooth makes when emerging.

It is common to ask oneself up to what point is it coherent to think that the situation is normal. They say that when white spots appear on the teeth, it is believed that these are indications of early childhood caries.

With regard to the teeth falling out, this happens on average when they are 6 years-old although it could happen at 5 years-old. If the child is 7 and a half-years old and the falling of the teeth has not yet occurred, this could evidence nutritional problems.

Many people are concerned to see their babies looking for objects to bite them and “scratching” their gums, but this is something normal and can soothe the itching. These objects should be adequate to be introduced in their mouths and it recommendable that they are cold for greater relief.

The use of oral ointments to reduce the inflammation of the gum area is recommended. These mixtures are made using a chamomile base and it should be mentioned that they should not contain sugar and if the irritation persists, it is best to visit a pediatric dentist. One should not medicate very small babies.

For further information or for requesting medical attention, please call the number 2522-1000, or write to the email citas@clinicabiblica.com or contact us via chat at the website: www.clinicabiblica.com.