teething

and Sabine Schrör, medical journalist Updated on

Nicole Wendler holds a PhD in biology in the field of oncology and immunology. As a medical editor, author and proofreader, she works for various publishers, for whom she presents complex and extensive medical issues in a simple, concise and logical manner.

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Sabine Schrör is a freelance writer for the medical team. She studied business administration and public relations in Cologne. As a freelance editor, she has been at home in a wide variety of industries for more than 15 years. Health is one of her favorite subjects.

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Teething, like all developmental steps, is different for each child - sometimes completely unproblematic, but sometimes also exhausting for parents and child, because the latter is a lot whining and sleeps poorly. Often it only becomes clear why the child is so restless when the white crown of the tooth sharpens through the gums. Read here when babies get their first teeth, which signs are typical during teething and what alleviates the unpleasant symptoms.

When do babies get teeth?

The questions "When do babies start teething?" and "When do the first teeth come?" both cannot be answered exactly to the month. As with every step in a child's development, there are also individual differences in tooth growth and teething.

Usually the first tooth appears around the age of six months. The first signs that something is going on can appear months in advance. However, both can vary greatly from child to child. The causes for this are mostly genetic.

In the long term, it does not matter whether the tooth eruption occurs later or earlier.

When do which teeth come?

It usually starts in the lower jaw, usually with a lower central incisor. A little later the teething of the molars begins, which can be expected around the first birthday. Here you will find an overview of which tooth appears in which order:

central incisor: between 6th and 8th month
Lateral incisor: between 6th and 12th month
first molar: between 12th and 16th month
Canines: between the 16th and 20th month
second molar: between the 20th and 30th month

Teething - How Long Does It Take?

It takes about two years for all 20 milk teeth to be there. Then there are four incisors, two canines and four molars (deciduous molars) each in the upper and lower jaw. Until around the age of 6, the mouth is quiet until - usually on time for school start - the first loose tooth or the first permanent molar becomes noticeable.

First signs of teething

If a tooth in the toothed ridge pushes through the gums during teething, it can itch, tighten and also pain. The behavior of the children often gives an idea that the teething is starting. Common signs:

The urge to "gnaw", chew and put things in their mouths heralds teething in many babies.
Restlessness, whining and crying can also indicate the beginning of teething.
Sleepless, restless nights are also typical: When the baby is teething, it does not always sleep through the day without any problems. The symptoms are usually worse at night. In addition, there are significantly fewer distractions at night than during the day.

Teething symptoms

The following complaints are typical at the time of teething. But they are not necessarily the result of tooth eruption.

Rash: The mouth and jaw area is more supplied with blood.Reddened and swollen gums, but also red cheeks, often occur during teething.

Cysts in the mouth: Small, fluid-filled bubbles can form under the surface of the mucous membrane over a tooth that is about to erupt. They are filled with blood and have a bluish shimmer. Usually they burst when the teeth break through. If they catch fire, a visit to the dentist is necessary.

Increased flow of saliva: The gums are irritated and swallowing is more difficult; it is not uncommon for saliva to flow in abundance when babies are teething.

Fever: Teething is work for the body, which is why babies are often more prone to infections during this time and their temperature rises more often. The cause of the "tooth fever" is seldom the teething itself.

Diarrhea: Diarrhea is not uncommon in infancy, especially at a time when babies put everything in their mouths. Here, too, there is no direct connection with teething.

Vomiting: Similar to diarrhea, the cause and effect of vomiting cannot be clearly separated during the teething period.

Dehydration: Mouth pain can prevent your baby from drinking enough. Pay attention to fatigue, chapped lips, a sunken fontanel or dry diapers during the teething period.

What helps with teething?

When teething becomes a strain, there are several things you can do to help your child. Read here what it is.

Dental care right from the start

Even the first teeth need care. Because healthy milk teeth are the basis for healthy permanent teeth.

The milk teeth are a little softer than the permanent teeth and their enamel is very thin at just one millimeter. They should therefore be cleaned from the beginning.

A cloth or cotton swab is sufficient to clean the first teeth. A so-called finger toothbrush is also suitable. It consists of a rubber fingerling that is simply slipped over the finger and is equipped with soft bristles. It has the advantage that you can use it to gently massage your child’s gums and thus help them te

You should only use toothpaste if your child is sure not to swallow it. Small children can clean themselves with learning toothbrushes. They can practice with brush pens with rubber nubs, which they chew on while teething to massage their gums.

Tooth development

The development of the first teeth begins in the womb: from about the sixth week of pregnancy, the tooth strips, from which the germs are formed. Around the fourth month the tooth buds produce tooth enamel and dentin for the first time.

About six weeks before the birth, all 20 milk teeth are ready, but are still hidden under the gums. So a lot has happened by the time the first teeth erupt.

What happens during teething

Teething babies, this is a lengthy process. In doing so, the tooth moves slowly bit by bit in the rack until the crown of the tooth breaks through the gums and reaches the oral cavity. Only then does the tooth root form over a further four to six months. The incisors in the deciduous teeth only have one of these. Molars in the lower jaw, on the other hand, have two roots and those in the upper jaw have three roots.

The milk teeth look similar to the permanent teeth. They're just a little smaller and whiter. The molars in milk teeth also have slightly narrower chewing surfaces than those in permanent teeth.

Teeth in newborns

Some newborns are born with teeth. These can either be rudimentary tooth-like structures that can be easily removed, or actually premature milk teeth.