What to know about teething

What are the symptoms of teething?
As teeth are erupting, babies can become irritable, fussy, drool more, or lose their appetite. A fever or diarrhea is not a symptom of teething so in this case you should see your baby’s pediatrician.
 
How can you soothe a teething baby?
Soothe the tender gums by gently massaging the gums with your finger, a small cool spoon, or a gauze pad. A pacifier or teething ring may help as well. A topical benzocaine anesthetic should not be used without first talking to your dentist due to potential side effects.
 
Caring for your baby’s teeth-

• You should make a dental appointment for your child once the first tooth appears and not later than age 1
• Start cleaning your child’s mouth with a gauze pad a few days after birth
• As soon as the teeth appear in the mouth they can start to get cavities, so keep them clean with a gauze pad and once tolerable, a toothbrush with fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice
• For children age 3-6 a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste should be used twice per day