Although the emergence of a child’s first tooth is variable, most parents should expect their babies´ first tooth to come in after 6 months. If your baby is 18 months old and still does not have any teeth, we do recommend you consult with a Los Angeles dentist to find the cause of this delay.
In this blog article we will share some of the signals you can look for to identify if your baby will have his or her first tooth soon, and some advice on what to do when this occurs.
Drooling: From the 10th week until the 3rd or 4th month, babies have an excess of saliva production due to the development of salivary glandules and absence of the swallowing reflex. The eruption of the first tooth will stimulate further drooling, and this will occur more in some babies more than in others. Children who drool much can irritate the skin around the mouth because of the saliva’s acidity. To avoid this hassle, you should frequently dry the baby´s mouth and put a cloth on close to his or her face to absorb the excess of saliva.
Coughing: It is natural that the excess of saliva produces excess saliva, so you should not be too concerned.
Baby bites: When a child’s teeth starts coming out, a baby will tend to bite everything that crosses his or her face. The reason is this behavior helps alleviate the pressure on his or her gums.
Pain: Inflammation is the natural reaction of the gum tissue to the appearance of a tooth. Usually, the first tooth causes more discomfort and pain than the succeeding ones.
Irritability: As the tooth gets closer to the gums, the inflammation and pain will increase, so it is natural that a baby will become more irritable.
As a parent it is important for your child that you are aware of the changes that will come with a baby’s first tooth. The reason is you may become irritated and frustrated if you are not conscious of the changes in behavior the baby will experience. Studies suggest that babies that have an easy transition from no teeth to having teeth, and later caring for those, have better changes of not experiencing tooth decay. Be sure to visit your doctor and have him examine your baby if you suspect there is anything out of the ordinary.