Teething

**sweetchili** · #1 (**permalink**) 21-05-2008, 12:49 PM

So it looks like Cameron is finally getting teeth!! I am so excited but nurvous at the same time.....

There is a small bump on the bottom, and his front two top teeth look like they might be comming down too. he has been chomping on his fingers, and mine for that last week, and has had rosy cheeks and been extra grumpy at times.

But i don't know much about teeth....please tell me all.....

What would you recommend i should give him to sooth any pain?

How long do they take to come through once they start?
Do you think the pain gets worse when they break the skin on the gums.

do i brush them as soon as they surface? (or would that hurt?)

any other hints and tips would be most welcome!
Tah!

Marmee · #2 (**permalink**) 21-05-2008, 01:12 PM

Ohhh, teething! It can be fun and games....or it can pass without any one really noticing. Our first one, from memory, didn't show many signs at all, and certainly didn't seem affected by teething.

Bubba no 2 and 3 have certainly felt it. 3rd bubba now has 4 teeth and they weren't fun.

What I am putting the differences in our children down to is that with no.1 I think they were quick to come through. A bit of pain and then voila! They're there. With our other two, they seem to suffer with teeth that did what my wisdom teeth used to do - up down up down, causing pain for a day or two, then nothing, then pain, then nothing. Not fun for anyone

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetchili

What would you recommend i should give him to sooth any pain?

We tend to favour homeopathics in this household. With the up down teeth, we have found calc carb has been great, helping them to finally break through.

In those middle of the night frenzies, when nothing is seeming to help, paracetamol has been a godsend.

Cold flannels to chew on, toys to bite and chew on are great...although our baby boy likes to bite is and our clothing

Not nice, but relieving, I guess

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetchili

How long do they take to come through once they start?

Your guess is as good as mine

Let's hope for your little man they are quick to get here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetchili

Do you think the pain gets worse when they break the skin on the gums.

I seem to find that the worst of it is a day or so before you see the tooth, so definitely as they are moving upwards. OUCH!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetchili

do i brush them as soon as they surface? (or would that hurt?)

We don't brush bubbas teeth - but some will recommend brushing, even with a soft flannel wrapped around your finger, when they first erupt. I reckon we start brushing when our little ones are eating more solids. For no good reason. Just lazy, I guess

All the best with it. A new chapter in the journey, heh?

**sweetchili** · #3 (**permalink**) 21-05-2008, 01:21 PM

Thanks heaps Marmee!!!! Where can i get 'calc carb' from? is that one you desolve on their gums? if not do you know what that is?? i remember some natural remedy being used by some of the child care parents that was like a tablet you hold on their gums to dislove...but mostly the parents all just used bonjella....but that stuff seemed a bit yuk to me.

Marmee · #4 (**permalink**) 21-05-2008, 01:30 PM

You should be able to buy calc carb from your health food store? As a tissue salt. They come in pillule form, so it may very well be what you are talking about re: holding under tongue. However, we dissolve 3 in a little amber bottle of water and give it via drops on the tongue. Much easier

Bonjela is terrible stuff. Imagine walking around with a numb mouth. No wonder bubs with bonjela all over their gums refuse to feed!

Jakaluma · #5 (**permalink**) 21-05-2008, 02:06 PM

DS1 just popped them up - never showed any pain or discomfort, didn't seem to notice them at all. I must admit, I though "gee, what's all the fuss about teething?" Heh heh heh, never be a smug parent!

DS2 didn't seem to have much discomfort either really but he would bite as he finished feeding for a couple of days before and after each time teeth came up - so I would have to have my finger ready so as he finished suckling, I'd pop my little finger in and crunch, down would come his teeth on my finger (much better than on my nipple, that's for sure!) But never lasted long.

And I have now been around enough other babies to see how widely they differ - some have a absolutely awful time, others feel nothing, and everything in between. Something that seems to help them all is chewing on things. I'd try and avoid any medication at all (for everything, not just teething) because it really seems to make a difference in how medicated children become later.

Dorasmum · #6 (**permalink**) 21-05-2008, 05:49 PM

Well for us it was pretty much ditto to what Marmee and Jakaluma said. DD1 had practically no reaction at all, I would suddenly "notice" a couple more teeth one day. DD2 had a tiny bit more trouble, but I only had to use paracetamol maybe twice when she couldn't sleep but otherwise no trouble.

We haven't bothered with teeth brushing till after one either, I just the gave her a tooth brush to play with and chew on while in the bath and I'm trying to gradually get her to let me brush them now. But I was thinking maybe I should have introduced actual brushing earlier, maybe the would have become more used to it and it would be easier now... I don't know!

I love finding new teeth!! They are great milestones.

Em