7 facts about your baby’s first tooth

Most babies develop teeth between 6 and 12 months :  The eruption of your baby’s first tooth vary from baby to baby.  Some babies have their first teeth around 6 months. It is also possible for some babies to have no teeth even on their first birthday. The first tooth that comes  in are almost always the lower front teeth ( lower central incisors).  Most children have all their baby teeth by age 3.

Add fluoride to your baby’s diet at 6 months of age : Fluoride prevents tooth decay  by hardening the enamel of the teeth. Fluoride is often added to tap water. It is important to give your baby a few ounces of water in a sippy  cup when you start him on solid foods. This is usually around 6 months of age. Fluoride is typically not found in bottled water. Speak to your pediatrician about giving fluoride to your child.

Soothing teething  pain with gum massage, offering something cold or acetaminophen : Many parents can tell when their baby is teething. Babies may show signs of discomfort in the area where the teeth is erupting . The gum around that area may be swollen and tender. The baby may also drool a lot.

You can ease teething pain by doing the following :

• massage the baby’s gum with clean fingers
• offer solid not liquid filled teething ring, a clean frozen or wet washcloth
• if you offer a teething  biscuit, be sure to make sure to watch the baby while he is eating it. Chunks of it may break off easily and can lead to choking.

The baby may also have a slight fever .  Talk to your pediatrician to make sure it is not related to an infection. If teething is responsible, he   will give you a weight-appropriate dose of acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or if over 6 months, ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin).

Do not use teething tablets, gels with benzocaine, or amber teething necklaces : Dont use teething  tablets that contain  plant poison belladonna and gels with benzocaine. According to the American Academy of pediatrics, the FDA has issued  a warning about their potential side effects.

Amber teething necklaces are also not recommended. They  increase the risk of strangulation or being a potential choking hazard.  There is also no research to support its effectiveness.

You should brush your child’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste  twice a day : Once your child’s tooth erupt, you should brush it  everyday with a smear of fluoride toothpaste  the size of a grain of rice. It is important not to put your baby to bed with a bottle. It can result in tooth decay.

The American Academy of Pediatrics AAP  recommends  that  once the child is 3 years old, use  a pea-sized amount of fluoride tooth paste  until your child is about 6 years old. Parents need to monitor and assist their children while they brush their teeth until around the age of 7 or 8. When your child can write his or her name well, he has the ability to use the brush very well.

Ask your child’s pediatrician about fluoride  vanish : The AAP and the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommend that your child receives fluoride vanish once they have teeth. Ask your pediatrician about it.  The earlier the child receives fluoride vanish, the better to help prevent tooth decay.

Make your child’s first dental appointment when first tooth appears : Try to make your child’s first dental appointment after the eruption of the first tooth and by his or her birthday.

It is recommended by the  AAP  that all children see a pediatric dentist by age 1. The dentist will make sure that there are no dental problems and that all the teeth are developing normally. He will also give your further advice on  proper hygiene.