When Should Your Child See The Dentist The First Time

Posted on April 4, 2016August 18, 2020

Posted by Dr. Monica Wonnacott | April 4, 2016

A couple of weeks ago, I took my children to the dentist for their semiannual checkups. I decided to have my 1 year-old checked out at the same time, since I was going. I probably shouldn’t admit that I hadn’t taken my other kids that early. It seems that in the community where I live and practice, many of the dentists don’t see kids before the age of 2. Maybe, that’s just my excuse for missing the boat with my first two. Nevertheless, the visit was easy. It took all of 8 minutes total to polish my baby’s 12 teeth and hold her mouth open while she screamed and the dentist took a look. We walked away cavity free. I patted myself on the back for finally getting it right (third times a charm), and one more thing got checked off the never ending “to do” list.

You may be surprised to find out that your child is supposed see the dentist at 12 months of age or within 6 months of the first tooth eruption, whichever comes soonest. This is the official recommendation of the American Dental Association (ADA) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). After the initial visit, your child should have routine check-ups every 6 months. So, if you haven’t done it, it’s probably time to take your child to the dentist.

How To Help A Crabby, Teething Baby

Posted on February 10, 2016August 18, 2020

Posted by Dr. Monica Wonnacott | February 10, 2016

My baby is busting through her first molars right now and is so crabby. Some kids breeze right through teething, others are so miserable. What makes the difference is beyond me. I admit, I caved and gave my baby some Motrin (generic is: Ibuprofen) today.

Generally speaking, I think we over medicate kids. I made the decision because she generally seemed miserable and her gums were swollen. And let’s be honest, a miserable kid is a miserable mom.

Try treating teething with simple things first (cold teething toys, etc.). If that doesn’t work, Motrin works better than Tylenol. Motrin has an anti-inflammatory property to it, and because the gums get inflamed, it is a better option. This year, there was a safety warning against teething gels. So steer clear of them. Medicate judiciously. A dose here or there isn’t a big deal, but every day for weeks on end is too much.

-Photos courtesy of www.123rf.com

What To Do About Teething

Posted on January 23, 2016August 18, 2020

Posted by Dr. Monica Wonnacott | January 23, 2016

Thanks S.P. from Utah for your recent topic suggestion on teething.

I hear a lot of myth and misconception about teething. At least once a week I hear parents blame signs and symptoms of true illness on teething. So here’s the real scoop on teething.

When does teething happen?

Most infants have their first tooth appear somewhere between 6-8 months. However, it is considered normal anywhere between 4-14 months. All of the primary teeth (first set or baby teeth) should be in by 2 1/2. As an aside, most secondary (permanent teeth) start coming in between 6-8 years.

What are the signs and symptoms of teething?

Gum sensitivity and swelling. This is the best predictor (in my opinion). If you take a look at your infant’s gum line and it is red and swollen/boggy, your infant is probably teething. If the gum line is light pink and still firm (or hard) than it is likely not teething. If you aren’t certain, compare the top and the bottom gums. A big difference suggests teething (usually the bottom teeth come in first).
Drooling. Drooling is a tricky symptom. A lot of babies will drool for months before they ever cut their first tooth. It’s not the tell-tale sign that everyone thinks. A big change in how much your child is drooling can be a sign.
Irritability. Presumably, this is from the pain caused by pressure on the gums from the erupting tooth.
Poor sleep.
Refusing food.
Need to chew on hard objects. Remember that at around 4 months, many infants start to put everything in their mouth (including their hands) as a normal developmental milestone.
(Possibly) low grade fever. Here’s the scoop on fever. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that fever greater than 101 Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius) is NOT usually due to teething. Keep in mind that fever is defined as temperature greater than 100.4. If you do the math, that’s only 0.6 degrees of an increase that can be attributable to teething. Teething is a normal part of growth, it shouldn’t make a child ill.

What to do about teething?

If your baby is seems uncomfortable when teething you can try:

Gently rubbing or massaging the gums with your fingers.
Teething toys (usually made of firm rubber). Be cautious that they don’t have pieces or parts that can your baby can bite off. While cold is good (it can be soothing), the toys designed to freeze often make the toy rock hard and difficult for the infant to chew.
Medications. Tylenol or Motrin can help ease your baby’s pain. Make sure and dose appropriately based on weight. Medications that are rubbed directly on the gums should be used with caution. They can be harmful if your baby swallows a lot. Also they tend to wash out of a baby’s mouth very quickly.
Home remedy. A helpful tip a colleague shared with me when my baby was teething was placing a clean, damp washcloth in the freezer for a few minutes and then letting your baby chew on it. The cool temperature, soft/slight crunch (from the freezer), and texture of the washcloth are all soothing/relieving to an infant. My baby responded well to it; give it a try.

Is it teething or an ear infection?

I regularly get parents who bring patients in with a high fever, runny nose, and irritability. Often times the parents think (or thought initially) that symptoms are due to teething. More often than not, it’s an ear infection. Bottom line, if your child looks ill, it probably isn’t teething and warrants being seen by a pediatrician.