Between 3 and 9 months, your infant’s baby teeth will begin to erupt (emerge into the mouth). The process starts with the lower two front teeth (incisors). Timing varies considerably among children. However, the order is very predictable. After the four incisors come in on both the lower and upper jaw, the first molars erupt. They are followed by canines (eye teeth) and then the second molars further back in the mouth. Most children have a full set of 20 baby teeth by age 2½ or 3.
Teething can go by almost unnoticed or can be stressful for parents and children alike. It may make your child irritable or fussy and may cause restlessness, drooling or loss of appetite. However, teething has not been shown to cause other childhood symptoms such as fever, vomiting or diarrhea.
You can ease your child’s teething discomfort by:
- Giving him or her a hard or frozen teething ring to chew on
- Applying pressure over the gums by rubbing them with a clean finger
- Using a small dab of an over-the-counter teething gel (following the manufacturer’s instructions) to temporarily numb the gums
If you feel your child needs to see a dentist, please call to schedule an appointment (719) 587-1074.
Eruption Chart
