Contents:
- Medical Video: How Teeth Grow
- When do children usually start teething?
- Is it normal for a child over 6 months to not grow teeth?
- What should be done when the baby's teeth start to grow?
Medical Video: How Teeth Grow
Infancy is a period in which babies experience many changes in terms of growth and development. One of the most visible growths in infancy is the growth of baby teeth. 6 months of age is the average age of a baby's teeth starting to grow. However, what if the baby has not yet developed teeth at this age, is it normal?
When do children usually start teething?
Actually, baby teeth have started to grow since they were still in the womb. However, the baby's teeth are still hidden under the gums, not yet appearing on the gum surface. Only in the age of around 4-7 months the first teeth of the child begin to appear on the surface of the gum.
Well, when you start this teething, usually the child will salivate more than usual. Children may also be more fussy than usual, refuse food, until they have trouble sleeping.
Some parents also think that fever or diarrhea are signs of teeth starting to grow in infants. Even though fever or diarrhea has nothing to do with tooth growth in infants, this is not a normal symptom. It is best to consult a doctor immediately if the child starts high fever or diarrhea.
Is it normal for a child over 6 months to not grow teeth?
It is normal if your child's growth and development is different from other children. Child growth and development is not always the same thing between children.
So, if your child has not developed teeth at the age of more than six months, this is normal. Most babies will get their first teeth at the age of six months. However, some babies also grow teeth faster, namely at the age of four months, while there are also new babies who have first teeth at the age of seventeen months.
Teething at the age of a baby who is seventeen months is not a rule that there are problems in the overall development of the baby, so you do not need to worry about this. However, if your baby has not yet developed teeth at the age of 18 months, you should check with your doctor. Your doctor will probably do a blood test and x-ray to find out the cause.
What should be done when the baby's teeth start to grow?
When the baby's teeth start to grow, it's best to give the baby something to chew, like finger food (food that is easily held by babies and is rather hard textured). This can reduce the baby's discomfort in his gums. You can also provide cold foods like yogurt, to help reduce pain in the baby's gums.
In addition, you can gently rub your finger over the baby's gums to reduce pain in the baby's gums temporarily. Don't forget to wash your hands before doing this.
When the baby's teeth have started to appear on the surface of the gum, you should keep your baby's teeth clean regularly. This can be done by brushing the baby's teeth with a baby toothbrush or by rubbing or wiping the baby's teeth with a soft cloth after the baby eats or drinks milk.
