Mother & Baby Corner

Maggie, who is Clinica Tarraula’s Health Visitor and Midwife, will be pleased to answer all your questions. Please write to her at: Clinica Tarraula, Edificio La Plaza, No 8, Ctra Cabo La Nao s/n, 03730 Javea, Alicante or e-mail her on healthvisitor@ctonlineclinic.com

Question: My daughter is 4 months old and I am sure she is teething. Can you advise me on the signs and when to start cleaning her teeth when they come through?

Answer: Babies start to develop teeth before they are born. The first teeth (also known as milk teeth or deciduous teeth) normally start to break through the gum from at around six to nine months old and the majority of children will have around eight teeth by their first birthday.

The first signs of teething can usually begin a couple of months before the first tooth appears so it is more than likely that your daughter is showing signs of teething.
Some of the symtoms may be:
- Increased crying, particularly at nighttime, and overly clingy behaviour.
- Excessive dribbling.
- Irritated skin around the chin and mouth, due to excessive dribble.
- Pink or red cheeks.
- Swollen, red, inflamed gums.
- Chewing and sucking on fingers and toys.
- Increased demand in breast or bottle-feeding.
- Poor appetite.

You will need to observe for particular symptoms to ensure that teething is actually the cause. This is important because teething often gets blamed for a variety of complaints, such as fever, vomiting, runny noses, diarrhoea and rashes, all of which could be signs of a different problem. In fact, most health professionals agree that teething should not make your baby ill, so if you are are concerned about your baby do not hesistate to see a doctor.

As soon as your baby’s first teeth start to appear you should start brushing them twice a day. Use a soft, child-sized toothbrush to clean the teeth and gums. Use a “pea-sized” dab of fluoride toothpaste on the toothbrush. Fluoride prevents cavities and makes teeth stronger. However, too much fluoride at an early age may result in developing a condition called fluorosis, whereby white spots develop on your baby’s adult teeth. Do ask your dentist for advice.

There are several things you can do to make sure your child’s teeth healthy, as she gets older.
- Cut down on sugary, fizzy drinks and sweets. Try to keep sugary foods to mealtimes, to minimise the amount of time that sweet foods spend in your child’s mouth. Instead of sweets or biscuits, give cheese or fruits as snacks between meals. Use sugar-free medications, where they are available.
- Do not add sugar or put sugary drinks in a baby’s bottle. Sucking on a bottle means the teeth are bathed for long periods in sugary fluid, which contributes to decay. Only give water or milk in bottles - juice should be diluted and drunk from a cup. For the same reason, try to limit the number of times that your baby falls asleep at the breast.
- Do not put anything sweet on dummies.
- Drinking milk and eating calcium rich foods helps teeth to develop.

Although most babies do not have their first dental check up until around the age of two, it is a good idea to take them with you when you go for a check up so that they have time to get used to the dentist and familiarise themselves with the strange environment. If you require further advice on any aspects of your baby´s development please do not hesitate to call in at my free Children’s clinic on a Wednesday from 2 - 7 pm.