Teething is the growth of teeth through the gums in the mouth of infants and young children.
Teething usually begins when a baby is between 6 and 8 months old. All 20 baby teeth should be in place by the time a child is 30 months old. Some children do not show any teeth until much later than 8 months, but this is usually normal.
The signs of teething are:
Teething does NOT cause fever or diarrhea. If your child develops a fever or diarrhea and you are worried about it, talk to your health care provider.
Tips to ease your child's teething discomfort:
You can buy the following medications and remedies at the drug store:
What not to do:
For information on dental hygiene and preventing tooth decay, see also: Tooth decay in early childhood
Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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