Being a parent is one of the most rewarding experiences in your life. Giving birth to your child and taking care of them can bring you so much happiness. All of the stress you get from work will be gone the moment you see your child. And while you always want to make your child happy, it can be tough at times since your child is still very young. They can’t make out their words, and you purely rely on their body language to know what they want. And since they’re now teething, you can clearly see that they’re in pain. They often cry, and they can hardly eat anything. Of course, as a parent, you want to ease their pain.
Teething in babies can be very stressful for first-time parents. Most often than not, parents don’t have any idea on what to do when this happens. To help you out, consider these tips below to ease baby teeth and teething problems:
- Keep it cool: Using a cold washcloth, silicone baby spoon or any chilled teething ring can soothe your child’s gums. If your child can’t be still because of the pain, these items might be the solution. It can ease the pain your child is feeling while they’re having fun.
- Rub your baby’s gums: This is something which you can do anytime, anywhere. All you have to do is clean your fingers, moisten it with a gauze pad and rub your child’s gums. Doing this can put your child’s gums at ease. You can even do this when your child is about to sleep.
- Dry the drool: When your child is teething, you can expect that there’ll be excessive drooling. Using a teething ring, fingers and other objects in the mouth are the culprits why your child produces too much saliva. When this happens, what you can do is keep a clean and dry cloth handy to wipe the skin. This is one way of preventing skin irritation. You can also apply a moisturizer to your child’s skin, which is either a water-based cream or lotion.
- Try an over-the-counter remedy: If none of these work, you can opt to purchase over-the-counter drugs. Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen can be excellent options for this. You just have to be careful though. Always have the approval of your pediatrician before doing this as some pain relievers might be harmful to babies.
- Topical medications: There are several medications which can be applied to your child’s gums. You can use numbing gels or creams to rub on your child’s gums to relieve pain associated with teething. And while these medications can be an easy solution to your child’s teething problem, you should keep in mind that any medications containing benzocaine shouldn’t be given to kids below two years old.
- Distraction: Teething pain is like headache pain – it can cause chronic discomfort. You can soothe your child by simply distracting them from thinking about the pain they’re feeling. You can give them more time to play with their toys or friends. You shouldn’t also underestimate the healing power of touch. Take the time to cuddle with your child – this might be the only thing your child needs to take their mind off their teething pain.
In Conclusion
It’s normal for parents to be stressed when their children are hurt or start to behave oddly. As a parent, you would only want the best for your child, and the same is true when your child is teething. As much as possible, you want to erase the discomfort they’re feeling. You want this stage to be over and done with, so your child can get back to their usual, joyful self. Aside from the tips presented in this article, seeking help from professionals like Cherrydale Family Dental, for example, can help you with your child’s teething problems.
Dr. Keri Tran
Dr. Keri Tran graduated from Texas A & M University and received her dental education from Baylor University. She spent two years in Dallas gaining valuable experience as an associate. Dr. Tran found that she loves working with children as well as adults and wanted a practice to cater to the needs of families. In order to provide the best care to her patients, Dr. Tran attends continuing education courses yearly in areas such as Cosmetic dentistry, Pediatric dentistry, Implantology and, her favorite, Orthodontics (Braces/Invisalign). She dedicates one full day a week just to her orthodontic patients because she loves the joy and satisfaction that these patients get once treatment is complete. And through her studies in healthcare, Dr. Tran also found an affinity for helping people. She is passionate about serving the community by volunteering for various causes, particularly advocating on children’s behalf, such as co-founding the Love 2 Yêu Global Youth Initiative (love2yeu.org). Away from work, Dr. Tran loves spending time with her family and friends and as long as she is outdoors, traveling or exploring something new she is happy! Dr. Tran and her team at Cherrydale Family Dental are committed to serving the Northern Virginia community with the best in cosmetic, general, pediatric & restorative dentistry. We cater to your specific needs, regardless of your situation, and use the latest in dental technology. We provide a holistic approach to dentistry to ensure all our patients have optimal dental health and wellbeing.
