What Parents Should Know About Teething | Pediatric Dentist Elgin IL

Teething is a natural occurrence that is necessary for the growth of your child. Although it can be difficult to handle, we have information designed to help you to prepare for this stage in your child's life.

Common Teething Symptoms

There is a lot of misinformation out there about teething, so it is important to understand what exactly to expect. Knowing the correct symptoms will help you to know when you must contact a dentist or doctor for your child.

The symptoms of teething typically include irritability, trouble sleeping, fussiness, drooling excessively, loss of appetite, and chewing on fingers.

Abnormal symptoms would be if your baby has a fever, rash, diarrhea, severe gum swelling, redness, or bleeding. If your baby has any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately to make sure it is not an indication of a larger problem.

Teething Treatment

If your baby is experiencing sore or inflamed gums, it can be quite difficult to calm them down. A solution to soothe their mouth would be trying a chilled pacifier or teething ring. You can also try massaging their gums gently with a clean finger or dampened piece of gauze.

For the safety of your child, do not use topical pain relievers or homeopathic teething gels and tablets. These forms of relief have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA, which means they might be dangerous for young children.

Caring for Your Baby's New Teeth

Dental care is needed as soon as your baby develops their first tooth. When that first tooth emerges you should gently wipe your baby's gums with a dampened cloth at least twice a day. Also, once your child develops two teeth that touch, you should begin using floss or an interdental brush daily.

Within 6 months of developing their first tooth, your child should visit our pediatric dentist in 60194. When telling your child about the dentist, maintain a positive attitude so they feel as comfortable as possible. 

We will check your little one's teeth and ensure a calm and comfortable first visit. If you and baby are ready, contact our pediatric office in Schaumburg, IL to schedule an appointment and to learn more about early childhood tooth development.

Kids First Pediatric Dentistry

Phone: 847-717-5437

Url: https://kidsfirstpd.com/

1640 Capital Suite Ste 500

Elgin, IL 60124

Kids First Pediatric Dentistry

Phone: 847-717-5437

Url: https://kidsfirstpd.com/

75 West Schaumburg Road

Schaumburg, IL 60194

Switching Your Baby from Bottles to Sippy Cups | 60124 Pediatric Dentist

Whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, at some point you will want your baby to start drinking from a cup. It is not only healthy for your child's overall development; it is better for their teeth. 

While weaning can be a gradual process, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests putting the bottle away for good by age 18 months.

The Danger of Baby Bottles

Prolonged bottle-drinking can be harmful to your child's oral health in two ways: First, long-term sucking can cause your child's palate to narrow, increasing the likelihood they will require orthodontic treatment later on; second, bottles expose a baby's teeth to sweet liquids over an extended period. Formula, cow's milk, and juice contain sugars that increase the risk of tooth decay.

To help protect your child's teeth, encourage them to start drinking from a cup by their first birthday. Additionally, you should begin wiping your baby's first teeth with a damp gauze or washcloth, graduating to a finger brush or baby toothbrush and a rice-sized smear of toothpaste.

The Best Types of Sippy Cups

Look for a cup with a simple spout rather than a "no spill" spout. Those advertised as "no spill" contain a special valve beneath the spout. While it protects against spilling, it also prevents easy sipping. Instead, these cups require your child to suck hard on the spout, essentially replacing one type of nipple with another. This can slow your child's sippy cup training.

If spills are a concern, our pediatric dentist in 60124 look for a cup with a weighted base that helps keep it upright.

Keep the Bottle to Cup Transition Gradual

Be patient as you phase out the bottle in favor of the cup. Once your child can use the cup, limit the bottle to plain water; this makes the bottle less desirable. Provide the bottle less often over time to allow your child time to adjust. Once your child has mastered training cups, start offering a small plastic cup without a lid and phase out the training cup.

Breastfeeding moms can skip the bottle phase altogether and decide how often they want to nurse in tandem with the sippy cup.

Decisions about weaning can be challenging, as every baby is different. Keep in mind, however, that everyone learns to drink from a cup eventually. For more information about bottle to cup transitions or to schedule a pediatric dental appointment for your toddler, contact our pediatric dental office in Elgin, IL.

Kids First Pediatric Dentistry

Phone: 847-717-5437

Url: https://kidsfirstpd.com/

1640 Capital Suite Ste 500

Elgin, IL 60124

Kids First Pediatric Dentistry

Phone: 847-717-5437

Url: https://kidsfirstpd.com/

75 West Schaumburg Road

Schaumburg, IL 60194