DEFINITION
Teething in children, also called
odontitis, is the process of teething in children from the gums. The process of
teething usually occurs when children aged 6-24 months.
While in the womb, the baby teeth
begin to form from the 5th week and will probably continue to grow until the
late teens or early twenties. Most babies begin teething around the age of 6
months. Two bottom front teeth (lower central incisors) are usually the first
to appear, followed by two top front teeth (upper central incisors).
Teething can cause signs and
symptoms in the mouth and gums, but it does not cause problems in other places
of the body.
CAUSE
The child's first tooth usually
grow at the age of 4-10 months, the average time the child is 6 months old. The
first teeth grow normally two front bottom teeth. Approximately 4-8 weeks
later, growing upper front teeth. Whole milk teeth (20 teeth) usually grows
when a child is 3 years old.
SYMPTOMS
Classic signs and symptoms
Teething:
·
Dribble, can occur from two months before the
first tooth appears
·
Fussy
·
Swelling of the gums
·
Biting solids
In some children, the process of
teething can not feel pain. However, other children can be sensitive for a few
weeks. When teeth will grow, a child may cry, become difficult to sleep or eat,
and drooling. Gums where the teeth grow may appear red and painful. Children
can continue to chew food and objects when teething. The process of teething
does not cause fever. Children who have a fever and become very fussy need to
be taken to the doctor because these symptoms are not caused by teething.
DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis is based on symptoms
exist and teething in children.
TREATMENT
Teething usually be managed at
home. Call your doctor if your baby has a fever, looked very uncomfortable, or
have any other signs or symptoms - including fever or diarrhea.
If the infant is uncomfortable
because of teething, you can try some simple tips below:
·
Massage your baby's gums. Use a clean finger,
wet gauze or cloth to massage your baby's gums. Pressure can relieve the
discomfort in infants.
·
Cold compress. A cold towel or a cool teething
ring can soothe baby's gums. But, do not give objects are frozen into the
baby's mouth, because of contact with very cold objects that could injure the
baby.
·
Try hard foods. If the baby is able to eat solid
foods, it can be given food that can be bitten, for example, cucumbers are
peeled and cooled. Keep an eye on the baby closely, if there is a scrap of food
must be taken because it could pose a choking risk.
·
Provide teething rings. Teething process can be
alleviated by chewing hard objects. Try to give a special teething rings made
of hard rubber. Ring containing liquid can be broken due to the bite of a baby.
If the child biting a bottle of milk, then fill it with water. If the child is
constantly in contact with the sugar found in milk formula, milk, or juice,
then the child's teeth could be damaged.
·
Wipe the baby's saliva. Babies can salivate
excess as part of the teething process. To prevent skin irritation, wipe the
baby's mouth and chin with a clean cloth.
·
Drug delivery, If your baby is fussy, can be
helped by giving acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Do not give your baby
products that contain aspirin. Be careful with teething medications that can be
rubbed directly on baby's gums. The drug will be swallowed before he has the
chance to give effect to the gums - and too much of the drug ingested will
cause numbness of the baby's throat, so as to interfere with or affect its
normal gag reflex.
Gel for teething is not
recommended to be given to children, because this way no more effective than
other ways, and some products contain substances that can cause harmful
effects, such as benzocaine. In rare cases benzocaine can cause
methemoglobinemia, which is a serious disorder that affects the ability of
blood to carry oxygen.
Some things not to do:
·
Do not apply alcohol to the child's gums
·
do not place anything on the child's gums freeze
·
do scissors gum to help teething, because it can
cause infection
·
do not wear it on neck hard objects in the
child's neck
·
Do not give aspirin to children, whether taken
or placed on the child's gums or teeth
PREVENTION
How to care for baby teeth:
·
Ideally, keep your baby's teeth by means of
wetting the upper gums with a damp towel every day. This can help keep the
mouth of the baby from bacterial growth.
·
When the baby's first tooth appears, switch to a
soft-bristled toothbrush small. No need to use toothpaste. You only need water.
Toothpaste can be used until the child learns to spit - about the age of 2
years.
·
Plan regular dental examinations. The American
Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends
scheduling your child's teeth first visit after the first tooth erupts or no
later than the first birthday.
REFERENCE
Paediatric Handbook 8th edition,
Wiley-Blackwell, A John Wiley * Sons, Ltd., Publication
D, Steven. Teething tots. Kids
Health. 2011.
K, Neil K. Teething. Medline
Plus. 2012.
M, John. Teething. Medicine Net.
2013.
Mayo Clinic. Teething: Tips for
Soothing Sore Gums. 2012.
P, Elizabeth J. Teething. Merck
Manual Home Health Handbook. 2012.
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