For more teething
and tooth care tips,
visit eumom.ie
How can I make
my baby feel better?
Chewing is an instinctive reaction to teething,
so offering your baby a teething ring or toy
is a great idea. Some of the teething rings on
the market may still be difficult for your baby
to grasp, so start with something chunky and
easy to hold onto. These can often be cooled
in the fridge to help soothe baby’s gums.
Similarly, some chilled water (not too cold)
may help also. Other good things to chew
on are large pieces of raw carrot, hard toast
crusts and baby rusks – something large
enough not to pose a choking risk.
If you feel that your baby needs pain relief
– often the case at night, with back teeth or
when several are emerging at once – there
are a number of options including painkilling
medicine, teething gels and granules.
Looking after baby’s teeth
Although it may seem strange, looking after
your baby’s teeth begins as soon as that first
little bud emerges from the gum. A small
toothbrush with soft bristles is ideal to begin
with, and this will help your baby to get used
to the technique and regularity of brushing.
Until the age of two, there is no need to
use toothpaste, so brushing with water is
sufficient until that point. In Ireland, the
recommendation is that no additional fluoride
(in the form of toothpaste) is introduced
before two years, as children are more likely
before that point to swallow the toothpaste.
Too much fluoride can cause fluorosis, little
patches of white or discolouration of the teeth.
After two years of age, using a pea-sized
amount of children’s toothpaste is ideal.
For your big parenting adventure