Pediatric Tips for Managing Late Teething

Advice from pediatricians on handling late teething, from oral care to soothing techniques.

Transcript

1. LATE TEETHING IN BABIES
2. INTRODUCTION TO LATE TEETHING IN BABIES One of the most impatiently awaited and sometimes difficult milestones in the first few years of a baby's life is teething. Most babies start erupting their first teeth at around six months, but not all babies enter this timetable. Some babies do experience a delay-cutting their very first tooth much later than everyone would like. This condition is referred to as "late teething," and with this comes a very important question for parents and caregivers. Though it can be concerning at times, late teething is generally a normal variation in the development of a baby.
3. TYPICAL TEETHING TIMELINE Lower front two baby teeth, central incisors are the first commonly erupted in babies at about 6 months of age. At one year of age most babies have 4-6 teeth. By the age of three, the majority of children have all twenty of their primary, or baby, teeth erupt. Typically, a baby who has not cut a tooth by 12 months of age is thought to have "late" teething. Teething onset often begins at 18 months, which is within the normal range for development to occur. It is significantly delayed, though, when a child is over 18 to 24 months of age without having any teeth. WHAT IS CONSIDERED LATE TEETHING ?
4. FACTORS INFLUENCING TEETHING TIMING There are several factors that influence the age at which teething starts, and a general guideline should only be taken as such. Here are some of the main factors: Genetics: Genetics is very much a factor in determining the timing of when a child will begin teething. If parents or siblings teated later than other children, it is likely the baby will do the same. Prematurity: The baby born prematurely is before 37 weeks and may have general developmental delays. The first tooth may surface several months after it would have in a full-term baby. Gender: Girls start teething a bit earlier than boys but the difference is negligible in the majority of cases. Medical or Genetic Conditions: Late teething is caused in some children by hypothyroidism; even if such children present a family history of delayed eruption. It is also found that the timing of eruption is affected in children with Down syndrome or any of the metabolic disorders.
5. SIGNS YOUR BABY IS ABOUT TO TEETHING (EVEN IF THEY'RE LATE) Teething is challenging to babies and their parents too, especially when they do it late. While most babies will fall within a certain window, several indications may determine that your baby is already in a readiness state to cut the first tooth regardless of whether they are teething later than expected. Some of them are; Drooling: Babies typically drool more just before the teething process, hence drooling might be more than usual. Irritability and crankiness: The pain that the baby feels from the movement of the tooth beneath the gums causes crankiness and restlessness. Object sucking or chewing: Children begin to suck on their hands, toys, or anything they can reach since the pressure of the bite soothes the aching gums. Gum swelling or tenderness: The gums at the region of the eruption become puffy, red, or slightly color changed.
6. Changes in sleeping pattern: The pain of teething might make your baby awake at night with increased wakefulness. Less appetite: Painful gums might make it uncomfortable to eat for the baby and might sometimes reduce the appetite. Even if late teething in babies, these signs will help you differentiate the onset of the first tooth. This is because, after all, every baby is different, but these indicators can help prepare you for those precious first teeth.
7. TEETHING PAIN RELIEF: BEST PRACTICES FOR LATE-TEETHING BABIES Teething is never comfortable, and while some babies tend to outwait others concerning when this should happen, the pain in those late-teething little ones can still be pronounced. Being able to deal with the discomfort effectively means all the difference in keeping these babies calm and content during this frustrating time. Here are some of the best practices for providing teething pain relief: Cold compresses: Soak a clean, cold washcloth and rub it lightly over your baby's gums. You may also place a chilled teether in the mouth for the baby to chew on. Do not freeze teethers as they would be too hard and cause an injury. Teething Toys: Massage sore gums with soft, textured toys designed for teething. These are safe items that babies can chew on to alleviate pain.
8. Teething gels: Teething gels containing soothing agents such as chamomile or clove oil can numb the gum for a few moments. Just be sure to get ones that don't contain benzocaine; that is not recommended for an infant. Pain relievers: If the baby's pain seems to be excruciating, advise your pediatrician about giving age appropriate pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen that may help assuage the irritation that the process causes. Distraction and comfort: At times, holding, cuddling, or distracting with play might help take their minds off the painful sensation that has set in on the child.
9. HOW LATE TEETHING AFFECTS BABY’S ORAL HEALTH "How Late Teething Affects Baby's Oral Health" describes the possible late effects of delayed eruption on a baby's dental development. Although late teething is often no serious problem, sometimes it gives rise to a few oral health problems: Dental Mis-alignment: Teeth may erupt late and then cause mal-alignment and overcrowding of the teeth in place. It might provide problem of bite much later in age. Delayed Development of Oral Motor Skills: Teeth are an integral part of oral motor skills such as chewing and speech. The process of teething may delay these milestones of development to some extent. However, most children catch up with time.
10. Risk of Tooth Decay: Late teething can expose the baby to a prolonged period of having no teeth. This might increase the risks for such dental problems as gum infections if the hygiene during the teething process is not properly maintained. Effects on the Jaw and Facial Bone Development: In some instances, late teething might affect jaw and facial bones development but is less common and self-correcting as the child grows.
11. WHEN TO SEEK PEDIATRIC DENTIST FOR LATE TEETHINGTO "When to Seek a Pediatric Dentist for Late Teething" Gives the parent of a late teether situations under which they should look to a pediatric dentist. Late teething is often a normal condition, but there are different signs that may warrant the evaluation of a pediatric dentist: Teething Past 18 Months: If your baby does not cut his or her first tooth by 18 months of age, he or she should be brought to a pediatric dentist. Most children receive their first tooth by this age, and further delays may be the result of any underlying cause. Uneven or Missing Teeth: Some people can have crooked or missing teeth. A very uneven or totally missing set of teeth may imply developmental or genetic issues that need doctoring. Gum Health Issues: Gum issues-uneven gums or red and inflamed gums that do not go away after a couple of weeks would demand attention.
12. History of Dental or Genetic Conditions in Family: If there is a family history of dental problems or genetic conditions that affect tooth development (such as hypodontia), it would be sensible to seek early advice. Developmental Concerns: If there are further developmental delays (for example, speech or motor skills) in addition to late teething, it could be necessary to check for any underlying health issues.
13. CONCLUSION Late teething in babies is usually when the first tooth erupts after the baby attains an age of more than 12 months. This is a normal condition in babies, although rarely a cause for alarm to the parents; after all, genetic factors, nutrition, and general health do come into play. However, if late teething is accompanied by other developmental delay or concerns, parents should consult with a pediatrician for proper ruling out of possible underlying conditions. In the majority of children, late teething doesn't impact developmental stages, and most children eventually catch up with their peers in tooth development.
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