The first few years, or even months of a child’s development play a large role in how successful the rest of their life will be.  This principle also applies when it comes to developing strong, healthy teeth and gums.  Even if your infant doesn’t have any, or is just begging to grow their teeth, a few words of advice will make their dental development more successful.

 

Teething and Screaming

It’s hard to witness a baby getting their first teeth and not feel for the kid.  Not only is it a painful process, but the poor thing has no idea what is causing the pain.  They do however, recognize when the pain is alleviated and love the person that helps out. 

 

There are a few things that should be expected when it comes to teething.

1.      Expect a lot of crying.  As we have said, incoming teeth hurt.

2.      Expect a bit of random biting.  Teething children crave soft pressure on their sore gums. If they can get a hold of your soft skin between their gums, they will.

 

You can help them out with this though, with just a little TLC.  Here are some suggestions:

·         Let them chew on a clean, cold, wet cloth.

·         Rub their gums with your clean finger, or let them chew on it.

·         Put your baby’s teething ring in the fridge to cool it down a bit and let them chew on that.

·         Finally, be very patient and compassionate.  This is a dramatic time for an infant so be sure to give them lots of hugs.

 

Thumb-Sucking and Pacifiers

For many parents with infants that, for whatever reason, just like to cry, pacifiers can be a sanity-saver.  They seem to work like magic; just pop in a pacifier and you’re rewarded with peace and quiet.  We understand this, but must also offer our dental warning.  Using a pacifier too often or past the toddler stage can lead to hefty speech problems and/or crooked teeth. 

 

With that said, we would rather a child use a pacifier than suck their thumb or fingers.  This is simply because children are usually more willing to leave their pacifiers behind than stop sucking on their fingers. If you’re worried that your baby has formed a bad habit, there are some nice ways to get rid of it.

 

·         The first and most important rule is to make sure the timing is right.  You probably already know that a battle of wills with a two-year-old is a losing one.

·         The next rule is to make sure that any advances are rewarded immediately and that they are made in a calming environment.

·         Finally, children’s books are a great way to relate to children and help them see that sucking their thumb or using a pacifier is a “no-no.”