Teething - which bit hurts?

[HelenLG]

This is going to sound like a stupid question, but when a baby teethes (sp?) is it just the tooth cutting through the gum which is painful?

DS has been out of sorts (see all kinds of threads everywhere ) but now I'm pretty sure I can feel something sharp on his bottom gum and the area looks a bit red, plus (and this is going to sound really mean) when I was looking earlier and having a feel he started crying as I touched that spot.

I figured it's either a tooth or he's hurt himself chewing on something.

Also, how long was it before your DC was their normal happy self again?

With mine, Helen, it seems to hurt BEFORE the tooth appears - once it's cut through, they don't seem to be bothered. Time it takes varies - usually mine is just unhappy for 1 or 2 nights, but had one horrible 2 week period (when 4 molars were coming through simultaneously). You never really know for sure if it's teething or something else - but with mine, a bright red cheek is often a sign. Hope your DS feels better soon. x

He's got:-

Red cheeks
Little rash around his mouth
Dribble
Sleeplessness
Grumpiness
Random crying
Chewing everything (especially bottle with cold water)

And now this little sharp bit. He's been out of the sorts for a couple of weeks now, but its seems to have escalated.

Definitely sounds like teething. 2 weeks is a long time, but as with my DS, might be several teeth on the move. Have you used Calpol/ibuprofen? Calprofen really helps with mine.

Depends on the baby - some aren't too bothered, others get very upset.

My DD had a couple of unsettled nights which coincided with the top two central incisors coming through. The others haven't bothered her (so far - no molars yet, though).

The gum cells die off to let the tooth through and once it appears above the gum, the discomfort (if any) should stop. Sometimes the guns get quite inflamed, which is when they become tender.

Yep to Calprofen. Also many people swear by teething powders or gels. And cold things often give relief, so teethers that have been put in the fridge for a bit etc....

HTH.

"guns"? ahem. gums.

I would have given him calpol if I had realised it was teething.

It's definately a tooth, he was having a go at a bit of bread roll at dinner and afterwards there was proper tooth poking out.

I feel awful now, cos although he's been unsettle, I didn't think he was in pain, I just put it down to broken sleep.

He seems much happier this afternoon though so maybe the worst is over for now...

Dd2 seems to be in the most discomfort just before hers cut.
Clingy, dribbling, chewing everything including my shoulder, wakes every 2 hours in night, pulls hair and ears.
I give Calpol and lots of cuddles and teething gel.