Ask A Dental Expert Your Questions About Baby Teething

[rosiemumsnet]

Disclaimer: The purpose of this activity is to provide general health information on teething, we encourage you to seek health advice from your midwife, GP or other Health care professional.

Are you wondering about the signs of baby teething, how to soothe your little one’s discomfort, or have questions about when teething typically begins? Maybe you’ve been struggling to find a teething product that actually works?

Dentistry expert, Dr. Linda Greenwall, founder of the Dental Wellness Trust, is here to help. With 40 years of dentistry experience, Dr. Greenwall is ready to answer your questions on everything related to baby teething and early dental care*. Dr Greenwall does not endorse Ashton & Parsons.

Ashton & Parsons, the renowned British heritage teething brand, will also be available to answer any product-specific questions you may have about their baby Teething Gel or Teething Powders.

As a thank you for your participation, one lucky Mumsnetter will win a £200 digital VEX voucher towards a store of their choice (from a selection)

To be entered into the prize draw to win the voucher, please post your teething questions below by Friday, 13th December 2024.

Dr. Greenwall will return to answer some of your questions soon!

Our insight T&Cs apply.

About the Expert:

Dr. Linda Greenwall, a third-generation dentist from Cape Town, South Africa, began her career after graduating from Witts Dental School in 1984. Dr Linda's long-standing dedication to oral health led to the creation of the Dental Wellness Trust in 2011, a non-profit Charity that advances oral health in underserved communities. Through innovative programs like LiveSmart, which serves over 32,000 children in the UK and South Africa, the charity provides vital dental care, and oral education for children in need.

Dr. Greenwall leads research on ethical, supervised tooth-brushing programs with the University of Western Cape. Recognised for her service with a British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2017, Dr. Greenwall continues to practise dentistry in London and advocates for professional support, founding the Women Dentists Network in 2020. Recently awarded the prestigious John Tomes Award by the British Dental Association, she remains an influential figure in dentistry through her practice, research, and writing.

Here’s what Ashton and Parson’s have to say:

We are proud to be the UK’s No.1 Teething Brand in pharmacy*. With the help of our Teething Powders, Ashton & Parsons have been used to soothing the symptoms of teething pain for over 150 years. Life’s changed a lot since then – not least with the launch of our award-winning Teething Gel – but families everywhere still use Ashton & Parsons to help relieve babies’ teething pain. Both our Gel and our Powders offer parents trusted remedies to keep handy, at home and on the move, for whenever and wherever teething pain strikes.

*Source IRI Unit sales data for teething. June-August 2024. For verification, please contact [email protected]
Ashton & Parsons Teething Powders are a traditional herbal medicinal product for use in the symptomatic relief of teething pain exclusively based upon long-standing use as a traditional remedy. Contains tincture of Matricaria. Always read the label. Ashton & Parsons Teething Gel is a medical device.

Is it all just made up? My sample size of 2 kids had no teething issues at all. I realise that isn't scientific, but how do people actually know that any of their babies behaviour is due to teeth?

If using the gels and powders, does it build up pain resistance, or can you use more in the evening when trying so settle baby - as long as you are within the recommended daily dose ?

How often would you clean first teeth - twice daily or once daily or more ?

Would you ever suggest visiting your gp with the red cheeks and discomfort that comes with the molars coming through - and if not how would you treat the back teeth which seem to be the slowest and more painful than the rest.

Ashton and Parsons didn't provide any relief at all for either of my teething babies - why was that?

The only thing that seemed to help them was calpol.

would you recommend powders or gel on specific teeth/ gums/ parts of the mouth - and why

How do these work on the gums please - do they have a numbing affect or are they absorbed for a pain relief ?

From what I’ve been told my health visitors the powders just temporarily numb the area. If you’re within the amount it says on the box I would use it when the effects have worn off

I’ve given mine calpol for his and it works wonders. I try other things first- teethers, cuddles, distraction, etc. as usually it only bothers him a bit. Teething mitts are fantastic. But when he’s crying in pain I give him Calpol as we wouldn’t expect ourselves as adults to just suffer with pain.

What treatment works best for teething?

thank you

Why is this person not even answering our questions? I will just stick to asking AI, at least that replies in less than 80-120 business days. My baby will have all his teeth at this rate.

I’ll answer seeing as the “professional” can’t be bothered 😂Depends on each child’s preference and which teeth come through. Some useful soothing teethers can be ones you see in the shops (e.g. matchstick monkey, supermarket own teething product etc.) but sometimes it’s as simple as a chilled bottle teat or chilled wet flannel, or even just your own finger to massage the gums. I got a teething mitt which is useful for when baby keeps putting hands in mouth.
Never put anything in the freezer as it can cause damage on the gums.
Teething powders are considered more reliable than things like bonjela as they are easier to apply.
If they’re really struggling in pain with their teeth and other options don’t work, Calpol can be given.

Because they dribble, grab inside their mouths, are soothed when something cold is placed on the area, you can see the teeth slowly coming through. When a child is in pain, just as adults do, they touch the area that hurts. You probably just didn’t notice and thought it was something else like exploring with their mouths. Each child varies in their reactions to anything, including pain.

It’s fine whilst they’re young but once they get to around 2 years old it can cause some dental issues like overbite. It can also cause speech delay. If your baby is still young I would just recommend gradually weening them off their dummy as they get older so that when they’re over 2 you might just use it for sleep.

do the gels really work?

Hi Mumsnetters! Thank you so much for your questions. We’ll be responding very soon and apologise for the delay; we appreciate your patience. The winner of the £200 VEX voucher is @LittleDeeAndME – congratulations!😊

As soon as possible when baby has teeth, or their first birthday, whichever comes first. They will benefit from preventive advice offered and will have their first experience of the dentist. Too many children go for the first time when they have pain and may need treatment - before they have built up a relationship with their dental care professional and found out it isn’t scary. Remember mums are entitled to free NHS treatment when they are pregnant, and for the first year of baby.

Biting on ‘teething rings or a clean cool object is soothing. Gentle rubbing with your clean finger may help.

A pain reliever such as paracetamol or ibuprofen at the recommended doses for their age may help. (Ibuprofen only for babies older than three months and weigh more than 5kg.)

For some babies, teeth may appear without any ‘trouble’. Other babies may be restless and have discomfort. Their gum may be sore or red where the tooth is coming through. They may not sleep as well as they have in the past or their eating patterns change. They may chew fingers or toys, rub their face and drool. Some babies have reddened cheeks and/or a slight fever

Biting on ‘teething rings’ or a clean cool object is soothing. They may chew on chilled fruit or veg. Gently rubbing the gums with your clean finger may help. A pain reliever such as paracetamol or ibuprofen at the recommended doses for their age may help. (ibuprofen only for babies older than three months and weigh more than 5kg.)

Keep the mouth clean. As soon as the first tooth is through, baby should have their teeth cleaned. This will help to reduce inflammation of the gums.

The link between teething and increased nappy rash is not fully understood. Nappy rash in babies is caused by prolonged wetness on the skin (from wee and poo). This can happen if nappies are tight or left unchanged for extended periods.
Whilst there is little evidence that teething causes nappy rash but some report that the additional saliva from teething changes the nature of the baby's poo, making it more likely to cause a reaction when it touches the skin.
Change nappies more often and where possible let the baby lie without a nappy on a towel for some time each day.
Parents need to supervise toothbrushing until their child is 7 years old. ‘Supervision’ in early years means actually brushing the child’s teeth rather than letting them do it themselves. It’s fine to let them
play with the toothbrush as a first step to learning to brush, but they are not dextrous enough to clean effectively until they are around 7.
It is not always easy- small babies and children don’t always lie with their mouths open wide for a brush!

Chilled (not frozen) teething rings or clean damp cold muslin to chew may be a comfort to help inflamed gums.
Chilled fruit and veg may help (care with choking hazard in very young)

Sometimes if your child is suffering from an infection as the teeth are growing, this may result in the tooth cell receiving less oxygen as it is developing and that is why the tooth may appear to be a little discoloured or have a white yellow or orange mark on it. Don’t panic if your child has had a temperature – this doesn’t always affect their teeth!