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.

This is very variable! Usually, it is 6 to 12 months, although for some babies a tooth can appear as early as 3 months or later than 12 months, almost 15 months
Rarely babies are born with teeth (natal teeth)

Keep to your usual routine as best as possible. Relieve pain before bed with cold therapy. 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.)

You are correct in your understanding. There is no evidence that they work. Chilled (not frozen) teething rings or clean damp cold muslin to chew may be a comfort to help inflamed gums.

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.)

Brush the teeth once they are visible, toothbrushing will reduce the bacteria in the mouth which would reduce inflammation and pain. Better to keep the mouth clean. Parents or carers should brush their children’s teeth:• as soon as they erupt• twice a day• last thing at night (or before bedtime) and on one other occasion• with a toothpaste containing at least 1000 ppm fluoride• using only a smear of toothpaste

There isn’t a single “best” treatment for teething - it depends on your baby’s needs. You could try home remedies like offering chilled teething rings or chilled vegetables, or gently massaging your baby’s gums. Alternatively, you could consider using 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.)

Smear size of toothpaste with 1000ppm of sodium fluoride and soft small head toothbrush, the smaller the head, the better.

Parents or carers should brush their children’s teeth:

• as soon as they erupt
• twice a day
• last thing at night (or before bedtime) and on one other occasion • with a toothpaste containing at least 1000 ppm fluoride • using only a smear of toothpaste

You should brush the teeth of your baby or young child until they are able to clean their teeth for themselves. All children should be supervised with their brushing until they are age 7

1. Gum Resistance - Baby teeth break through unbroken gums, while adult teeth replace gaps.
2. Immature Nervous System - Babies are more sensitive to pain. 3. Limited Coping Mechanisms - Babies can’t self-soothe; older kids can.
3. Inflammation and Irritation - Baby teething causes more gum swelling.
4. Sleep Disruption - Babies’ sleep is more affected.
5. Age and Emotional Maturity - Older kids understand the process, reducing stress.
6. Fewer Teeth at Once - Babies often get multiple teeth simultaneously.
7. Adult teeth come through when they are ready

Teeth do sometimes correct themselves. No matter if they are crooked or not, every child should see an orthodontist by the age of 7.

Could the ‘teething symptoms’ be due to something else? How do you know he is teething if he has not had any teeth erupt in the last 3 months?
If your child seems to be in significant discomfort, it is always best to seek medical advice to rule out illness, such as an ear infection.

Babies/ children show considerable variation in eruption dates. Your dentist will be able to examine and hopefully reassure you.

Yes, this is a myth according to the scientific dental research

That is a great question. Please email your question to [email protected] or ring 01249 466966

That is a great question. Please email your question to [email protected] or ring 01249 466966

That is a great question. Please email your question to [email protected] or ring 01249 466966

at what stage should a child have their first dentist appointment ?

My DH a child before he had me and she was born with 4 incisors. Made for a spiky birth apparently...😬

That's not at all the norm in the UK for routine orthodontist visit by 7.

At what age do children start to floss?

My 14 month old only has 2 Teeth. Can feel the others but they’ve not come through.

This thread is such a helpful resource thank you, Dr. Greenwall, for sharing your expertise!

As a first-time mum, I was completely overwhelmed when my little one started teething around 5 months. The drooling, fussiness, and chewing on everything made it clear something was up, but I wasn’t sure how to best help. After trying a few different remedies, we found that chilled teething rings helped a bit, but there were still tough days.

One tip I learned from our local dentist was to gently massage my baby’s gums with a clean finger, especially before feeds. It made a noticeable difference in calming him down. Also, something I didn’t realize early on is how important it is to start thinking about oral care even before the first tooth comes through. Our dentist recommended bringing bub in for a quick check-up by their first birthday, just to get ahead of any issues and start building positive dental habits early on.

For anyone else navigating this stage, I came across some great guidance on baby oral health and teething from: https://kellyvilledentist.com.au/ really useful if you're after a broader view on what to expect and how to care for those first tiny teeth.

Looking forward to hearing more expert advice here. It’s reassuring to know we’re not alone in figuring this all out!

@rosiemumsnet who won this voucher please ?? ty 😘