Teething is the growth of teeth through the gums that begins in infancy and continues into toddlerhood. However, teething in toddlers is not the same as it is in babies; the symptoms are distinct and must be addressed accordingly. The process of teething usually completes between the ages of one and three, so you might wonder, “what teeth does a toddler get?” and “how do you manage your baby’s teething symptoms at the time?” This post discusses everything about teething, including the normal teething order in toddlers and ways to deal with teething pain and other symptoms in toddlers.
Teething Order In Toddlers
Below is the toddler teething chart between the ages of 12 and 36 months (1): Here is what the teeth will look like in the mouth: A total of 20 primary teeth erupt by the time your toddler is three years old (2). So when toddlers get the upper second molars, their primary teeth emergence is complete. Note that the sequence in which the teeth erupt may differ from child to child. So don’t worry if your child’s sequence doesn’t match this one. However, the teeth should erupt properly and fully.
What If The Teeth Do Not Erupt Properly?
The following conditions can lead to teething problems in toddlers:
Dental caries: A pool of milk can accumulate in the mouth of the toddler when he/she sleeps with formula or milk bottle. Natural sugars from milk can accumulate within the gums and cause cavities and tooth decay. These are called nursing bottle caries (3), and may also develop when the toddler sleeps with the breast nipple in the mouth (4).
Congenital teeth disorders: Several congenital disorders could affect teething in toddlers. An example is hypodontia, a condition where the toddler has a few missing primary teeth (5). In some very rare cases, the toddler may not have teeth at all, a condition that is called anodontia (6).
If you suspect that the toddler’s teeth are not erupting as per schedule, then take the baby to the doctor right away. You will know whether or not the teeth are coming out correctly when you identify the signs and symptoms of teething.
What Are The Symptoms Of Teething In Toddlers?
You will know the toddler is sprouting some teeth when you see the following signs (7): We can’t say how long the teething pain lasts, but once the tooth erupts from the gum, the toddler will start feeling better. Teething in toddlers does not cause diarrhea, diaper rash, vomiting or a runny nose (8). Some parents report fever during teething, but medical experts state that there is only a slight increase in temperature, which is not high enough to be called a fever (9). It also does not cause a lot of crying.
How To Ease Teething Pain In Toddlers?
Here some ways to help the teething toddler feel better (10): Medicines should be the last resort and used only when the teething pain disrupts essential activities like eating and sleeping. Consult a pediatrician before giving any medication to the toddler. While the methods mentioned above can help you make the toddler feel better, some others may make it worse and must be avoided.
What Not To Use For Toddler’s Teething Pain?
You must NEVER use the following things to ease teething irritation in a toddler:
What To Feed A Teething Toddler?
The following varieties of foods are best for a teething toddler:
Mashed food: Mashed potatoes or carrots will do great since they need little chewing and are easy to eat. Boil and mash any vegetable and fruit to make feeding easier to a teething toddler.
Soft yet chewy finger foods: Steamed broccoli or apples make a tender yet chewy food for the toddler to gnaw and feel better with the teething pain.
All types of purees: Purees work great even for toddlers when they are teething. Puree any fruit you want to make it easier for the toddler to eat.
Pasta and porridge: Since cereal may be hard on the toddler’s gums, you can give grains in the form of a paste and porridge that they can easily eat.
Yogurt: Mix any fruit with yogurt to make a meal that is hard to resist. Eating yogurt needs no chewing, and if the yogurt is cool, it can even help in alleviating the teething pain.
Broth: Is the toddler missing out on meat due to teething? You can serve a meat broth then!
Along with the right food, proper care can help the toddler develop healthy teeth now and in future.
How To Care For The Toddler’s New Teeth?
The following good practices help keep your toddler’s teeth healthy:
Brush teeth regularly: Brush the toddler’s teeth twice a day; in the morning and the night. All you need is a smear-sized toothpaste and a toothbrush meant for toddlers. Brushing prevents the build-up of bacteria, which eventually prevents dental cavities.
Do not let the toddler sleep with a bottle: Always take away the bottle from the toddler when it is time for them to go to bed. If the toddler falls asleep while breastfeeding, then remove the nipple from the toddler’s mouth gently to prevent cavities.
Do not give sugary beverages: Never give your child drinks such as sodas (soft drink) and juices that have high sugar content. These beverages can lead to dental caries and are not recommended even as snacks for toddlers (16).
