Do Babies Lose Their Appetite When Teething?
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The symptoms one baby experiences while teething can differ greatly
from the symptoms of another teething child. Ask several different
parents or caregivers; “Do babies lose their appetite when teething?” You will most likely hear several different answers.
The symptoms one baby experiences while teething can differ greatly
from the symptoms of another teething child. Ask several different
parents or caregivers; “Do babies lose their appetite when teething?”
You will most likely hear several different answers. Start a discussion
on teething and fevers, and you will effectively start a debate.
Teething often conforms to hereditary patterns; if either parent
teethed earlier or later than usual, the child may follow suit.
Although there is a common set of ailments a baby may acquire when
teething, the degree of pain and discomfort the child has will vary.
These differences may account for the conflicting opinions of parents,
doctors, and those caring for a teething baby. By learning what to expect
during the teething process, you can make this difficult time easier for everyone
involved.
Teething generally begins with one of the lower central incisor teeth
at about six to ten months of age, but may begin as early as three
months or as late as 12 months. Babies can be born with teeth, but it
is a very rare occurrence. New teeth continue to emerge sporadically.
Teeth may erupt one after another, but long gaps of time between
erupting teeth are normal too. This process continues until around the
age of three years when a child has grown all 20 deciduous teeth, also
known as primary teeth. Primary teeth consist of sets of upper and
lower central incisors, lateral incisors, canines, first molars, and
second molars. Teething can be a frustrating and painful process for a
baby. Fortunately, teething becomes easier and less painful as time
progresses. Arming yourself with useful knowledge about the teething
process can benefit you and your child.
Teething happens at different rates with varying degrees of pain. One
baby may spend weeks in misery cutting a tooth, while another baby cuts
one overnight without any obvious discomfort. Both instances are normal.
Symptoms vary with each child. It is not uncommon for an eruption cyst
to develop in the gums during the teething process. An eruption cyst is
a water-filled sac that occurs when a tooth is pushing through the
gums. Eruption cysts are usually harmless and should be left alone. The
cyst will eventually burst on its own as a tooth replaces it. As a
tooth emerges, the baby’s gums often become red, swollen, and sore. Try
gently rubbing the baby’s gums with a cool finger, spoon, or wet
washcloth to ease the pain. Some babies enjoy gnawing, chewing, or
biting on a teething ring to aid sore gums. Your doctor or dentist may
suggest a special numbing gel to help with the pain or a small dose of
infant pain reliever, such as acetaminophen.
Babies experience many symptoms while teething. It is common for a baby
to become fussy, irritable, have trouble sleeping, refuse food, pull on
their ears or rub their cheeks, chew or suck on their hands, cry,
cough, and drool during this time. Drooling is caused by an increase
of saliva. Take care to wipe away baby’s drool. If left, the drool can
irritate baby’s sensitive skin – especially under the mouth and chin.
All of these symptoms are generally agreed upon, by parents and doctors
alike, as normal symptoms. Many parents claim their children experience
low-grade fevers, loose bowel movements, or rashes when teething.
However, professionals have not connected any of the following symptoms with teething: fever, diarrhea, vomiting, runny nose, severe cough, or a rash. If your baby
experiences any of these symptoms or prolonged irritability, then
contact a pediatrician without delay. These symptoms can be a sign of a serious health issue
not related to teething.
A loss of appetite is a common occurrence during teething. Babies may
prefer to chew on teething toys rather than food. The baby may start
biting everything from a sibling’s hand to mother’s breast in an
attempt to ease the pain and pressure of emerging teeth. Keep in mind
that a baby is not trying to cause pain; they do not realize that
biting hurts. Create a soothing counter-pressure by gently
pressing down a clean finger onto the baby’s gums. The counter-pressure
helps to alleviate some of the pain caused by teeth pushing through the
gums. Although a loss of appetite is normal when teething, it is
important to record details of the child’s food intake during this
time. Babies are likely to avoid eating solids, because doing so can
worsen the pain of tender gums. As long as the baby is drinking an
adequate amount of liquids, then there is no need to worry about a
temporary loss of appetite. Contact a physician right away if the baby
is not drinking enough to prevent dehydration, or if the baby exhibits
a loss of appetite for longer than two weeks.
Dental care should begin at home before teething begins. Dentists
suggest wiping babies gum with a wet washcloth after each meal.
Professional dental cleanings should begin when the first teeth emerge,
but no later than age one. Once teeth erupt, use a soft-bristled,
infant-sized toothbrush to clean baby’s teeth, but do not use
toothpaste until age two. Infants do not understand that toothpaste can
be harmful when swallowed. A toothbrush with water is sufficient for a
baby’s dental needs. Dentists also recommend diluting juice with water,
because the sugar in juice can cause tooth decay. Preventing tooth
decay from a young age will enable teeth to grow healthy and strong.
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