The screaming, crying and excess saliva are all signs of teething, and they may come from the baby as well as the mother. Since there is no set schedule for an infant to begin cutting teeth, it is sometimes difficult to determine the exact nature of the child’s discomfort, but there are certain signs of teething that can the guesswork out of what is causing the baby to be fussy.

The typical timeframe for an infant to begin showing signs of teething is between six and nine months, but they have been known to start as early as three months. In rare occasions, infants have been born with a tooth or two already showing through the gums. It can take several months for all 20 of the insidious teeth to appear, based partly on hereditary but when the teeth appear and in what order offers no signs of anything being wrong with the infant.

Some of the typical signs of teething usually seen by parents include the baby constantly wanting to chew on objects and they may experience an excess of saliva. Being in a bad mood by the amount of pain present when the teeth break through the gums and a loss of appetite due to the uncomfortable feeling of eating, are all signs of teething for which to be aware. There may also be some swelling or bruising in the gums.

Teeth Generally Arrive In Pairs

Typically, there are seven stages during which the baby teeth appear, beginning with the lower central incisors. Once those two teeth break through, they are followed by the upper central incisors. Each tooth grows in pairs and one through the gums, the infant will show signs of teething when the next pair begins to emerge.

The pair of upper lateral incisors and lower lateral incisors will be the next two pair, usually to appear and the next group of teeth usually show more signs of teething as four each of the first molars, canines and second molars make their break through appearance known. By allowing the child to chew on items specifically designed for teething infants, some of the gum pain can be reduced and can help the teeth work their way up.

Remember, that an infant’s immune system may not be as mature as adults and when giving the child something on which to chew at the first signs of teething, it must be clean to prevent diseases. While the child may want to chew on certain objects, such as car keys, they harbor a host of bacteria that can cause numerous infections in the baby’s mouth.

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