Teething is the process during which an infant 's teeth start to sequentially grow in. Teething can start as early as three months or as late, in some cases, as twelve months. It can take up to several years for all 20 deciduous (aka "baby" or "milk") teeth to emerge. The process of teething is sometimes referred to as "cutting teeth" .
Milk teeth tend to emerge sooner in females than in males. The exact patterns and initial starting times of teething appear to be hereditary . When and how teeth appear in an infant has no bearing on the healthiness or developmental ability of the child.
During teething, the new teeth are breaking through the surface of the gums . Signs of teething may include
- Poor mood
- Loss of appetite
- Chewing of objects
- Bruises/swelling in gums
- Excess salivation
- Slight fever
Infants chew on objects to aid in the teething process. This can be dangerous if the baby is allowed to chew on objects which are small enough to be swallowed or which could break while being chewed, creating a risk of choking . Teething rings and other toys are often designed with textures that will appeal to an infant during teething. In cases where the infant is in obvious pain, some doctors recommend the use of anti-inflammatories or child-safe pain-relief treatments. Some infants gain relief from chewing on cold objects.
Dentists recommend brushing infants' teeth as soon as they appear. It is not necessary to wait for the teething process to complete. Dentists generally recommend against the use of toothpaste during teething. See also dentition .
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| Teeth —singular tooth —are hard structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates . They have various structures to allow them to fulfill their many different purposes. The primary function of teeth is to tear and chew food and in some animals, particularly carnivores , as a weapon. The roots of the teeth are covered by gums . The color of teeth is supposed to be white, but it heavily depends on the person, and how well they care for their teeth. Teeth are covered by a protective stucture, called the enamel , that helps to prevent cavities on the teeth. Adult teeth naturally darken as the person matures, the pulp within the tooth shrinks and dentin is deposited in its place.
The form teeth take and their mode of development in a species is called the species' dentition . Dentists sometimes refer to the inner surface of teeth as the lingual surface (meaning towards the tongue ), and the outer surface as the labial surface (meaning towards the lips ) or "buccal" (meaning towards the cheek). Other terms are mesial (toward the midline), distal (away from the midline), occlusal (the top surface), incisal (the cutting surface), "gingival" (toward the gumline), and "pulpal" (toward the center). |