Teething Safety

We welcome children as patients at All Coast Dental, including those who are getting their first teeth. We understand that caring for babies is a nerve-wracking experience, especially with a parent’s first child, and parents are often looking for advice. We thought our patients would appreciate some information about how to soothe babies’ teething pain safely.

Giving babies something cool to gnaw on is one of the most reliable methods of comforting them; the main problems are that the item must not be a choking hazard or cold enough to hurt them. Generally, teething items should be chilled, not frozen. A large piece of rubber or plastic, such as a teething ring, may not warm quickly enough in a baby’s hands if it came straight from the freezer.  This is also true of metal spoons.

On the other hand, frozen washcloths provide babies with moisture to suck without presenting a choking hazard. Another consumable option is popsicles or ice cubes placed in a mesh bag. Some parents also get good results from pressing on their baby’s gums with their fingers. Teething usually starts when a baby is about six months old, and our hygienist and dentists can teach parents to brush their baby’s teeth as soon as the first one begins to erupt.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit AllCoastDental.net and fill out a contact sheet.