teeth and teething

Babies usually start teething at about six months. Your baby may become a bit more unsettled when they start teething – this is quite normal.

• If your baby has pain when teething, give her something firm to bite on (e.g. cold teething ring or dummy). Rusks can also be useful.
• If there is a lot of pain a teething gel may help.
• Some babies prefer mushy food while teething because it needs less chewing; others prefer something to chew.
• Sucking on a bottle of milk or sweet drink for long periods can cause early tooth decay. If your baby needs something to suck on between feeds (as long as she is not hungry), try cool boiled water in the bottle or a dummy without any sweetener (like honey) on it. It is best not to put babies to sleep with a bottle.

You can clean your baby’s teeth gently with a soft cloth as soon as they come through.