If you are a new parent, the appearing of your baby's milk teeth can be quite an experience. Or it may just be a non-event, depending upon each baby. Whatever it is, you would want to be prepared for any possible complications, and handle it with care. The first set of milk-teeth are twenty in number and they generally appear in pairs. Those of the lower jaw typically precede the corresponding ones of the upper. The first of the milk-teeth is normally cut about the sixth or seventh month, and the last of the set at different periods from the twentieth to the thirtieth months.

Thus the entire process may take an estimated a year and a half to two years. The course varies, however, in different individuals, both as to its full duration, and as to the periods and order in which the teeth make their appearance. That first teeth is usually a stage of varying degree of pain to the infant.

It becomes a very important issue to an anxious and affectionate parent, how the difficulties of teething can in any degree be reduced, or, if viable, altogether prevented. Symptoms: The symptoms of natural teething are an increased flow of saliva, with swelling of the gums, and occasionally flushing of the cheeks. The baby frequently thrusts its fingers, or any thing within its grasp, into its mouth. Its thirst is increased, and it needs milk more frequently, although from the tender state of the gums, for shorter periods than normal.

The baby may be irritable and fidgety, with a small tendency to vomiting, and even looseness of the bowels. Many of these symptoms regularly precede the appearance of the tooth by several weeks, and show that what is called "breeding the teeth" is going on. In such cases, the symptoms recede in a few days, to return again when the tooth approaches the surface of the gum. Treatment: The infant needs to be in a well ventilated area. Milk should be given regularly, but not for long at a time; the thirst will therefore be allayed, the gums kept moist and relaxed, and their irritation soothed, without the stomach being overloaded. The breast feeding mother must also tenderly focus, at this time, to her own wellbeing and diet, and avoid all stimulant food or drinks.

From the instant teething begins, strain on the gums will be relieved, by numbing the sensitivity and dulling the pain. For this reason a piece of scraped liquorice root or a flat ivory ring may be used. Gentle rubbing of the gums, by the finger of the caregiver, is pleasing to the infant. In some countries, it is very common to dip the liquorice-root, and other substances, into honey, or powdered sugar-candy; or use a small bag, containing a mixture of sugar and spices, for the infant to suck. However, any overuse may be stressful to the stomach, and thus its use should be moderate.

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