- A lot of parents believe that teething can cause fevers,
diarrhea and running noses,
but this is actually not the case.
This is just one of the many teething myths
that can lead to unnecessary frustration
and pain for you and your little one.
Also, some of these beliefs
can lead to a baby becoming injured or harmed.
So in this video,
I'm going to dispel the teething myths
so you can avoid making them
and hopefully make that teething process a whole lot easier.
But before we do, make sure you click
on that free PDF document in the description box below
which covers the developmental milestones
you can be expecting for your little one
in their first year of life.
This will give you an invaluable piece of mind,
as you'll know when to be expecting skills
and when to be concerned.
The very first myth is that teething causes fevers,
diarrhea or running noses.
Now studies have shown that when a baby is teething,
there is a very slight increase in their body temperature,
but it does not result in fevers.
So if your baby has a fever,
so their body temperature is over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit,
or 38 degrees Celsius,
then it indicates that they may be fighting an illness
or have an infection.
Blaming teething for fevers, diarrhea and runny noses
can delay you seeking appropriate medical advice
to treat infections such as ear infections,
urinary tract infections,
or other illnesses that are causing your baby pain.
Proven symptoms of teething include swollen gum tissue
or an eruption cyst,
which is a blue-green bubble that happens on the gum
just before that tooth erupts through.
They also generally have some gum pain.
So this might be really mild
or not even present for some children.
And because of that gum pain,
children will tend to chew a lot more.
And when they are chewing,
they're also going to dribble a lot more
because it just comes right on out of their mouth.
Now because they are dribbling,
there is also going to be a dribble rash.
And that's because in the dribble,
there's some food which is causing some irritation
to the skin.
Generally, kids who are teething may also be a bit fussier
and they may change their diet just for a little while
so that they might prefer softer food,
or they might actually prefer food
which is more difficult to chew,
to apply pressure to their gum.
The second myth is that the teeth move up and down
in the gum.
Now once a baby's tooth erupts,
it doesn't disappear back into the gum.
What parents are noticing
is that the tooth has erupted.
And then there is some localized swelling around that tooth,
which makes it look like the tooth is disappearing.
And then as that swelling resolves,
the crown of the tooth becomes more apparent.
The third myth is that baby's teeth arrive
in a random order.
So babies have 20 teeth
that are resting below the gum line
and they generally appear in the same sequence.
So firstly, you would generally see the central incisors,
then the lateral incisors,
then the first molars, canine teeth,
and then you will see the second molars.
Now it doesn't matter if your baby's teeth
come out of order,
but knowing the general sequence
that a baby's teeth will arrive
means that if you are suspecting
your little one is teething,
you can check that spot
to see if you can see any teething signs
like that swelling of the gum
or that eruption cyst.
The fourth myth is that teething gels are safe.
So teething gels or numbing gels should never be used.
And that is for three reasons.
The very first reason is that generally,
they are ineffective.
So babies who are teething are dribbling a lot.
So basically the medication
either washers straight out of their mouth
or they end up swallowing it.
Now this leads me onto the second reason
it shouldn't be used.
And that is because
if a baby is swallowing the numbing agent,
then it means that the back of their throat
can potentially be numbed.
And that can result in some difficulties around swallowing.
And lastly, the numbing agents in the teething gels
like lidocaine and benzocaine
has been linked to causing potential injuries in babies
when they swallow too much.
So parents are applying it frequently,
and the baby's swallowing a large amount.
It can result in some injuries.
So for example, lidocaine,
which has often in teething gels
can lead to a baby experiencing severe brain injuries,
seizures, or a heart problem
if they have swallowed too much of it.
The fifth myth is that teething necklaces and bracelets work
and are safe for your baby to wear.
Now unfortunately,
there are a lot of unsafe teething products out there.
And one of them is the teething necklaces and bracelets.
Supposedly when a child is wearing these,
the beads themselves, or gnawing on the beads,
provides the baby with some relief,
but there is currently no evidence
to suggest that this is true.
And in fact, teething necklaces and bracelets,
which a baby wears,
has actually been proven to cause hazards for a little one.
So it can pose a choking
and a strangulation hazard.
Now, if your baby is experiencing some teething pain,
then there are some things that you can do
and you can find out exactly what they are
and which ones I recommend
by clicking this video here.
Now make sure you click on that free PDF document
in the description box below.
And I will see you next week
where I'll share more parenting tips and tricks.
(lively upbeat music)