Teething / Dental FAQs

Archived Teething FAQ's

• My son is 10 months old and he has 6 teeth I was wondering should I start brushing his teeth and if so how many times a day? NEW!
  
• My son refused to take his bottle for 6 days while he was teething with his 1st tooth. Is it common for a 9 month old to refuse a bottle just because of teething? NEW!
  
• My son is 10 months old for the past week he has been going through the worst of cutting his two top teeth. As long as he drinks from his cup he gets at least 16-24oz of formula along with solids and juice. Is it okay for him to be weaned to a cup this young? NEW!
  
• My grandson is getting his first teeth. They are coming in yellow and appear to have pitting or holes in them. Is this serious, and what could be the cause? NEW!
  
• My breastfed baby is 7 1/2 months old and happily eats some solids too. There are no signs of teething and I'm wondering if she lacks sufficient calcium. NEW!
  

My son is 10 months old and he has 6 teeth I was wondering should I start brushing his teeth and if so how many times a day?

Yes. Pediatricians and pediatric dentists recommend brushing teeth as soon as the teethstick up from the gums. Most suggest two times a day. What to use? Some say to use the plastic on-your-finger baby brush , some recommend wiping the teeth with a gauze or a cloth; I like using soft-bristled children's tooth brush. Tooth paste? Use a pea-sized dab of toothpaste (your child will likely swallow it). If your child is getting fluoride from tap water (if it is fluoridated in your area) or supplements, use a tooth paste without fluoride. If he is not getting fluoride elsewhere you can use a fluoride toothpaste.
 

My son refused to take his bottle for 6 days while he was teething with his 1st tooth. Once his tooth broke through his gums, he resumed feeding from his bottle. Now 2 weeks later, he is refusing the bottle again, and I am pretty sure I see another whitecap under his gum next to the tooth that erupted. Is it common for a 9 month old to refuse a bottle just because of teething? He has no problem with his solids or even sucking on his pacifier.

Teething gets (falsely) blamed for just about everything. However, most pediatricians agree that there can be some discomfort of the gums. Also, it is common to see more biting, chewing behavior and drooling when a new tooth comes. Some teeth come in, however, without any symptoms apparent. If discomfort accompanies a new tooth, first try giving your son something hard to chew on or an infant teething biscuit . If this doesn't seem to help, pediatricians recommend either a topical anesthetic (Ora-gel, etc) or oral pain reliever.
 

My son is 10 months old for the past week he has been going through the worst of cutting his two top teeth. For a few days he barely drank 16 oz. and refused his bottle. As long as he drinks from his cup he gets at least 16-24oz of formula along with solids and juice. Is it okay for him to be weaned to a cup this young assuming he still refuses the bottle after these teeth come in? Will it affect the development of his teeth?

It is perfectly fine to start using a cup at this age. Cups are recommended by most dentists once a child in 12 -18 months old. Using a bottle longer than that may result in the child's upper teeth being pushed forward. (I'm sure you know this, but to repeat: sleeping with a bottle each night can lead to terrible cavities.)
 

My grandson is getting his first teeth. They are coming in yellow and appear to have pitting or holes in them. Is this serious, and what could be the cause?

I urge you to ask a dentist the same question since they are the experts on this. However, this is what I know: many children are born with a yellowish instead of whitish color to their teeth. This can be quite normal. However, pitting of the teeth is not normal. The pitting may be from defects in the enamel (hard, outer layer of the tooth); there are many causes for enamel defects. Sometimes enamel defects run in a family; other times they are due to medications or illnesses. In some cases, no cause is found. I suggest you bring your grandchild to a dentist for an evaluation.
 

My breastfed baby is 7 1/2 months old and happily eats some solids too. There are no signs of teething and I'm wondering if she lacks sufficient calcium. I also noticed she has very soft nails and now am worried if her bones are developing alright and not getting softer gradually, though, I haven't seen any particular sign that shows a problem with her limbs or motor development. I just think, increasing her calcium intake will help, that’s all. Is it ok to consider that and what foods are enriched with calcium, suitable for babies this age?

It is common for a child's first tooth to erupt at 6 to 7 months of age; however, it is still normal not to see the first baby tooth until 12-13 months of age. What determines when the tooth erupts? Genetics. If a child comes from a family in which others got their first teeth later than average, then the child likely will be late to get the tooth. Calcium supplies do not affect the timing of tooth eruption.

Many babies have soft nails. This is normal, and also is not related to how much calcium a child gets. Healthy infants do not need supplemental calcium. The calcium content of breast milk, or formula, is more than adequate. Foods that infants like that are high in calcium: dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.). For older children there are also juices and other foods supplemented with extra calcium.
 

Archived Teething FAQ's