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How do you know if your baby is actually teething? What signs should you watch for? If your baby is teething, what can you do for your little one? How can you, as their parent and guardian, help them with this painful process? Here are a few ideas on helping your baby with teething.

First and foremost, you have to know if you baby is actually teething. If they are refusing food and drinks, are fussy or cranky, are drooling incessantly, or have a clearly visible lump, they may be teething. Similarly—as you may have guessed—you can sometimes see the teeth breaking through the surface.

If your little one is showing any of these, they could be teething—but what can you do? Fortunately there are many remedies for soothing little one’s teething pains. Over the counter pain relief medicine, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can be used to help.

Other solutions include teething soothers such as a refrigerated baby teething ring applying pressure to your child’s gums with a washed finger. You see, biting down on a teething tool helps to break down gum tissue, making it much easier for the tooth for the tooth to break through. Try to stay away from hard or frozen food as this can be a choking hazard.

If you do have a teething baby and have any more questions or concerns, please feel free to give us a call. Our dentist, Dr. Don Schiess, and our team are here to help. Just call Open Door Family Dentistry at 541-773-4073 or visit our practice to schedule an appointment.