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If you’re in the middle of your little one’s teething journey, you’re probably feeling curious about the whole thing. To help you, we’ve compiled a list of the seven most interesting – and perhaps unexpected – facts about teething.
What will likely strike you the most from these facts? All children develop at their own rate:
1. Teeth usually emerge in pairs
While every child is different, generally teeth erupt in pairs, one on the right and one on the left. The middle bottom teeth are usually the first to make an appearance, and the middle top pair follows not long after.
2. Some babies are born with teeth
It’s very rare – around one in 2,000 births – but some babies are actually born with teeth called ‘natal teeth’. These can be affixed to the root and fully developed, loose without roots, or even just small buds poking through the gums. They're usually not a cause to worry, but it’s recommended to liaise with a paediatric dentist on the best course of care.
3. Girls usually get their teeth before boys do
Research has shown that girls usually get their teeth before boys – and they lose them before boys too. And the reason why is a mystery, says paediatric dentist Clive Friedman. “Why? “We don’t know,” he told Today’s Parent. “Generally speaking, girls develop a little faster than boys.”
4. Not all teething is painful
Teething isn’t always painful – for some children it might not hurt at all, and for others, it might just be a particular tooth coming up that hurts. This varies from child to child, seemingly with little rhyme or reason.
5. Massaging sore gums can help
It might seem that putting pressure on sore gums will only make them worse, but gently massaging them with a clean finger can actually help soothe the pain. Just take it slow: your child will let you know soon enough if it’s helping or not.
6. It might take a year or more for teeth to arrive
While a general guideline for that first tooth to arrive is around three or four months, for some babies it might actually take up to about 14 months.
7. Teeth fall out in the same order they came in
Yep, one of the weirder facts about teething is that teeth usually fall out in the same order as they came in – so the odds are those two bottom middle teeth will be the first to go, followed by the two top middle ones.
