Teething and foods to help with teething

The average age for a baby to get their first tooth is around six months, although this does vary.

The first teeth to appear are usually the two bottom middle teeth followed by the two top middle teeth. The last teeth to make an appearance are usually the second, or back, molars in the upper and lower back of the mouth.

Most children will usually have all their milk teeth by about two and a half. There are 20 in total, 10 at the top and 10 at the bottom.

Teething signs and symptoms
While some babies may experience no discomfort at all when teething, others can suffer. Some common symptoms of teething include:

• your baby's gum looks sore and red where the tooth is coming in.
• one cheek is flushed.
• your baby may chew, dribble and want to gnaw on things a lot.
• your baby is fretful and tearful, particularly at night when the pain can sometimes make it difficult for them to sleep.
• they may fuss over breast or bottle feeding as the sucking action hurts their sore gums.

Foods that can ease symptoms

• Giving your baby something to chew on can ease the pain of teething. Try hard foods like a crust of bread, bread sticks or peeled, raw carrots but stay nearby in case of choking.
• Cold foods such as apple purée or yogurt straight from the fridge can numb the pain. Offer your baby chilled sticks of cucumber to gnaw on too.
• Cold drinks can soothe the whole mouth. Try cooling boiled water or breast or follow-on formula milk in the fridge.

Other remedies

• Giving your baby a teething ring to chomp down on can help ease the pain of sore gums. Chilling it in the fridge first may also give extra relief.
• Lightly massaging your baby's gums with a clean finger helps ease pain. You can also use a sugar-free teething gel or a homeopathic teething powder. Your pharmacist or healthcare professional will be able to advise which ones are suitable.