Things to Know about Teething
The twenty baby teeth normally come in during the first two-and-a-half years,
although there is considerable variation in the age at which the teeth first
appear. The teeth emerge as the baby changes from a horizontal to a vertical
posture and indicate that the process of land evolution has been
accomplished. When teeth appear, a baby can begin to eat whole cereal
grains, local vegetables, beans, and other whole natural foods. The baby's
digestive tract is now ready to begin processing foods taken from the
vegetable kingdom.
The first teeth usually come in around the age of six months, although they
may appear as early as three months. The two lower front incisors are
normally the first to come in, followed by four upper incisors several months
later. At a year old, the two lower lateral incisors usually come in, as do the
first four molars. The canine teeth then appear, usually at sixteen to eighteen
months, normally followed by the remaining four molars between the
twentieth and twenty-fourth months.
Some children experience discomfort as the teeth come in, including
inflammation and swelling of the gums as well as pain. Some experience
discomfort during the entire period that teeth are constantly coming in. Fever
and diarrhea sometimes accompany teething and are some¬times evident up
to four months before a tooth actually appears.
Teething problems are the result of imbalances in the baby's diet. Foods eaten
by the nursing mother and those fed to the baby must be chosen carefully to
avoid problems with the teeth. More yin foods such as sugar, soft drinks,
tropical fruits, highly acidic vegetables, spices, refined flour products, honey,
and too much oil can interfere with the smooth development of the teeth and
produce tooth malformation. They can also cause inflammation of the gums
and discomfort in the teething child, as excessive factors in the bloodstream
tend to gather around the emerging tooth so as to be discharged from the
body. Cow's or goat's milk can also weaken the teeth and produce discomfort,
as can too much salt or too many animal products in the diet of the nursing
mother. Animal foods and salt can cause the baby's developing jaw to contract
and can reduce the amount of space needed for the teeth to come in properly.
Breastfeeding beyond the normal length of time can also have a harmful effect
on the development of teeth.