Nine Month Old Who's Been Teething for 5 Months

Updated on January 31, 2009
T.P. asks from Buena Park, CA
18 answers

Our 9 month old girl, (my 3rd child), started teething at 3 months and got her 2 bottom teeth at 5 months which is average I think. She has been in pain and chewing everything in sight since then on her top gums.... but still no teeth! My other children cut their other teeth with a couple of months after the bottom ones popped through and I am concerned that there is no sign of upper teeth at all! No "bumps" that you can feel with your finger & no swelling at all. I have gone through tons of baby oragel, teething pills, and now tylenol due to the pain this is causing her. My grand-mother told me when children did not cut teeth on their own, her peers would take a metal thimble and rub the gums until they split to expose the teeth...yikes!! this sounds awful! I am considering taking her to a dentist unless someone can offer me suggestions. This is my 3rd little teether and`she has really suffered the past 2 months with it. Thanks so much!

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R.B.

answers from Raleigh on

Teething usually as w/ everything else varries w/ every child. My 3rd baby only had her two bottom teeth at 12 months then a mouth full by 15 months, my 2nd cut his bottom two teeth three times, All i can suggest is try to keep her as comfortable as possible - Does she like to chew on ice,or make a clean damp frozen sock?

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A.J.

answers from Raleigh on

Maybe I am wrong, but I thought 8 months was around when the 'average' baby gets there first tooth. Either way, doesn't it stink to go on so long!!! My little one has been up for months I feel like b/c of her teeth. I think it is just how it is. Once they finally come in then it is like 2 weeks off and on the the next tooth!

I would continue the oragel for temperary relief, but my Dr.'s say mortin is much better than tylenol esp. when giving it so much.

Good luck!
Amanda

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E.W.

answers from Chattanooga on

Tami,

Talk to your pediatrician first to see if he has any suggestion. Then take the baby to the dentist. You never know what the problem could be. Don't wait.

I hope your little one feels better soon. Go to a natural health food store and look for Hyland's brand Chamomilla pills 30x. It is a powder pill that she will love and will help her through her pain. I have been giving it to my 7 year old since she was a baby. It is one of those things that if the baby got hold of the bottle and ate most of them it wouldn't hurt her a bit. Trust me on that one. Had it happen 3 times in my family!!!

Now I use them if my daughter is restless at night to help her relax. It is a tooth soother and calmative. It does not make her fall asleep!! Just calms her down. It is wonderful stuff!!

E.

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S.B.

answers from Charlotte on

I agree with Jenny W. Some children don't have a single tooth when they are a year old. Don't worry about that part, this is normal. Do what you can for the pain and just keep watching. No thimbles please, that sounds scary.

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C.R.

answers from Nashville on

I am a mother of twin boys--now 13 years old. One of my chidren had no problems. He started teething and shortly afterwards, a tooth appeared. The other boy started teething at around 3 months old. He was miserable. His bottom two came in fairly quickly but the top teeth did not. He was almost a year old before anything else came through. He was in pain constantly as well...but on a positive note, he got all four of his top teeth at the same time. I guess some kids (and parents) have it easier than others. I ued the numbing gels and also I would freeze teething rings for him. He would bite on them and cream his little head off. It was just something he had to endure. Sorry I have no words of wisdom or tricks to try but rest assured you are not alone. Soon enough it will end. Good luck to you and your daughter!

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H.F.

answers from Charlotte on

Do take her to a dentist. When my youngest of 5 was slobbering and had white spots on lower gums,I took her to our M.D. and he said it looked like teeth but take her to dentist. I did and that dentist said yes,it is teeth but will take awhile to come thru. Like most babies she did cut the 2 middle ones first and FINALLY the 2 on either side came thru. She is in her 40s now and has a beautiful smile!
H.

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C.W.

answers from Wilmington on

you may have already done something but I do suggest to call a pediatric dentist... I work for one and we see this a lot...There may be nothing that can be done but it is worth it for piece of mind...

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P.P.

answers from Parkersburg on

I would go with your gut feeling and take the baby to the dentist or at least call one.

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V.C.

answers from Wheeling on

A couple things. I'm a 'grandma' myself (but I think of myself as 'modern' LOL). Anyway, I'm a 'do-it-yourselfer' (although I am married for almost 33 years) and I used to take the flat part of a thumb- or fingernail and rub on a tooth that I could feel ready to erupt. You say you don't feel the bumps nor even swelling, so if she's chewing on everything already & it isn't bringing anything through, maybe there's nothing ther to BRING through. I don't understand the pain, so it would probably be prudent to schedule a visit w/a Ped. dentist (call around first and ask prices for a 'preliminary check-up' unless you have good dental insurance). Also, metal thimbles used to just have little 'dips' in them (like a golf ball has, but smaller, of course), but now they're way more ridgy and rough, so I'd just go with the flat of the fingernail thing or just something hard and smooth (and even cool, like a thick, smooth case-knife handle), but be careful not to bruise, because you really DO have to apply some pressure. Even with the fingernail there's the chance that your finger will slip and cut the gum. Hope you can get her some relief!

Might her discomfort even be caused by something ELSE??

God bless!

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E.M.

answers from Louisville on

talk to your doctor... ym nephew was the same way but he finally got his teeth. it was awful tho. talk to his doctor see what he suggests good luck

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E.F.

answers from Louisville on

My daughter did that too. My son got his teeth quickly and had a bunch of teeth by his first birthday. My daughter had no teeth until after her first birthday but suffered terribly for months. We gave her motrin or tylenol to help her sleep but let her chew her toys during the day.

There's nothing to be done to speed it up. It's likely everything is normal but it never hurts to talk to a pediatric dentist.

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M.S.

answers from Greensboro on

Hi Tami,

It's not unusual for late teeth but I KNOW it's distressing, espescially when you lttle one is in so much pain. HIGH grade tea tree oil, known as melaleuca oil, can be rubbed on the gums for comfort. It works! I've seen babies just relax within seconds. It's completely safe and it actually penetrates into the gum line and to the DEPTH of the pain and gives relief. I know this doesn't solve the problem but it will give your little one some comfort and probably a little quiet for you. You can reapply as necessary.

God bless!

M.

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R.M.

answers from Nashville on

I would suggest that you stop using the orajel immediately. That sounds like part of the problem. Orajel can actual "toughen up" the gums with extended use, making it harder for the teeth to cut through. (I have heard/read this from several different sources.)

My son's took forever to finally push through too. But I would ask your doctor if you are concerned. You can always just call and talk to the nurse even.

I know some people who recommend Hylands teething tablets- again PLEASE ask your doctor before you give your baby any remedies, whether they are over the counter or not. My doctor was adamantly against the teething tablets. For one thing, they are not regulated by the FDA and she was concerned about giving anything to babies with no regulation. Also, some of the ingredients are questionable. Just because something is all-natural doesn't make it safe. Lots of dangerous plants and foods are all natural. Your doctor may say they are perfectly safe, but I heard this same advice from a couple of pediatricians, and my sister's ped said the same. I always ask a dr before I give my baby anything, just to be safe.

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C.B.

answers from Charlotte on

Oh the things that our grandparents did to our parents!! How painful that sounds to take a thimble and rub it on irritated gums!! YIKES!
The baby oragel does not work. Go to your local pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for "Hurricane Gel". It is sold over the counter but you have to ask the pharmacist for it. It is the only thing that helps. It actually is the gel that the dentist puts on your gums before he gives you a shot. Best wishes!!

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

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G.W.

answers from Chattanooga on

My little guy didn't cut his FIRST tooth until he was nine months old! Still, at 19 months, we're working on the canines, which is way behind his buddies. Hubby is a dentist, and I was paranoid that we'd have no teeth at all! But, my pediatrician said their office record for 1st tooth is 18 months (can you imagine??). They said no worries about late teeth needed. However, I would have them check out and make sure this is teething discomfort your little one is experiencing. I know it's worse for some than others, but it's best to be sure, right? Good luck and hope you see those toothies soon!

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M.T.

answers from Nashville on

I think what you are experiencing is what every other mother goes through. They all seem to teeth forever. It sounds normal, however, if this is your 3rd you have experienced this before so you should have an instinct whether this is normal and right or not. If you feel strongly that this is not normal I would trust my instincts and go to the dentist.
Good luck.

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V.C.

answers from Louisville on

Tami, Consult a dentist. Call first so you don't have to spend the $ unless you have to.

Do what is best for YOU and YOUR family.

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