Teething can be uncomfortable for your baby. When babies begin teething between the ages of four months and two and a half-years old, they often have sore and tender gums. The breaking through of these teeth often causes a child to become irritable and cranky. Gently rubbing your baby's gums with a clean finger, a small, cool spoon, or a wet gauze can usually soothe this pain. Oral analgesics such as Orajel or Zylactin are popular and safe to use. You can also give the baby a clean teething ring to chew on.

Contrary to common belief, teething does not cause fevers. If a fever does exist, it needs to be addressed as a separate medical concern. If the baby continues to be cranky and uncomfortable after your attempt to ease the teething pain, consult your dentist or your pediatrician. Some pediatricians recommend giving a teething baby a small dose of children's pain reliever such as Infant Tylenol.

Baby's 20 primary teeth usually grow in between 4 and 30 months. Teeth actually started developing while your baby's in the womb, when tooth buds formed in the gums. The timing of the eruption of the teeth through the gums is hereditary and varies greatly from one ethnic group to another. If you got your teeth early, chances are your child will, too.

Eruption is usually symmetrical from side to side and usually slightly earlier in the mandibular (lower) teeth than in the maxillary (upper) teeth. First the bottom front teeth, then the top two middle teeth, then the teeth along the sides progressing back.

As your child's teeth first start to appear you can use a washcloth or gauze to wipe off her teeth. As more teeth come in, you can switch to a soft nylon-bristle children's toothbrush if you want to. As long as you're cleaning your child's teeth regularly, you don't need to use any toothpaste yet; just gently brush the teeth on both the outside and inside surfaces twice a day.

Once your baby is older than 6 months, her developing teeth can benefit from a little fluoride. This mineral prevents tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel and making it more resistant to acids and harmful bacteria. Most municipal water supplies are fortified with fluoride. If it isn't, or if you get your water from a well, ask your pediatrician whether you should give your child a supplement. He can prescribe it in the form of drops that you can add to your baby's bottle or cereal once a day. Children under 3 are recommended to get .25 milligrams per day.