How Stomach Teeth Affect a Baby

Typically your baby will first get his incisors, or the four center, flat teeth on both the top and bottom. According to MedlinePlus, the molars usually come next, followed by the canine teeth, or the two outer, pointy teeth that frame the incisors on both the top and bottom gums. You may have heard the bottom canines referred to as "the stomach teeth" and the top canines referred to as "the eye teeth." How stomach teeth affect a baby varies, but there is usually some discomfort involved.

A baby smiling with a blanket around her head. (Image: ia_64/iStock/Getty Images)

Identification

When your baby is teething or getting ready to teethe, some of the signs are unmistakable. According to MedlinePlus, your baby will usually start biting on hard things, drooling and being irritable. When your baby is cutting her stomach teeth, you'll notice she directs this biting toward that corner of her mouth. In addition, you may notice that her gums are swollen or red, another sign that one of her stomach teeth is ready to erupt.

Time Frame

While MayoClinic.com reports that most babies start teething by about six months of age, this is referring to the first incisors, not the stomach teeth. According to MedlinePlus, babies' canine teeth typically start erupting when they're about 16 to 20 months old.

Effects

As with all teething, your baby is likely to have some side effects from his stomach teeth coming in. He will likely be irritable as these pointy teeth try to push through his gums. You may even notice a white spot forming on his gums where the tooth is coming in. In addition, you may notice a rash forming on his face from all of the drool.

Treatment

You can help your baby by relieving some of her symptoms. MedlinePlus recommends giving her a cold teething ring or piece of fruit to chew on; since babies are typically toddlers by the time their stomach teeth come in, fruit may be a more palatable choice. You can also give your child an over-the-counter pain medication such as children's acetaminophen.

Misconceptions

According to MayoClinic.com, many parents believe that teething is accompanied by fever and diarrhea. Researchers, however, say this is not the case; and they explain that teething only causes symptoms in the baby's mouth, not in the rest of his body.