TEETHING RASH - Ruby Baig

A teething rash is also known as a drool rash, it happens due to the excessive drool irritating a baby's face.  When teeth are coming in there can be rash on the body particularly the face of the child. If this is your first child and you looking for some tips on how to prevent and treat a teething rash this is the right blog to read for you.

What Is Teething?

Teething is the process in which the baby’s first teeth pushes through their gums and appear in the mouth. The process of teething naturally starts around the age of 6 months to 1 year and finishes at the age of 3. Teething can be a painful condition for babies, it can also cause the babies to become fussy or difficult to handle.

Some of the signs which show a baby is teething include sleep disturbances, irritability, and a mild rise in body temperature.

What Are The Symptoms of Teething?

A teething rash can happen in any place where a baby’s saliva collects. The area could include the mouth, chin, cheeks, neck, and chest of the baby.

The rash area may appear as a: 

• Blotchy, red, or discolouredrash
• A bumpy or raisedrash
• Cracked and dryarea

The rash may slightly smell due to the accumulation of food or milk in the saliva.

What Are The Causes of Teething Rash?

There are many causes of teething rash but the main culprit behind those rashes on the skin of your baby which appears to be sensitive red bumps is its drool! Saliva has a few enzymes which aid in digestion. These enzymes are responsible for the breakdown of food in smaller units for easy digestion.

The baby doesn’t have the full ability and know-how to gulp all the saliva formed, that’s why it often flows out of the mouth like drool. When the baby starts teething, these glands are activated into overuse. As the teeth come out from the gum line the biological reflex of the baby to salivate is stirred.

The enzymes present in saliva encounter the skin, causing irritation presenting as a rash.

What Are The Treatment Options for A Teething Rash?

There are many ways to treat teething rash the focus should be on keeping the baby’s skin clean and dry which can be done by the caregivers or parents. Wipe the saliva from the skin with soft and wet cotton wool or a damp cloth whenever it collects. You can also apply a barrier cream or jelly, such as Vaseline, to protect the sensitive skin.

Prevention of teething rash can be done in a few steps:

• Use fresh, clean bibs to stop thedrool
• Limitthe use of a pacifier, it will allow less accumulation of saliva to pool on the skin
• Give the baby a cool teething ring to chew on to pacify their gums
• Do not over-rub the baby’s skinto avoid addition to the rash

--- By Ruby Baig I A Dental Literature Writer at the Aga Khan University