By Dr. Drew Zima
It happens a lot. A concerned parent and their child visit my office with what they believe is a dental emergency. Their child is in pain; specifically, their gums are extremely sore and red. Eating is difficult for them. And sometimes, a number of other symptoms may accompany the gum pain, including:

• Headaches
• Mild fevers (Below 102F)
• Swelling, especially around the face and gums
• Ear pain
• Running nose
• Sore throat
  
  

As a father, I totally understand their concern. Not being able to relieve (or diagnose) our children’s pain is among the most helpless feelings there is. But I’m often able to treat these situations right over the phone, without even scheduling an appointment. It’s often as simple as checking the child’s age, and if they’re between the 6-to-7 or 11-to-13-year age range, the diagnosis is almost always the same: their permanent molars are coming in. (Here is a table where you can find the schedule for all primary and permanent teeth).

The technical term for molars (or any teeth) coming in is “erupting.” And while it may sound dramatic to state that your first or second permanent molars are erupting, it makes perfect sense if symptoms are severe. That’s because it can hurt, something we forget about as we get older.
 
The good news is that there are a number of things you can do as a parent to help make the pain and various symptoms associated with erupting molars a bit more tolerable for your kiddos.
 
Food is a big one. Try softer foods if chewing is painful, such as soups and smoothies. Chilled or frozen foods, including fruits and vegetables, can also provide some cooling relief. You might also consider some ibuprofen, especially if there is a fever or headache present. Be sure to check the back of the bottle for the proper dosage.
 
At the end of the day, I can’t promise that molar eruption is the cause of your child’s pain and suffering. But if they’re in those aforementioned age ranges, and have one of more of these symptoms, there is a good chance that when those molars break the surface, your child will start feeling normal again.
 
In the meantime, feel free to give me a call and we can always take a look...