What's the best way to soothe a baby's sore gums when he or she is teething?

Babies can begin teething as early as three months of age but most babies begin cutting teeth at six months. The first to appear are usually the two bottom front teeth, followed by the two top front teeth. By the time your baby is three years old, he/she will have a total of 20 baby teeth.

Recognizing the signs of teething is the first step in helping your baby cope with what is often a painful and difficult stage. Typical symptoms include:

• Increased drooling
• Irritability
• Swollen gums
• Chewing on solid objects
• Crankiness and wakefulness
• Trouble sleeping
• Loss of appetite

Teething is not only tough on babies, but on parents as well. Understand that when your baby is teething, he/she will get into a crying cycle because of the discomfort. Keep in mind that teething is normal and remember to remain calm so your baby doesn't pick up on your anxiety and stress.

If your baby continues to experience discomfort during the day and night, consider the following teething tips:

• A wet washcloth, refrigerated rubber teething rings, popsicles (containing low sugar juices or frozen herbal teas) or chilled vegetables for your baby to chew on may provide him/her with some relief. Remember to never give your baby a frozen teething ring - contact with extreme cold may do your baby more harm than good.

• Over-the-counter medications, including acetaminophen and ibuprofen, may also help your baby. Do not give your baby any medications that contain aspirin. Avoid prolonged use of numbing agents, such as Orajel, which may cause your baby to experience a decreased gag reflex. If you are unsure of the correct dosage, contact your pharmacist or doctor.

• Massaging your baby's gums with a clean finger, moistened gauze pad or damp washcloth will ease his/her discomfort. Also, remember to dry the excess drool on your baby's chin and cheeks to prevent skin irritation. Make sure he/she sleeps on an absorbent sheet.

• Offer a teething ring. Firm rubber ones are best since liquid filled teething rings break easily. If you use a bottle, fill it with water. Remember that prolonged exposure to sugar causes tooth decay.

• Help your baby calm down and de-stress. You can soothe him/her with soft music, talking or giving him/her a massage. Contact your doctor if the above teething tips don't work and your baby develops a fever, is uncomfortable, or has other signs or symptoms of illness.

Dr. Aliza A. Lifshitz, Editor in Chief and Principal of VidaySalud.com, is a renowned physician, author and health reporter. Dr. Lifshitz is the public face of the Univisión television network's Peabody Award-winning health initiative Entérate: Salúd es Vida. She also appears on the network's Primer Impacto, the top rated Spanish-language television news magazine. Her live call-in program, El Consultorio de la Dra. Aliza, airs weekly on the Univisión Radio network. Dr. Lifshitz writes regular monthly columns for People en Español and for Ser Padres. Her weekly column in La Opinión is syndicated in Spanish-language newspapers throughout the country. Her monthly column in the Vista bilingual supplement runs in 29 newspapers nationwide. She also authored the first bilingual guide to pregnancy and childbirth, Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby.