The nurse is obtaining a health history on a 3-month-old infant. During the interview, the mother states, "I think she is getting her first tooth because she has started drooling a lot." What is the best response by the nurse?

A) "You're right, drooling is usually a sign of the first tooth."
B) "It would be unusual for a 3-month-old to be getting her first tooth."
C) "This could be the sign of a problem with the salivary glands."
D) "She is just starting to salivate and hasn't learned to swallow the saliva."

In the infant, salivation starts at 3 months. The baby will drool for a few months before learning to swallow the saliva. This drooling does not herald the eruption of the first tooth, although many parents think it does. Although many parents think the start of drooling signals the eruption of the first tooth, it does not. Although teeth usually erupt between 6 and 24 months, the nurse should not just say it would be unusual for a 3-month-old to be getting her first tooth as that does not address the issue of the drooling. It is also not a sign of a problem.