Safe Home Treatment Options For Teething Pain
Posted on: 22 November 2022
When your baby is teething, they may cry more often, put their hands in their mouth, develop a low-grade fever, and drool more than usual. While teething pain generally subsides once the tooth has completely broken through the gum tissue, excessive crying, ear-pulling, fever, or unusual behavior should be evaluated by both the pediatrician and your child's pediatric dentist. Here are some safe home treatment options to consider if you believe your baby is experiencing teething pain.
Cold Teething Ring
Give your baby a cold clean teething ring to chew on. The coldness will help decrease gum inflammation and help numb the pain of teething. Some parents put the teething ring in the freezer, however, frozen teething rings can damage sensitive oral tissues. Instead of freezing the teething device, simply run it under cold water or place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes.
Some teething rings contain water, however, if your child is a strong biter, consider getting a sturdy plastic teether because water-containing teething rings can tear under the pressure of excessive biting or jagged tooth edges.
To augment the pain-relief effects of teething rings, consider giving your child an over-the-counter analgesic such as pediatric ibuprofen or pediatric acetaminophen. Both of these medications help relieve teething pain and associated fever.
Anesthetic Gels
Over-the-counter anesthetic gels are especially effective in reducing the symptoms of teething. Also known as numbing gels, these products work on contact. After you have applied a small amount of the anesthetic gel to your baby's gums, the area will become temporarily numb. These gels are considered very safe when used in accordance with the manufacturer's labeling instructions or the pediatric dentist's.
Very rarely, anesthetic teething gels can cause minor temporary irritation or redness of the gum tissue. If this happens, stop using the product and call your child's dentist. If your child has a mild reaction to the numbing gel, gentle gingival massage can help soothe their pain. Wash your hands thoroughly and then gently massage the gum tissue in the area where the tooth is erupting. Massaging the gums helps promote circulation and blood flow to irritated areas and helps reduce pain and inflammation.
If your child is exhibiting signs and symptoms of teething pain, consider the above interventions and then call a local pediatric dentist. Teething pain and its associated symptoms typically do not last long, and once the tooth fully erupts, your child should be back to their normal self, feeling happy and playful.
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