ask your pharmacist

How can I treat my child's teething pain?

Home remedies may help if your baby is having discomfort. Give your baby something to chew, such as a firm rubber pacifier or a >teether. Avoid freezing water filled teethers, since they can damage your baby's gums. You can also massage your baby's gums with your finger or a cool, wet washcloth.

Over-the-counter teething gels, which contain the topical anesthetic benzocaine, can temporarily provide pain relief. They work immediately and can be applied several times a day. Make sure to choose an alcohol-free product such as >Orajel-Baby Nighttime Formula and follow the package instructions carefully. Check with your doctor before using any products on infants less than four months.

The pain reliever acetaminophen (brand name >Children’s Tylenol) can also help with teething pain. Follow the dosage recommendations and instructions on the product labeling.

Some parents try alternative teething remedies such as >chamomilla or >clove oil, applied directly to the gums. There is little information available regarding the safety of these products in children, so you should check with your doctor before using them. Don’t soothe gums with honey, since it may contain bacterial spores that can cause serious infections in small children.

High fever, diarrhea, and vomiting are not normal symptoms of teething. Call your doctor if your baby seems to be in severe discomfort or if he or she develops a fever or signs of infection, such as blisters around the gums.

Children generally have all their baby teeth by age three. But older children may need help with teething pain again when their permanent teeth emerge.

Sources:
Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. American Pharmaceutical Association, 2000.
Swartzberg, J. E., S. Margen. The UC Berkeley Wellness Self-Care Handbook. Rebus Inc. 1998.
Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. William Morrow & Co., 1996.
The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Pharmacists Letter Inc., 2001.
American Academy of Pediatrics. “Caring for Your Baby and Young Child:Birth to Age 5. Teething.” http://www.aap.org/pubserv/teething.htm. Last accessed 7/18/01.

This answer prepared 7/18/01.