Teething begins shortly before an infant's first teeth emerge, which generally happens at around six months of age. In many cases, infants may experience no teething pain or only the first tooth will cause notable discomfort. Other babies seem to suffer through every new tooth, forcing their parents to suffer along with them. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help soothe teething pain in your baby.
Step 1
Rub your baby's gum with a wet gauze pad or clean finger, applying gentle pressure as you move back and forth through his mouth. The massage may increase his discomfort for a few seconds, but most babies respond favorably after that.
Step 2
Give your baby cold items to chew on. The chewing will help the new tooth break through the gum, and the cold will soothe your baby's pain and inflammation. A dampened and frozen washcloth is usually as effective as commercial teething rings made for freezing.
Step 3
Watch for choking. Teething babies like to chew, which puts them at greater risk for choking. Check toys, teething aids and everything else within your infant's reach for small or breakable parts.
Step 4
Use infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help control pain that does not respond to other teething treatments. These over-the-counter medications will also help reduce any fever your baby may develop while teething. Report any new fever to your baby's pediatrician before treating.
Step 5
Try benzocaine teething gels only as a last report. While these gels are effective at relieving pain, they also tend to numb the mouth and throat, which can increase your baby's risk of gagging and choking. Some babies also experience an allergic reaction to teething gels, according to Dr. Alan Greene.
Tips and Warnings
- Dress your baby in a bib and frequently wipe any drool from his chin, cheeks and neck to prevent a teething rash caused by excessive drooling.
Things You'll Need
- Gauze pads
- Small washcloth
- Teething ring
- Infant acetaminophen
- Benzocaine gel
