Teething typically starts when your infant is around 6 months of age. Eruption of your baby's first teeth may occur with minimal discomfort, or your baby may experience considerable pain, inflammation and trouble eating and sleeping. Fortunately, the pain and irritability of teething is only temporary; symptoms begin to subside once the teeth fully erupt through the gums. In the meantime, there are several effective remedies for numbing a teething infant's erupting tooth. Consult your doctor if home treatments fail to improve your baby's symptoms, or if she runs a high fever or develops other symptoms.
Step 1
Place a firm rubber teething ring in the freezer for a few minutes. Hold it in your baby's mouth, on top of the affected gum area and allow your baby to bite down on the ring. The cold will numb your baby's pain, and the biting motion will encourage the tooth to erupt through the gum. Do not give your baby a fully frozen ring, as extreme cold can cause your baby pain.
Step 2
Freeze a damp washcloth overnight, then give it to your teething baby to chew on. The cold is numbing and your baby will likely enjoy holding the washcloth and mouthing it.
Step 3
Feed an older baby chilled applesauce, bananas, peaches or yogurt. The cold food against her sore tooth and gums will dull the pain.
Step 4
Offer your baby an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, if other remedies are not sufficient to numb your baby's tooth and if your doctor approves. Read the package directions carefully --- and do not give products containing aspirin to a child.
Step 5
Try a numbing gel, with your pediatrician's recommendation. Teething gels, such as those that contain benzocaine, can completely numb your baby's mouth. While this may seem like a good thing, a numbed mouth and throat means an impaired ability to swallow and a greater risk of choking. Use these products only with doctor supervision.
Things You'll Need
- Firm teething ring
- Small washcloth
- Over-the-counter pain reliever
- Teething gel
