Cranky, irritable and fussy. If that sounds like your baby, he might be teething. Generally, babies start sprouting teeth between 4 to 7 months of age, and with this phase there is unpleasant discomforts stemming from the swelling and pain caused by the new teeth as they push through the gums. Other symptoms that may signal the onset of teething are drooling, biting and gnawing on things, low-grade temperature due to gum inflammation, and facial rash due to the drooling and loose bowel movements because of the excessive saliva that accumulates in the mouth and then seeps into the stomach.
As long as there has been teething babies, there have been attempts and efforts made to find the right method to soothe and comfort them during this stage, including the old method of rubbing a little liquor on the gums. Today, there are more effective methods to sooth the discomfort associated with teething, such as teething medicines specially formulated to be used with babies. Most teething medicines are designed to be rubbed on the gums for the purpose of numbing away the pain and lessening the inflammation, while other medicines are specifically for reducing pain and fever. There are also non-medicinal methods that can be used to sooth the ache of teething.
What to Look for
The most commonly used teething medicines are topical gels that are rubbed on to the gums to bring about a temporary numbing. They can be purchased over-the-counter without a prescription, but it may be wise to consult with your child's pediatrician as to which brand she recommends as safe and reputable. Definitely make sure you do not choose one that is for treating toothaches in adults.
When pain and discomfort due to teething seems unbearable, you can use an over-the-counter pain reliever containing acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Make sure to use a brand that is specifically used for babies and children in order to get the proper dose and prevent over-medicating. Again, check with your baby's pediatrician to make sure it is safe to use the medicine. This type of medicine is meant to be ingested at timed intervals, and it is aimed at reducing inflammation which causes teething pain. Also, over-the-counter pain relievers treat fevers. So, if your baby is running a low grade temperature, this type of medicine can be a quite helpful teething treatment.
Many parents have found teething relief in the forms of non-medicinal methods for treating and dealing with teething. There are teething toys, teething cookies for gnawing, and the effective frozen washcloth. Each method helps the baby sooth pain and brings about temporary relief.
Common Pitfalls
Topical gels used as teething medicine have a tendency to be overused by parents. This can cause the throat to become numb and may interfere with the natural gag-reflex. So teething medicines used to numb the gums should not be used constantly. When choosing an over-the-counter pain reliever, you should never use aspirin to treat your baby, because aspirin use in children has been associated with the life threatening illness known as Reye's Syndrome. Also, over-the-counter pain relievers can lead to accidental over-medicating. It may be wiser to use non-medicinal methods and consult with the pediatrician for severe teething issues.
