Remedies to relieve teething

When a baby starts teething, it can be uncomfortable. Most babies start teething at about six months and have a full set of teeth by thirty months, but this varies greatly from child to child.

Teething is a condition about which there is a lot of poor quality and conflicting information. Parents receive a lot of advice, most of it is wrong and some of it is even dangerous. Even readily available foods can do more harm than good.

A common misconception is that baby teeth cut into the gums, causing the associated pain. In fact, before the crown appears, this part of the gum line is already split by hormones.

Many of the symptoms are attributed to teething, but studies have shown that most of them are due to other causes. If your child has a rash, fever, or diarrhea, these should be treated as independent symptoms and treated accordingly. True signs of teething may include:

Crankiness
Sore or tender gums
A minor increase in temperature (but no fever)
Chewing on objects and excessive drooling

While you shouldn't aggressively manage your baby's teething symptoms, there are a number of things you can do to help relieve the symptoms.

Remedies and treatments for teething

It is impossible to accurately assess the degree of pain associated with teething in an infant. Most people overestimate the severity of teething pain or attribute pain that is not related to teething.

However, there are a few simple rules when it comes to teething remedies:

Do:

Use cold to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. You can use spoons, wet washcloths, pacifiers, teethers, or toys. Refrigerate these foods. Don't freeze them. Once your child has used something, it should be washed off immediately. Due to the high risk of infection, a child should not be allowed to put a dirty object in his mouth.
Use counter pressure that soothes babies. Gently rub your child's gums with your finger or a clean towel. You can also dip your finger in cold water to experience the benefits of cold therapy. It may also help to give them teething cookies to chew on, but make sure they are not sweet.
When your child is especially cranky, you can use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Just be sure to use infant formula and follow all directions on the label.

Do not do it :

Use teething beads. They pose both a suffocation hazard and a risk of infection.
Use medicines containing lidocaine or benzocaine. These local anesthetics can harm or even kill your baby.
Use over-the-counter homeopathic remedies. They have not been proven effective. More importantly, they often contain harmful ingredients that are not listed or present in more than what is listed on the label.

Be aware that some mouth pain, usually associated with teething, may be due to local infections or irritation from over-the-counter products. Biting on hard objects can also increase pain rather than relieve it. In general, when teething, it is best to follow a conservative and hygienic care regimen.

When to see a doctor

If your baby seems to be in severe pain or teething is preventing him from eating or drinking, you should see a doctor.

As soon as your baby starts teething, he needs proper dental care. Dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease. Bacteria metabolize certain sugars, producing acid that demineralizes teeth and causes cavities. Your child's primary care physician should be consulted about dental care, and the first visit to the dentist should be scheduled around one year of age.

Before teething, twice a day, run a clean cloth along the gum line. As soon as their teeth start to erupt, brush them twice a day with a soft toothbrush and a dab of fluoride toothpaste. Until they learn to spit, use no more than a stroke the size of a grain of rice.