How to Treat Teething Discomfort

Learning how to treat teething discomfort in your infant is something all parents need to know. Teething usually begins between the 4th and 7th month and can cause a great deal of discomfort for your little one. Symptoms associated with teething in infants includes: swelling and tenderness around the new tooth; mild irritability; crying; low-grade fever (not over 101 degrees Fahrenheit); excessive drooling; desire to chew something hard; and refusal to eat. Your child may experience some, all, or none of these symptoms when teething. The following are suggestions for treating your baby's teething discomfort.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Gently rub or massage your baby's gums with a clean finger where the new tooth is trying to come through. The pressure you are placing on the gums will counteract the pressure that is placed on the gums by the tooth trying to break through.

2. Allow your baby to chew on a teething ring which is made of firm rubber. These teething rings often have bumps or ridges which help massage his gums. Beware of those that contain water and can be placed in the freezer. Often these become too hard and will cause more damage/pain. Rather than placing it in the freezer, consider allowing it to become cold in the refrigerator before giving it to your baby.

3. If your baby likes a pacifier, allow him to use it to chew on. For additional comfort, place the pacifier in the refrigerator to chill before giving to your baby. If your prefer not to give your child a pacifier, you might try giving him a cold, wet washcloth to chew on.

4. If your baby is eating solids, you can try soothing his gums with chilled fruit puree or yogurt provided he does not have a milk allergy.

5. Another popular remedy for treating teething discomfort is homeopathic teething tablets such as those manufactured by Hylands. These tiny tablets melt on the tongue instantly and temporarily relieve restlessness and irritability. Many parents young and old swear by these tablets!

Tips & Warnings

• If you have tried all of these remedies with no success, you may want to consult your baby's pediatrician about giving him an over-the-counter product containing acetaminophen.
• In the past, parents have given their babies rub-on medicines such as Orajel; however, these are not very effective. The baby's saliva will wash these away shortly after application.
• If your baby seems particularly miserable or has a fever greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, it is probably not being caused by teething. You should contact his pediatrician immediately.