Question: “My baby’s teething and is in a lot of pain, however I’ve checked out that teething gels aren’t safe. Is this true? And what do you advise I do for her instead?”
It’s a stage every parent goes through: Baby is teething something fierce and you wish to assist ease the pain, but don’t quite know where to begin. Lots of parents’ natural inclination is to grab a topical teething gel to rub on those sore, red gums. However before you do, it is necessary to know the threats connected with them and the benefits and drawbacks of the different teething pain solutions. As always, talk to your pediatrician first to learn the best method to bring your child relief.
What Is the Best Teething Gel?
There are four main types of teething pain treatments available:
1. Topical Teething Gels and Liquids With Benzocaine
Though these were deemed acceptable methods to alleviate teething pain in the past, current research has actually led the Fda (FDA) to recommend versus using benzocaine, an anesthetic found in numerous non-prescription teething gels, on children under 2. It can cause an uncommon but major (and occasionally even deadly) condition called methemoglobinemia, in which the oxygen performed the blood stream is lowered to harmful levels. Symptoms can show up minutes or hours after using the product and include pale or gray- or blue-colored skin, lips and nail beds; shortness of breath; quick heart rate; lightheadedness; and confusion. When your toddler passes his second birthday (at which point he may be cutting his first and 2nd molars), benzocaine-based numbing gels are thought about more secure to use. However make certain to speak to your child’s doctor first prior to treating teething pain with those products.
2. Prescription Teething Gels and Liquids Including Thick Lidocaine
Prescription local anesthetics including viscous lidocaine are not recommended by the FDA for children at all. They can make swallowing difficult, increase the risk of choking or inhaling food, affect the heart and nervous system and result in drug toxicity. Prevent those kinds of teething solutions completely unless your pediatrician states otherwise (and because case, make sure to inquire about the potential threats).
3. Homeopathic-Labeled Teething Gels, Liquids and Tablets
In the past, a few of the treatments offered as “holistic” were considered completely safe as long as you inspected the components on the label and asked your doctor about the kind and brand in question prior to providing to your child. But since September 2016, the FDA recommends against using any holistic teething gels, liquids or tablets whatsoever, stating they can pose a risk to babies and other children. Before the FDA advisory was released, the issue was over the remedies made with an uncontrolled type of belladonna, a toxic plant that can be potentially dangerous and cause heart issues and drowsiness. The FDA now states all homeopathic-branded teething treatments are off-limits, and parents ought to call their pediatrician right away if their children experience seizures, difficulty breathing, excessive sleepiness and other unusual symptoms after being provided those gels or tablets.
The stringent meaning of “homeopathic” describes an alternative treatment or solution including a small, water down amount of a natural compound thought to have medical benefits. However lots of items offered as homeopathic either are made with too little an amount of that ingredient to actually confirm it’s there at all, or consist of a substantial quantity of the active component that could perhaps cause adverse side effects and unsafe drug interactions. The FDA manages homeopathic-labeled products however can not verify their safety or effectiveness.
Teething Gel Alternatives
When your cutie is irritable (and she will be – teething makes for very sore gums), attempt one of these safe teething remedies to assist her feel better as she begins to pop those teeth:
- Offer baby a cold teething toy or washcloth to chew.
- Provide soothing counterpressure by using a clean finger to rub baby’s gums.
- For babies over 6 months old, offer icy cold water or cooled foods, such as frozen bananas in a mesh baby feeder.
- When chewing, rubbing, cold and counterpressure don’t assist, try an infant painkiller like acetaminophen as recommended by your pediatrician.
Hazardous Numbing Techniques and Teethers to Prevent
Though the FDA particularly warns versus benzocaine-based and lidocaine-based teething gels along with natural teething gels, tablets and numbing representatives, you should also never rub alcohol or rubbing alcohol into your baby’s gums– ingesting even a small amount can make baby ill. Lots of pediatric health specialists likewise advise against amber teething pendants, which can present a strangulation risk for babies.