Teething: What Helps, And What To Skip

Teething gets blamed for a lot. Some of it is fair, some of it is coincidence, and the difference matters because it changes what you do about it.

What teething usually looks like

Drooling, chewing on everything within reach, sore looking gums, a grumpier baby and disrupted sleep for a few days around a tooth coming through. Symptoms tend to cluster in the day or two before the tooth breaks the gum, then ease.

What teething does not usually cause is a high fever, diarrhea, or a baby who seems genuinely unwell. Those deserve a call to your pediatrician rather than a teething ring, because assuming teething is the cause is how a real illness gets missed.

What actually helps

• Counter pressure. Firm pressure on the gum is the thing most babies want. A clean finger, a firm silicone teether, or a chilled spoon all work by the same mechanism.
• Cold, not frozen. Twenty minutes in the fridge is enough. A rock hard frozen teether can bruise the gum and is uncomfortable to hold in the mouth.
• Something they can actually grip. A teether a young baby cannot hold onto is no use. Shapes with a loop or a handle get used, smooth discs get dropped.
• A dry chin. Constant drool causes a rash around the mouth and chin. Pat dry rather than wipe, and a barrier ointment overnight helps if the skin is already sore.
• Extra patience at bedtime. Sore gums are more noticeable when there is nothing else going on, which is why evenings are usually the worst part.

What to skip

• Amber necklaces. There is no good evidence they do anything, and anything worn around a baby's neck carries a strangulation and choking risk. Not worth it.
• Numbing gels containing benzocaine. The FDA has warned against these for children under two.
• Teething tablets and powders. Ingredients and dosing have been inconsistent enough to prompt recalls in the past.
• Anything that can break. Check teethers for splits before each use and throw away anything cracked. Liquid filled teethers can leak once punctured.
• Frozen solid food in a mesh feeder if your baby has not started solids yet.

Keep it clean and check it often

Anything that lives in a baby's mouth needs washing properly and drying fully. Silicone teethers that are dishwasher safe are the easiest to keep on top of. Inspect for tears, especially around any join or seam, because that is where they fail first.

If pain relief medication seems necessary, ask your pediatrician about the right option and dose for your baby's age and weight rather than guessing from the box.