When teething seems to make a baby uncomfortable, start with simple, drug-free comfort: gently massage the gums with a clean finger or offer a firm, clean teether that has been chilled in the refrigerator. Keep the teether cool rather than frozen, and supervise the child while they use it.
These steps are meant to provide comfort, not make a tooth come through faster. Mild gum tenderness may come and go as teeth erupt, and some children seem more bothered than others.
Try gentle pressure on the gums
Wash your hands, then gently rub the tender area with a clean finger. Light, steady pressure can feel soothing. A cool, damp washcloth can also give a child something soft to mouth while closely supervised.
If the child turns away or becomes more upset, stop and try a different calming approach. Comfort should not require forcing pressure on the gums.
Offer a safe, chilled teether
A firm rubber teether can give a child a safe surface to chew. Chill it in the refrigerator, not the freezer. A frozen teether may become hard enough to hurt tender gums.
Choose a teether that is intact and easy for an adult to inspect. The American Dental Association advises avoiding liquid-filled rings and plastic teethers that could break or develop sharp edges. Stay nearby while the child chews so you can respond if the item becomes damaged or creates a choking concern.
Skip numbing gels, homeopathic products, and teething jewelry
Some products marketed for teething can cause serious harm and are not good substitutes for basic comfort measures.
- Do not use teething products containing benzocaine or lidocaine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says these numbing medicines offer little to no benefit for teething and can cause serious injury.
- Do not use homeopathic teething tablets or other homeopathic teething products. The FDA includes them among products that should not be used to soothe teething pain.
- Do not put amber or other teething jewelry around a child’s neck. Necklaces and similar jewelry can create choking and strangulation risks.
If you are unsure what a product contains, check its label and ask the child’s pediatrician, dentist, or pharmacist before using it.
Ask before using pain medicine
This guide does not provide medication selection or dosing. If drug-free comfort is not enough, ask the child’s pediatrician or dentist what is appropriate for that child and how to use the exact product safely.
Do not guess at a dose or rub a pain medicine directly on the gums unless a qualified clinician has specifically told you to do so for that child.
Do not assume illness is teething
Teething happens during an age when children also develop ordinary illnesses. Fever, diarrhea, or unusually intense or persistent crying should not simply be blamed on a new tooth. Contact the child’s pediatrician when the child seems ill or the pattern is more than mild, short-lived gum discomfort.
A dentist can help when discomfort seems centered in the mouth but the cause is unclear, when there is an injured or damaged tooth, or when a mouth concern is not settling. Regular early dental care also gives families a place to ask age-specific questions; the guide to a child’s first dental visit explains what parents can expect.
Keep the routine calm
Teething does not require a complicated remedy. Offer comfort, use a clean teether, and keep following the child’s normal mouth-cleaning routine. If a tooth has just appeared, see when to start cleaning a baby’s mouth and teeth for practical next steps.
The safest approach is usually the simplest: gentle pressure, a cool firm teether, close supervision, and professional guidance when symptoms do not fit ordinary teething discomfort.
Sources
- Safely Soothing Teething Pain in Infants and Children — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Teething Pain Relief: How to Soothe Your Baby's Discomfort — HealthyChildren.org / American Academy of Pediatrics
- Perinatal and Infant Oral Health Care — American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- Baby Teeth — MouthHealthy / American Dental Association
- Tips for helping your teething baby — NHS