The most effective ways to relieve teething pain in babies are simple: gently massaging their gums with a clean finger, offering a chilled rubber teething ring, and using infant pain relievers when needed. Most babies start teething around 6 months, and the discomfort comes and goes as each new tooth pushes through. The good news is that a few reliable techniques can make a real difference, and many popular “remedies” are actually worth avoiding.
When Teething Starts and What It Looks Like
The two bottom front teeth usually come in first, followed by the four upper front teeth. After that, teeth fill in roughly in pairs on each side of the jaw until all 20 baby teeth are in place, typically by age 2.5 to 3. Lower teeth generally erupt before upper teeth.
The signs are fairly consistent from baby to baby. You’ll notice more drooling than usual, red and swollen gums where the tooth is pushing through, and fussiness or irritability that seems to come out of nowhere. Many babies have trouble sleeping, lose interest in eating, and start biting or chewing on anything they can get their hands on. These symptoms tend to flare up in the days just before and after a tooth breaks through the gum, then settle down until the next one arrives.
Gum Massage and Pressure
Rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do. The gentle pressure counteracts the sensation of the tooth pushing upward through the tissue. Use a freshly washed finger or a clean, damp washcloth and apply light, steady pressure to the swollen areas. Most babies will lean into it once they feel the relief.
You can also offer a teething ring made of firm rubber. The key word is firm. Solid rubber rings give babies something safe to bite down on and create that same counter-pressure. Avoid liquid-filled teethers, which can break and leak. Always supervise your baby while they’re using a teething ring to prevent choking.
Chilled, Not Frozen
Cooling a teething ring in the refrigerator before giving it to your baby adds a mild numbing effect that soothes inflamed gums. But keep it out of the freezer. A frozen teething ring becomes too hard and can actually bruise or damage your baby’s gums. The same goes for frozen washcloths. Refrigerator-cold is the sweet spot: cool enough to provide relief, soft enough to be safe.
When to Use Pain Medication
If your baby is clearly miserable and home remedies aren’t enough, infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help. The dosing is based on your baby’s weight, not age, so check the packaging carefully or ask your pediatrician for the right amount.
Acetaminophen can be given every 4 to 6 hours, up to 5 doses in 24 hours, but should not be given to babies younger than 3 months without a doctor’s guidance. Ibuprofen can be given every 6 to 8 hours, up to 4 doses per day, but is not recommended for babies under 6 months. For most teething babies in the 12 to 23 pound range, the standard infant acetaminophen dose is 2.5 mL. Always use the measuring syringe that comes with the product rather than a kitchen spoon.
Pain medication works best as an occasional tool for the worst nights or fussiest stretches, not as a round-the-clock routine for the entire teething period.
Products You Should Avoid
Several widely sold teething products are genuinely dangerous for babies, and the FDA has issued warnings about them.
Numbing gels containing benzocaine (sold under brand names like Orajel) should not be used on children under 2. Benzocaine can cause a rare but life-threatening condition where the blood loses its ability to carry oxygen effectively. More than 400 cases have been reported since 1971. These products provide little to no benefit for teething pain, and the FDA has urged manufacturers to stop marketing them for infants entirely.
Homeopathic teething tablets are another product to skip. The FDA found that some tablets labeled as containing trace amounts of belladonna actually contained far higher levels than stated on the label. The inconsistency in manufacturing meant some tablets had unpredictable amounts of atropine and scopolamine, both of which are toxic in higher doses. The FDA’s recommendation is straightforward: don’t use them, and throw away any you already have.
Amber teething necklaces pose a different kind of risk. They have no proven pain-relieving effect, and they create real strangulation and choking hazards. The FDA issued a warning after reports of children choking on beads that broke off and an 18-month-old who was strangled by an amber necklace during a nap. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants not wear any jewelry at all.
Feeding a Teething Baby
Sore gums can make babies reluctant to nurse or take a bottle, since the sucking motion puts pressure right where it hurts. Massaging your baby’s gums or offering a cold washcloth before a feeding session can help numb the area just enough to make eating more comfortable. If you’re breastfeeding, experimenting with different positions may help, especially ones where your baby’s weight is well supported and they can maintain a deep latch without extra jaw effort.
For babies who are eating solids, cold foods like chilled fruit puree or refrigerated yogurt can do double duty as both nutrition and gum relief. Loss of appetite during teething is normal and temporary. As long as your baby stays hydrated and the decreased interest in food only lasts a day or two around each tooth, there’s no reason to worry.
Teething vs. Illness
One of the most persistent myths about teething is that it causes fevers. Research shows that teething may raise a baby’s temperature slightly, but not enough to qualify as an actual fever. A true fever is 100.4°F or higher. If your baby’s temperature crosses that threshold, something else is going on, likely an illness that happens to coincide with teething. The same applies to diarrhea, rashes, and vomiting, which are often blamed on teething but are not caused by it.
Caring for New Teeth
Once that first tooth breaks through, it’s time to start brushing. Use a soft-bristled infant toothbrush with a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste. That tiny amount is safe to swallow and helps protect the new enamel right from the start. Brush twice a day, and stick with the rice-grain amount until your child turns 3.