The most effective ways to relieve teething pain are simple: cold pressure on the gums, safe things to chew, and, when needed, a weight-appropriate dose of pain reliever. Most babies start teething around 6 months, and the discomfort comes and goes as each new tooth pushes through. The good news is that you don’t need anything fancy to help your baby through it.
When Teething Starts and What to Expect
The lower front teeth typically appear first, between 6 and 10 months. The upper front teeth follow around 8 to 12 months. From there, teeth continue arriving in stages: lateral incisors by about 16 months, first molars between 13 and 19 months, canines between 16 and 23 months, and second molars between 23 and 33 months. These ranges vary widely from child to child, so don’t worry if your baby is early or late.
Each tooth causes its own stretch of discomfort as it breaks through the gum. You’ll notice swollen, tender gums, extra drooling, fussiness, and a strong desire to chew on everything. Some babies lose interest in eating or sleep more restlessly. Teething does not cause high fevers, diarrhea, or severe illness. If your baby’s temperature goes above 100.4°F, the cause is likely something else entirely.
Cold and Pressure: The Best First-Line Relief
Cold numbs inflamed gum tissue, and pressure from chewing counteracts the aching sensation of a tooth pushing upward. Combining the two gives the most relief.
A wet washcloth chilled in the freezer for 15 to 30 minutes is one of the simplest options. It’s easy to grip, safe to chew, and free of chemicals. You can also chill solid teething rings in the refrigerator or freezer, but take them out before they turn rock hard. Avoid liquid-filled teething rings. They’ve been subject to recalls because bacteria can grow inside the liquid, and a baby’s new teeth can puncture the ring.
Your own fingers work surprisingly well. Rub your baby’s gums with a clean finger or a piece of wet gauze for about two minutes. The pressure eases discomfort, and you can do this as often as your baby needs it. If you’re breastfeeding and your baby starts gnawing on you instead of nursing, try massaging the gums with fingers dipped in cool water right before a feeding.
For babies older than 6 months who are drinking water, a slow-flow sippy cup filled with cool water gives them something soothing to suck on. For babies over a year old, you can wrap a small piece of ice in a wet cloth and rub it along the gums.
Teething-Friendly Foods
Once your baby is eating solids, cold and soft foods pull double duty as nutrition and pain relief. Frozen bananas, chilled cucumber slices, and cold berries placed in a mesh feeder let your baby gnaw safely while the cold soothes swollen gums. Frozen breast milk or formula popsicles (made in small molds) are another option that provides familiar nutrition in a soothing form.
For regular meals during a teething flare, stick with foods that don’t require much chewing: mashed avocado, plain yogurt, soft bananas, and small cubes of cheese. Whole grain crackers or breadsticks can provide gentle gum massage for babies who prefer something crunchy. Choose versions without added sugar.
When to Use Pain Medication
If cold pressure and chewing aren’t enough, infant acetaminophen is an option. For children under 2, you should confirm the correct dose with your pediatrician first, since dosing is based on your baby’s weight. The standard liquid concentration is 160 mg per 5 mL. You can give it every 4 hours as needed, with no more than 5 doses in 24 hours.
Infant ibuprofen is another choice, but only for babies 6 months and older. It can be given every 6 to 8 hours. Like acetaminophen, the dose is based on weight. Do not use extra-strength or extended-release formulas for children.
Both medications work well for the worst teething nights, when gum pain disrupts sleep for everyone. A dose before bedtime, timed with your pediatrician’s guidance, can help your baby settle.
Products to Avoid
Benzocaine teething gels (sold under brand names like Orajel) should not be used on infants or children under 2. The FDA issued a direct warning after finding these products can cause a life-threatening condition called methemoglobinemia, where the blood’s ability to carry oxygen drops dangerously. The FDA told manufacturers to stop marketing benzocaine oral products for teething entirely, noting they “carry serious risks and provide little to no benefit.”
Amber teething necklaces are also worth skipping. The idea that amber releases a pain-relieving substance through the skin has no scientific support. More importantly, these necklaces pose real strangulation and choking risks. The FDA issued a warning in 2018 after reports of children choking on broken beads and an 18-month-old dying from strangulation during a nap. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants not wear any jewelry. The same caution applies to teething necklaces made of wood, marble, or silicone.
Safer Alternatives to Plastic Teethers
If you want to avoid plastic teething toys (which may contain phthalates or BPA), a chilled washcloth or a tightly rolled cotton sock works just as well. Silicone and natural latex teethers are also widely available and considered a safer alternative. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s a single solid piece that can’t break apart into small components.
Managing Teething Pain at Night
Nighttime is often the hardest stretch because there’s nothing to distract your baby from the discomfort. A consistent routine helps. Rub your baby’s gums with a clean finger or cool gauze before laying them down. Offer a chilled pacifier or teething ring during the bedtime routine, then remove it before sleep. If your baby wakes in pain, a brief gum massage in a dim room can often settle them back down without fully waking them up.
On particularly rough nights, a dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen (for babies 6 months and older) given about 30 minutes before bedtime can take the edge off long enough for your baby to fall asleep. This isn’t something you need to do every night. Reserve it for the peaks, usually the few days right before and after a tooth breaks through the gum surface.
When the Problem Isn’t Teething
Teething gets blamed for a lot of symptoms it doesn’t actually cause. A slight temperature increase is normal, but a true fever (above 100.4°F) is not a teething symptom. If your baby has a fever lasting more than 24 hours, is extremely fussy or lethargic, refuses to eat, or has fluid draining from an ear, something else is going on.
Ear infections are commonly confused with teething because both cause fussiness and ear-pulling. The key differences: ear infections typically come with a fever over 100.4°F, cold symptoms like a runny nose or cough, worsened sleep when lying flat, and stronger, often bilateral ear-tugging. Teething pain tends to come and go, while an ear infection generally gets worse over time rather than better.