The best things you can do for a teething baby are simple: give them something safe to chew on, apply gentle pressure to their gums, and use infant pain reliever if they seem truly uncomfortable. Most teething discomfort is mild and short-lived, and the safest remedies are also the most effective ones.
What Teething Actually Feels Like for Your Baby
Teething gets blamed for a lot, but the proven symptoms are surprisingly limited. The main signs are increased drooling, a stronger urge to chew on things, and mild gum soreness. You might also notice a facial rash from all that extra drool, since saliva contains small bits of food that irritate the skin.
Most babies just act a little fussier than usual. The discomfort typically isn’t enough to cause prolonged crying or disrupt sleep. If your baby has a fever, diarrhea, or a runny nose, something else is going on. Blaming those symptoms on teething can delay care for real infections like ear infections, urinary tract infections, or other illnesses that need treatment. A good rule of thumb: if it seems like more than mild fussiness, look for another cause.
When Teeth Come In
The two bottom front teeth usually appear first, typically between 6 and 10 months. The four upper front teeth follow at around 8 to 13 months. From there, teeth fill in roughly in pairs, one on each side of the jaw. First molars show up between 13 and 19 months, canines between 16 and 23 months, and second molars between 23 and 33 months. Most children have all 20 baby teeth by age 2½ to 3.
Every baby is different, though. Some get their first tooth at 4 months, others closer to their first birthday. The timeline matters mainly because it helps you recognize teething when it happens and anticipate that molars, which are larger, can cause more noticeable discomfort than the front teeth did.
Safe Remedies That Work
Chilled Teething Rings and Toys
A firm rubber teething ring, chilled in the refrigerator, is one of the simplest and most effective options. The cold helps numb the gums slightly, and the chewing provides counterpressure that relieves soreness. Look for solid teething toys made of nontoxic materials, with or without textured bumps.
Two important safety points: don’t freeze teething rings, because they become hard enough to bruise or damage your baby’s gums. And avoid fluid-filled teethers, which can break and leak.
Gum Massage
Wash your hands and use a clean finger or a cool, damp washcloth to gently rub your baby’s gums. The pressure feels good to them for the same reason chewing does. A chilled washcloth combines the benefits of cold and texture. This is especially useful for younger babies who haven’t figured out how to hold a teething toy yet.
Pain Medication
If your baby seems genuinely uncomfortable (not just a little drooly), infant acetaminophen is an option for babies of any age, and infant ibuprofen can be used once your baby is 6 months or older. Dosing is based on your baby’s weight, not their age, so check the product label or call your pediatrician’s office for the right amount. These are worth keeping on hand for particularly rough nights, but most teething episodes are mild enough that you won’t need them.
Products to Avoid
Numbing Gels and Creams
It’s tempting to rub something on those sore gums, but the FDA warns against using any topical product containing benzocaine or lidocaine for teething pain. Products like Orajel, Anbesol, and similar gels offer little to no real benefit, and they carry serious risks. Benzocaine can cause a condition where red blood cells lose their ability to carry oxygen properly, which can be fatal. Lidocaine, even in prescription form, can cause seizures, heart problems, and severe brain injury in infants if too much is applied or accidentally swallowed.
Homeopathic Teething Tablets
The FDA includes homeopathic teething tablets and gels in its warning. These products have been linked to serious adverse events in children. Despite being marketed as “natural,” they are not a safe alternative.
Amber Teething Necklaces
Amber necklaces are marketed with the claim that body heat releases a pain-relieving substance from the beads. There is no peer-reviewed evidence that this works. What is documented is the risk: these necklaces pose a strangulation hazard and a choking hazard if the beads break loose. Health Canada and pediatric organizations warn against them, and at least one published case report describes a non-fatal infant strangulation from an amber teething necklace on its very first use.
Caring for New Teeth
Once that first tooth breaks through, it needs care right away. The CDC recommends brushing twice a day with a soft, small-bristled toothbrush and plain water. For children under 2, talk to your pediatrician or dentist before adding fluoride toothpaste. When you do start using toothpaste, a rice-grain-sized smear is enough for the youngest toddlers, moving to a pea-sized amount by age 3.
Baby teeth matter more than people sometimes assume. They hold space for adult teeth and play a role in speech development and nutrition. Getting into a brushing routine early also makes the habit feel normal to your child rather than something to fight about later.
What a Rough Teething Night Looks Like
On the toughest nights, the practical playbook is straightforward. Offer a chilled teething ring or washcloth before bed. If your baby is clearly uncomfortable and having trouble settling, a weight-appropriate dose of infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help. Keep the drool rash under control by gently patting the face dry throughout the day and applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly to protect the skin.
Most individual teeth come through in a matter of days, not weeks. The discomfort tends to peak in the day or two before the tooth breaks through the gum surface and drops off quickly after. Molars can stretch the process out a bit longer, but even those rough patches are temporary. The entire teething process wraps up by around age 3, and many of the 20 teeth will come in without you noticing at all.