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Baby Teething

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What can you do about baby teething?

It will probably take a bit of experimentation to find what works best to sooth your baby if the teething is uncomfortable for them. Remember that the gums of your baby are likely to be itchy, tender or sore, so go gently with whatever you do.

Massage:

Try gently rubbing or massaging your baby’s gums. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly first, and try different strokes and pressure. Your baby may not take to this technique at first, but you may find he/she gets more used to the process and that it eventually helps with the teething. Try running your fingers under cold water before you begin so that your fingers are cool to the touch.

Medication:

There are ointments that you can apply directly to gums of your baby to slightly numb the gums, as well as very mild ‘pain killers’ that have been developed especially for infants, but you should consult with your doctor before trying any such treatments. Many parents swear by the effectiveness of these treatments, while many others are loathe to try any pharmaceutical products on their baby. The use of such products on your baby is, therefore, a very personal choice.

Objects to chew on:

Give your baby some items to chew on but keep in mind to make sure that the baby can’t choke on anything you give them. The best items are something cool and reasonably chewy, and try to avoid anything that contains sugars (as this will contribute to tooth decay).

Some suggestions for chewing objects:

• Teething rings
• General purpose chewing toys
• Wet cloths (wet one of the corners with cool water)
• Frozen bananas, peaches or other similar foods
• Frozen French fries

Hyland’s Baby Teething Tablets

Hyland’s Teething Tablets are a homeopathic combination of substances that are designed to relieve some of the effects of teething like irritability, restlessness etc. The tablets are small, and will melt instantly on the baby’s tongue and gums so they are very easy to give to your child. Click here for more information.

Baby Teething Gel

Teething gels, such as Baby Orajel, are locally applied gels that act immediately upon the gums and help to relieve the soreness. There is some debate about the effectiveness of such teething gels as quite often the pain that your baby experiences is quite deep in the gums, and teething gels really only treat the immediate surface area around the erupting tooth. Additionally, there are many reports of the effects of the teething gel wearing off quite quickly. Excessive application of teething gels is not recommended due to the pharmaceutical ingredients of the compounds. Nevertheless, teething gels are convenient, easy-to-apply, and quick-acting and may go some way to helping you help your baby.

Tooth and gum care

When your baby’s teeth start to come through it is important to take care of both the teeth and the gums. Try to make sure after each feeding that you wipe down the gums and particularly any new teeth that are showing through. It is easy for bacteria to build up around the points where the new teeth are coming through, so try to clean there with a soft, wet cloth after each feed. For teeth that have come through already, you can use a baby toothbrush with water.

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