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 when discomfort is more than mild. Most babies start teething between 6 and 12 months, and the process continues until all 20 baby teeth arrive around age 2.5 to 3. The good news is that effective relief doesn’t require anything fancy or expensive.
When Teeth Come In
The two bottom front teeth usually appear first, typically between 6 and 10 months. The upper front teeth follow at 8 to 12 months. From there, teeth fill in roughly in pairs, one on each side of the jaw. The lateral incisors (the teeth flanking the front ones) come next, followed by first molars around 13 to 19 months, canines at 16 to 23 months, and second molars last, wrapping up between 23 and 33 months.
Not every tooth causes the same level of fuss. Many parents notice the worst discomfort with molars, which have a broader surface pushing through the gum. Some teeth slip through with barely a whimper.
What Teething Actually Looks Like
Teething symptoms are milder than most parents expect. The main signs are extra drooling, increased chewing and gnawing on anything within reach, and mild fussiness. You might notice slightly swollen or red gums right where a tooth is about to break through.
One important distinction: teething does not cause a true fever. A body temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher is a fever, and teething won’t push a baby’s temperature that high. If your baby has a fever, diarrhea, or a rash, something else is going on, and teething shouldn’t be blamed for it.
Chewing and Cold: The Most Effective Remedies
Pressure on sore gums is the single most reliable way to ease teething pain. You have several good options here.
Damp washcloth: Twist a clean, damp washcloth and put it in the freezer for a bit. Tie a knot in one end so your baby can grip and gnaw on it. The cold and the texture both help. This is a go-to recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Rubber or plastic teething toys: Solid rubber and plastic rings are safe for sore gums. You can chill them in the refrigerator to add a cooling effect. Avoid liquid-filled teething toys, which can tear open, leaving sharp edges and potentially contaminated liquid.
Your finger: Wash your hands, then gently rub or massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger. The counter-pressure feels good to most babies, and it works anywhere without any supplies.
One key rule with cold items: don’t give your baby anything frozen solid. A frozen teething ring or ice cube is too hard and can bruise tender gums. Chilled is the goal, not frozen.
When to Use Pain Medication
If chewing and cold aren’t enough, infant acetaminophen is safe for babies 3 months and older. Infant ibuprofen is an option starting at 6 months. Both are dosed by weight, not age, so check the packaging carefully or ask your pediatrician for the right dose. For a baby weighing 12 to 17 pounds, the typical acetaminophen dose is 2.5 mL of the standard infant liquid. Pain medication works well for nighttime fussiness that’s disrupting sleep for everyone.
Products to Avoid
Several widely sold teething products are not just ineffective but genuinely dangerous.
Numbing gels with benzocaine or lidocaine: The FDA has warned that topical gels containing these ingredients offer little benefit for teething and carry serious risks. Benzocaine can cause a condition called methemoglobinemia, where red blood cells lose much of their ability to carry oxygen. It can be fatal. Lidocaine solutions can cause seizures, heart problems, severe brain injury, and death if too much is swallowed or absorbed. These products should not be used for teething pain in infants or young children.
Homeopathic teething tablets: The FDA has urged parents to stop using homeopathic teething tablets containing belladonna. Testing of products sold by major brands found that the actual amounts of active compounds (atropine and scopolamine from belladonna, plus caffeine) varied wildly from tablet to tablet, with some containing far more than the label stated. Inconsistent manufacturing meant some tablets delivered unpredictable and potentially harmful doses.
Amber teething necklaces: These are marketed with the claim that succinic acid in the amber absorbs through the skin and relieves pain. There is no scientific evidence this works. Even if succinic acid could be released from the beads, the amount that would actually absorb through skin and reach inflamed gums is nowhere near a therapeutic dose. More importantly, these necklaces pose strangulation and choking risks. Canada has issued a safety warning, and France and Switzerland have banned their sale in pharmacies.
Caring for New Teeth
Start cleaning your baby’s gums before any teeth appear. Wrap a damp washcloth around your index finger and gently massage the gum tissue. Once a tooth breaks through, switch to a soft-bristled infant toothbrush without toothpaste. Your baby should have a first dental visit before their first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth appearing, whichever comes first.
Teething is a long process spread over roughly two years, but individual episodes of discomfort usually last only a few days per tooth. A frozen washcloth, a solid teething ring, and some patience will get you through most of it.