Chilled teething rings, gentle gum massage, and age-appropriate pain relievers are the most effective ways to help a teething baby. Most infants start teething around 6 months, and the discomfort tends to come and go over a few days each time a new tooth pushes through. The good news is that simple, low-tech remedies work well for the majority of babies.
How to Tell It’s Actually Teething
Teething causes a specific cluster of symptoms that can look alarming but are generally mild. A prospective study published in Pediatrics found that increased biting, drooling, gum-rubbing, sucking, irritability, wakefulness, ear-rubbing, facial rash, decreased appetite for solid foods, and a slight rise in temperature were all statistically linked to tooth eruption.
What teething does not cause is just as important. Congestion, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever above 102°F were not significantly associated with teething in the same study. If your baby has any of those symptoms, something else is likely going on. It’s tempting to blame teeth for everything between 6 and 24 months, but doing so can delay recognizing an actual illness.
Cold and Pressure: The Best First-Line Relief
The simplest remedies rely on two things babies instinctively seek out: cold and counter-pressure on the gums.
- Chilled teething rings. Place a solid (not liquid-filled) teething ring in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. The cool surface numbs the gums slightly and gives your baby something firm to bite. Avoid putting teething rings in the freezer, because a frozen-hard ring can bruise swollen gums.
- Cold washcloth. Wet a clean washcloth, wring it out, and chill it in the fridge. Babies love gnawing on the textured fabric, and you can twist or knot it to make it easier for small hands to grip.
- Gum massage. Wash your hands and use a clean finger to rub your baby’s gums firmly. The pressure counteracts the sensation of a tooth pushing upward. Some parents use a silicone finger brush for a bit more texture.
- Chilled fruit in a mesh feeder. For babies already eating solids, cold banana or refrigerated cucumber inside a mesh feeding pouch lets them chew safely while getting some of the soothing cold directly on their gums.
These methods are safe to repeat as often as your baby needs them throughout the day. Most parents find that rotating between a couple of options keeps their baby interested.
When to Use Pain Relievers
If cold and pressure aren’t enough, especially during nighttime fussiness, infant pain relievers can help. Acetaminophen is safe for babies 8 weeks and older, and ibuprofen is an option starting at 6 months. Both should be dosed by your baby’s weight rather than age, so check the weight-based chart on the packaging or confirm the dose with your pediatrician.
Ibuprofen has a slight edge for teething because it reduces inflammation in addition to blocking pain, which can help with swollen gums. It also lasts about six to eight hours compared to four to six for acetaminophen. Either one is reasonable for occasional use on rough days or nights, but neither should be given around the clock for days at a time without medical guidance.
Products to Avoid
Several popular teething products carry serious risks that outweigh any potential benefit.
Benzocaine Gels
Over-the-counter numbing gels containing benzocaine can cause a condition called methemoglobinemia, which dramatically reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. The FDA has warned that this reaction can be fatal in infants. These gels also wash away with saliva within minutes, so the relief they provide is brief at best.
Homeopathic Teething Tablets
The FDA issued a specific warning against homeopathic teething tablets containing belladonna. Testing revealed that some tablets from major brands contained levels of belladonna alkaloids far exceeding what was stated on the label. Because these products are not held to the same manufacturing standards as conventional medicines, the amount of active ingredient can vary unpredictably from tablet to tablet.
Amber Teething Necklaces
Amber necklaces are marketed with the claim that body heat releases a pain-relieving compound from the beads. There is no scientific evidence supporting this claim. What the evidence does show is that these necklaces have caused strangulation, choking on loose beads, and at least one reported death. The risks are clear, and the supposed benefit is unproven.
Managing Drool Rash
Heavy drooling is one of the hallmark signs of teething, and all that moisture sitting on your baby’s chin, cheeks, neck folds, and chest can quickly irritate the skin. Preventing drool rash is mostly about keeping the area dry and protecting the skin barrier.
Keep a soft, clean burp cloth nearby and gently blot saliva away throughout the day, especially after feedings and naps. Check the folds of your baby’s neck and chest where drool collects out of sight. Use a bib to catch drool before it soaks into clothing, and swap it out as soon as it gets damp. If your baby uses a pacifier, take occasional breaks so the skin around the mouth can dry.
Wash irritated skin with warm water twice a day and pat it completely dry with a soft cloth. Avoid rubbing, rough towels, or medicated soaps, all of which can make things worse. Once the skin is dry, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or a healing ointment like Aquaphor to create a moisture barrier. Stick with fragrance-free baby wash and unscented laundry detergent for anything that touches your baby’s face. If the rash persists or worsens despite these steps, a pediatrician may recommend a mild hydrocortisone cream.
What to Expect With the Teething Timeline
The lower central incisors (the two bottom front teeth) usually appear first, typically between 6 and 10 months. The upper central incisors follow shortly after, and then the lateral incisors fill in on either side. First molars tend to arrive between 13 and 19 months, and these broader teeth often cause more discomfort than the front ones because of the larger surface area pushing through the gum.
Most children have their full set of 20 baby teeth by age 3. The pain from each tooth generally lasts only a few days, peaking around the day the tooth breaks through the gum surface. Some teeth arrive with hardly any fuss, while others, particularly molars and canines, can make for a rough few nights. The intensity varies not just between teeth but between children, so a strategy that works perfectly for one baby may need adjusting for the next.
Nighttime Teething Strategies
Nighttime is often the hardest stretch because there’s less distraction from the discomfort. If your baby is waking more frequently, a dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen (at the appropriate weight-based amount) given about 30 minutes before bedtime can help them settle. Offering a chilled teething ring during the bedtime routine gives their gums some relief before you lay them down.
Try to keep the room dark and interactions brief if you do need to go in overnight. The goal is to address the pain without creating new sleep associations that are hard to undo once the tooth has come through. For most babies, nighttime disruption from any single tooth lasts two to four nights at most.