Teething
What is it?
In most babies, teething starts at around six months old, when their first teeth start to push through their gums, although it can be earlier or later than this age.
What causes teething pain?
The main cause of teething pain is the pressure of the tooth pushing through the gums. It is thought that babies’ cheeks and jaws can ache as they feel the teeth moving in their gums.
What are the symptoms?
Your baby’s gum may be sore and red where the tooth is coming through, or one of their cheeks may be flushed. They may dribble, gnaw and chew more, or be generally irritable.
What are my treatment options?
To help relieve teething pain, you can gently rub your baby’s gum with a clean finger or allow them to bite onto a teething ring. You can rub a sugar-free teething gel on their gums to help relieve teething pain. Make sure you use a teething gel specifically designed for young children and not a general adult oral pain relief gel which is not indicated for use in children. If your baby has a raised temperature or is in pain, you may want to give them a children’s sugar-free painkiller such as ibuprofen or a children’s paracetamol suspension. Aspirin should not be given to children under the age of 16. Always follow the instructions that come with the teething gel/medicine. If you are unsure, always seek advice from a healthcare professional.
What can I do about it?
Bonjela Soothing Teething Gel is sugar-free, rose flavoured gel to help relieve painful gums and help reduce inflammation caused by teething.
Suitable from ages 6 months+. Always read the instructions.
Top tips
One of the signs that your baby is teething is that they start to chew on their fingers, toys or any other object they can get hold of.
If your baby is over 6 months (or 5 months for certain products), you can rub a teething gel. on their gums to help relieve teething pain. Make sure you use one specifically designed for young children and always read the pack or instructions before use.
If your baby has a raised temperature, or is in pain, you could also give them a children's sugar-free paracetamol or ibuprofen suspension. Always follow the instructions that come with the medicine. If unsure, always seek advice from a healthcare professional.
You can also give healthy things for your baby to chew, such as raw fruit and vegetable (e.g. soft fruit like melon can soothe gums) - but always stay close in case they choke.
Want to know more?
Find out more about bonjela Teething Gel
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.