YOUR BABY IS TEETHING and crying through the night. He’s feverish, fussy, and obviously unhappy. Of course you want to relieve his discomfort in any way you can! Many parents turn to topical numbing agents to ease their baby through teething. However, we want to make sure that you’re aware of the dangers.

A Warning About Topical Numbing Agents

The FDA has issued a warning about topical numbing agents. The numbing agents lidocaine and benzocaine are found in Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel, and Orabase. There have been numerous reports of health hazards caused by babies ingesting too much of these numbing agents. For one thing, numbing your child’s tongue and throat can increase choking risks. Also, if too much is ingested, children can experience an overdose that can cause serious health problems. Only use these products if they’re specifically prescribed and supervised by a physician!

Try Natural Methods

Teething is a natural part of growing up. You got through it just fine, and your baby will too. In order to relieve discomfort associated with teething, we recommend that you try these methods:

• allow your child to suck on a clean, cool, wet cloth
• using a clean finger, massage the gums where you can tell that teeth are about to emerge
• stick teething toys and rings in the refrigerator to chill them

And If Your Child Is Sick, Contact His Pediatrician

Teething happens during a time of a lot of change for a child, so other symptoms are often attributed to teething pain. However, it isn’t normal for your child to have a persistent fever or diarrhea simply because of teething. If you think it could be more than teething driving your child crazy, bring him or her in to your pediatrician. Let us know if you have any questions about your baby’s tooth health. If you know someone who could benefit from this information, please pass it along!