Sooooo…your first experience of teeth might begin like this:

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Hmmm…my baby is 5 months old.  Tonight, my goodness, Baby is crying more than usual and isn’t calming down with my normal soothing techniques.  Baby’s drooling more…I don’t see any signs of teeth but is Baby teething?  Or is it a growth spurt?  Something else?? Sigh…It’s late and I’d really love to get to bed soon!  HELP!

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I’ve been there.  Even after going through dental school, I still had the same confusion with my own kids.  When babies can’t verbalize their discomfort and only communicate through crying, it can be tough to figure out why!

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The Physiology Behind Teething

Not to get too nerdy here, but when a tooth is growing, a lot of chemical mediators and growth factors are at play.  They can cause that area to be slightly inflamed, red, itchy and result in excessive drooling!  But here’s the kicker - some babies don’t feel any teething symptoms at all.  Oh, wouldn’t that be lovely if yours was one of them?

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There is no foolproof way to know for sure if teething is the cause of your baby’s discomfort.  In fact, researchers don’t completely agree on a definitive list of teething symptoms, so the investigation continues.  However, below is a list of symptoms that are and aren’t generally associated with teething, which occur intermittently between 3-36 months.  Since every baby is unique, the symptoms they experience will be too.

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Teething Symptoms

It’s important to note that before teething is thought to be the culprit of all the disturbances you see in your baby to rule out any potential serious illnesses. Around the 6-month mark, the immunity that Baby received from Mom while in the womb starts to disappear and Baby might be introduced to more illness as well.² If there are any severe systemic symptoms, please get Baby checked by a pediatrician promptly.

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Teething Relief

Read carefully - there are critical dos and don’ts when it comes to teething remedies. Unfortunately, teething is something you can’t fully control. The good news? It’s not life-threatening and it won’t last forever…even though, in the moment, it might feel like it.

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Try These First (Conservative Approaches)

PRESSURE and COLD helps to distract the brain from pain signals. Try:

✔️ Gently rubbing Baby’s gums with a clean finger or cool washcloth
✔️ Offering a cool teething ring (plastic/silicone)—just make sure it’s not too hard (refrigerate, don’t freeze!)
✔️ For babies on solids, offering cool foods like chilled applesauce or melon
✔️ Extra cuddles—sometimes, feeling safe and loved is the best pain relief!

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When Conservative Methods Aren’t Enough

If Baby is still struggling, consider:
✔️ Consulting a dentist, pharmacist, or doctor about over-the-counter pain relief (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen) for short-term use.

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What to Avoid

🚫 Teething gels/ointments – Benzocaine and lidocaine (the anesthetics used in teething gels/ointments) can cause a rare but life-threatening blood disorder called methemoglobinemia. The FDA has issued warnings against their use for teething.

🚫 Aspirin – Can cause Reye syndrome (a dangerous condition that leads to brain and liver swelling).

🚫 Teething necklaces or toys with small parts – Choking and strangulation hazards.

🚫 Teething biscuits – These contain sugar, which can stick to your child’s teeth and increase the risk of cavities.

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I wish you all the best in this teething journey - may it be a short one!

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Reference

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1. Macknin ML, Piedmonte M, Jacobs J, Skibinski C. Symptoms associated with infant teething: a prospective study. Pediatrics. 2000 Apr;105(4 Pt 1):747-52. doi: 10.1542/peds.105.4.747. PMID: 10742315.
2. Sood S, Sood M. Teething: myths and facts. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2010 Fall;35(1):9-13. doi: 10.17796/jcpd.35.1.u146773636772101. PMID: 21189758.

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