Teething does cause real discomfort, even though it isn't responsible for the long list of unrelated symptoms it gets blamed for. Several genuinely helpful things will ease a fussy day, and a handful of popular remedies are either useless or actively unsafe. The trick is knowing the difference. For a wider view, see our complete guide to child health.
What Actually Helps
Chilled Teething Rings
A teething ring cooled in the fridge — not the freezer — combines two genuinely useful effects: counter-pressure from chewing (which offsets the pressure of the tooth pushing through the gum from below) and mild cold (which has a brief local anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory effect). Cheap, simple, and they work for most babies.
A few practical points:
- Solid silicone or rubber rings beat liquid-filled ones (which can leak)
- Anything with detachable parts, beads, or buttons is a choking risk — avoid
- Wash and inspect daily for cracks or wear
- Keep one in the fridge, not at room temperature — the cold makes a meaningful difference
Gentle Gum Massage
A clean finger pressed firmly (but gently) against the gum ridge over the erupting tooth is one of the more reliably soothing interventions. The same counter-pressure principle as the ring, but with the precision of being able to target exactly where the discomfort is. Many babies will start gnawing at your finger when they like it — that's fine; the gum needs the pressure.
Chilled Foods (for Weaning Babies)
For babies past around 6 months who are eating solids:
- Refrigerated cucumber sticks — peeled, large enough not to be a choking hazard
- Cold pieces of mango, banana, or pear offered in age-appropriate sizes (or in a mesh feeder)
- A clean chilled flannel with a knot tied in one end — soothing to gum, and the texture appeals
- Frozen breast milk in a mesh feeder for younger babies — provides cold and counter-pressure
Always supervised. Always.
Distraction
Most teething distress is mild enough that engagement defuses it: being held, walked around, taken outside, or shown something new. Increased fussiness during teething often responds well to additional contact and stimulation rather than to specific anti-teething interventions. A walk in the pram does as much as a teething ring for many babies.
Infant Paracetamol
Appropriate for significant teething distress that isn't relieved by other measures. UK weight-appropriate dosing per the product label:
- 2–3 months (over 4 kg, born after 37 weeks): 2.5 ml of paracetamol 120 mg/5 ml suspension — once only without medical advice for post-vaccination fever
- 3–6 months: 2.5 ml every 4–6 hours, max 4 doses in 24 hours
- 6–24 months: 5 ml every 4–6 hours, max 4 doses in 24 hours
- Always check the bottle — concentration formulations vary
Infant paracetamol (e.g. Calpol, generic) has been used for decades, has well-established safety, and is genuinely effective for moderate-to-significant teething discomfort.
Infant Ibuprofen
For babies over 3 months and above 5 kg:
- 3–6 months (over 5 kg): 2.5 ml of ibuprofen 100 mg/5 ml every 6–8 hours, max 3 doses in 24 hours
- 6–12 months: 2.5 ml every 6–8 hours, max 3 doses in 24 hours
- Give with or after feeds to reduce the small risk of GI irritation
- Avoid if the baby is dehydrated or has any kidney issues
- Do not use in babies under 3 months or under 5 kg
Ibuprofen's anti-inflammatory action can make it slightly more effective than paracetamol for the gum-swelling component. Some parents find alternating the two — paracetamol then ibuprofen four hours later — useful for a particularly disrupted night, but for most teething days a single agent is enough.
What to Avoid
Anaesthetic Teething Gels
Benzocaine can cause methaemoglobinaemia in babies — the haemoglobin can no longer release oxygen to tissues, causing grey-blue lips, breathlessness, and lethargy. The FDA recommends against benzocaine for under-twos.
Lidocaine teething products have caused infant deaths from systemic absorption. The MHRA recommends against lidocaine teething gels in young children.
Plain sugar-free teething gels without these agents are safe but provide minimal relief — saliva washes them away in seconds.
Amber Teething Necklaces
Marketed on the basis that body heat releases "succinic acid" with analgesic properties from the amber. There is no scientific evidence of any meaningful release, no plausible mechanism for clinical effect, and two genuine risks:
- Strangulation if the cord catches on something while the baby sleeps or moves
- Aspiration if a bead detaches and ends up in the airway
There have been documented infant deaths and near-misses associated with amber teething jewellery. No major paediatric organisation endorses them, and the UK MHRA has explicitly warned against them. If yours has come as a gift and you want to use it, do not use it during sleep and do not leave the baby unsupervised with it on. Personally, I'd skip it.
Rubbing Alcohol on the Gums
An old folk remedy with no evidence of benefit and clear evidence of harm — alcohol is toxic to infants in small amounts. Brandy on the gums was a Victorian solution; it should have stayed there.
Frozen-Solid Teething Rings
The distinction between chilled (fridge) and frozen (freezer) matters. A frozen-solid ring is too hard and can damage delicate gum tissue and newly erupting teeth. Cold is good; iced is not.
Homeopathic Teething Tablets
In 2017, the FDA found that some "natural" homeopathic teething tablets contained inconsistent and occasionally toxic levels of belladonna and were associated with infant seizures and deaths. The relevant manufacturers reformulated or withdrew. Beyond the safety issue, there's no plausible mechanism for effect at homeopathic dilutions.
When to Escalate
If a baby's distress from "teething" appears disproportionate — hours of inconsolable crying that isn't responding to any of the measures above — the diagnosis is probably wrong. Ear infections, viral illness, UTI, and other conditions frequently coincide with the teething window and routinely get blamed on the teeth.
Get the baby seen if:
- Inconsolable crying lasts more than 2–3 hours
- There is fever above 38°C (especially in babies under 6 months)
- The child is pulling at an ear or there's purulent discharge
- There's vomiting, diarrhoea, or a rash
- Wet nappies are dropping off
- The baby just doesn't seem right to you, even without specific signs
Teething is a diagnosis of mild localised gum discomfort — not a catch-all for any unsettled day in the second half of the first year.
Key Takeaways
What works: chilled (not frozen) teething rings, firm gum massage with a clean finger, distraction, and weight-appropriate infant paracetamol from birth or infant ibuprofen from three months and 5 kg. What to avoid: teething gels containing benzocaine or lidocaine (methaemoglobinaemia and cardiovascular risks), amber teething necklaces (no evidence of effect, real strangulation and aspiration risk), frozen-solid rings (can damage gum tissue), and folk remedies involving alcohol. If a baby seems disproportionately distressed by 'teething' for hours on end, the diagnosis is probably wrong — ear infection, viral illness, or other causes are more likely culprits.
