Teething can be an uncomfortable experience for your baby and for you. With all of the drool, crying, interrupted sleep, fussiness, and biting, teething is a phase that we all wish would pass quickly. However, it often does. So, to help make the teething phase easier for you and your child, our Hill Country Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics team has some information for you. There are things you should and shouldn’t do to help your child while they are teething, and those things are:

Don’t try this at home:

-Don’t use amber teething necklaces. The brand claims that the necklaces release a pain-relieving substance that is absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin, but there is no scientific evidence that that is true. The beads in the necklace might also pose as a choking hazard.

-Don’t use lidocaine. This is a topical anesthetic that can be poisonous to infants and young children. It can also lead to seizures, brain damage, and even death.

Tried-and-true methods:

–After washing your hands, massage your child’s gums with your finger. Be cautious of biting.

–Put a spoon in the refrigerator or freezer. When it’s cool, place it in your child’s mouth on the sensitive area of the gums.

–Let your child chew on a cold washcloth—but only under close supervision.

–Chill your child’s pacifier in the refrigerator before you give it to your child.

–Let your child chew and bite on a teething ring.

If you avoid the harmful teething tricks and use the helpful tricks, there is a high chance your child will feel better and your life will be easier. To learn more about teething in Bee Cave, Texas, please remember that you can always call our office today at 254.655.6554. Your dentist, Dr. Nieku Manshadi, and our dental team are more than happy to help you in any way we can!