Teething Pain in Infants - How to Relieve their Suffering

Like the first smile, steps and other wondrous moments, teething will accompany your little one’s first year, only with less pleasure. Many infants cry, scream and suffer from teething pain. Today, there’s no need to suffer in pain. There are effective ways to relieve infant teething pain and calm their suffering.

It happens between the ages of 3 months and a year: your infant’s first teeth erupt, new teeth break through the gums, creating their set of “baby teeth.” This process generally culminates around age three; until then the teeth will continue to emerge, in a process that involves some pain, swelling and sometimes even soft tissue infections. Despite the fact that this process is unpleasant for the infant and their parents (who must deal with their pained, crying child), it is 100% normal and does not pose a danger to the infant’s health.
 
Many link infant teething to other phenomena, such as: fevers or diarrhea, but today doctors believe that there is no link between teething and medical issues. As such, if your infant suffers from additional medical issues, it’s a good idea to take them to the doctor for a checkup.

How do you relieve infant teething pain and help your little one (and yourself) navigate this period with ease? Everything you need to know, right here.

Can any foods reduce the pain?

There are several types of food that can relieve your infant’s pain - and others that can cause pain. As such, it’s important that you take care when offering your little one food while they’re teething:

• Hard biscuits: Hard biscuits that can be found in the baby product aisle of any grocery store can help relieve their pain.
• Popsicles: If your infant is over 10 months in age, you can offer them a popsicle or freezie. The cold numbs the area and eating the sweet treat distracts them from their pain.
• Fruits and vegetables: Not only do fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that are essential to your infant’s development, but they also help develop their jaw muscles and clean their teeth.
• Foods to avoid: Salty or sour foods can irritate the teething area and cause undue suffering. As such, try and keep these foods and drinks off the menu.

Massage can help

Massaging your infant’s gums can help calm their pain - and this is something you can do every day. Be sure to wash your hands well and gently massage the gums in circular motions for a few minutes at a time. In addition to the massage, you can also clean out the excess saliva that might be intensifying the irritation in their mouth.

Note: in the past, it was thought that massaging the infant’s gums with alcohol helped with the pain. Today, this is not recommended by doctors, as it is quickly absorbed and can cause tremors and alcohol poisoning.

Other methods for relieving infant teething pain

• Teething toys: Rubber or silicone rings and toys designed to be bitten and great for relieving pain and distracting infants.
• Let your infant stuff their hands in their mouth: Many infants stick their hands in their mouths while teething, a natural and healthy defense mechanism that can help calm their pain. Wash their hands well and often, to maintain proper hygiene.
• Administer pain relievers: You can give your infant an age-appropriate pain-relieving medication. Many doctors recommend pain relievers that contain paracetamol, as the active ingredient has been studies for decades and is gentle on the infant stomach.

When waiting for all your infant’s baby teeth to sprout, patience is a virtue. Do not hesitate to use methods that can relieve their pain (and yours) during the teething period.