How do I cope with my child's teething pain?

Question

My son is sixteen months old & is a late teether. His first tooth came out at thirteen months! Now, it seems, they're all coming out at once & the poor kid is in pain. OTC infant medication does nothing for him, he hates his teether....I'm at my wit's end. Please help!

Answer 1

OK, COMMON MISCONCEPTION....Teething doesn't actually HURT....IT ITCHES. Give him a toothbrush or a frozen wash cloth to gnaw on....it relieves the discomfort of itching caused by the teeth growing through the gums. When you give the whiskey as one mother suggested it actually numbs the gums and the itching is relieved. I have 3 children of my own and used EVERYTHING but the best was the wash cloth and toothbrush. It's going to be ok...and when he's happily chewing on toothbrush or wash cloth, YOU CAN DRINK THE JACK....CHEERS.

Answer 2

I am so sorry to hear about your teething toddler. Unfortunately, teething can be extremely painful, just like a 'dying' tooth can be very painful. So if you have ever needed a root canal, you will be able to be empathetic rather than just sympathetic with your son.

So you have tried orajel but it did not work?

Not to worry, there are solutions outside numbing agents.

The thing is, when a child is teething, yes they are in pain. But they also are being subjected to ten times more saliva than normal, a weird bite, grinding during their sleep, and all over weird experiences that they just don't understand.

So what to do? Keep their mouth occupied!! This is because if the toddler gets a sucking motion going, the neurons in the mouth and jaw arent being rapidly fired to the brain. Before, with the mouth unoccupited, all the brain is fixated on is receiving the pain signals. But if the child begins to suck, those pain signals are now interspersed with sensory neurons telling the brain that there is something in the mouth. Make sense?

So what can you use? Well, something that is not a choking hazard. That is key. I used frozen waffles on both my children. And they worked out good, because there is little choking hazard (but never leave your toddler unattended with the waffle in his mouth, always keep your eye on him). The taste works well with a toddler's palate, too. And it has all those little grooves and cups, and that is something the child thinks as "fun" to feel. Not to mention, the texture feels really good on an inflammated mouth.

Second, Children's Motrin (check with your doctor first), should be used in conjuction with the waffles. Because this DOES reduce the inflammation in the gums. It doesnt stop the pain, but it alleviates it.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I had the same problem with getting all my daughter's teeth in at 10 month my poor baby! Teethers didnt work because she didnt want anything her mouth it hurt! I used a little bit of Jack Daniels (yes whiskey) on my finger and put it in her gums and she was a happy baby! My dad did it with me and it worked for mine. Also some times she would chew on leather like a belt or beef jerky instead of a teether.

Answer 4

This is just a simple meal time solution. Try frozen waffles (like Eggo) and keep them frozen, they are already cooked so you don't have to worry about that and they have built in drool cups lol. Someone once suggested to me letting them gum a cold can of soda. (actually said beer but we don't drink beer and a soda can is just as good). Have you tried homeopathic teething tabs, they worked okay for my little girl but she did super well with the infants Tylenol. Whiskey has also been a suggestion to me (a bit on the finger, only a drop or two). Good luck, I hope you get through this phase fast, it is a pain in the butt one for sure.

Answer 5

When my son was teething, I would always wet a washcloth and stick it in the freezer for about 5 minutes to get it real cold. He hated teethers and preferred chewing on fabrics.

Answer 6

I used Tylenol infant drops. My daughter will only take the cherry kind. If the medication doesn't help try dampening a washcloth and putting in the freezer. Only put it in for a few minutes to get it cold. Then give it to your son. This worked for my daughter when I didnt have Tylenol available. She loved gnawing on it and playing with it once it defrosted. And the cold numbed her pain.

Answer 7

just get an advise from the dentist.. maybe you should check his teether, the teether should not just be simple, it should have bright colors to attract the child. ANother non pharmacologic intervention is to let the child play.

Answer 8

Next time you go to the store in the baby area you might see these teething toys that look like Popsicle's but you can put things like fruit and ice cubes in them.

I did both and also got an ice tray and put fruit juice in it and let freeze and my daughter loved that and I also found this teething toy that is shaped like a star and every time the baby bites down on it it vibrates the pain away from their gums.

Answer 9

Popsicles. They will numb his gums and taste yummy to him. It will get his mind off of teething.

Edit: If you try the popsicles, get the Flavor Ice brand. Those are the ones with the clear wrapper over the whole popsicle. Those are a lot less messy than others.

Answer 10

This is going to sound gross to some people but my son sucked and chewed on a cold,wet face cloth through all of his teething as a toddler, it was the only thing he would use and it helped him alot.