The teething process will come and go just like so many other things with new babies. However, managing the discomfort is really a matter of trying different things until you discover what provides the greatest relief for your child.

When nothing else seems to help, you can generally rely on relief by utilizing either (1) Over-the-counter medications or (2) all natural homeopathic remedies.

(1) Over-the-counter medications include:

Infant Tylenol (acetaminophen) – for temporary pain relief.
Infant Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen) – temporary relief of pain and inflammation.

Caution: Never exceed the recommended dosage.

Topical oral anesthetics:
Baby Orajel
Baby Anbesol
Baby Zilactin
Caution: These contain benzocaine and may cause allergic reaction.

Warning: Never give your child aspirin!

(2) All Natural Homeopathic Remedies include:

Clove oil - can be rubbed on sore gums to relieve pain, but only use a tiny amount: too much can upset your baby's stomach.

Natural Licorice Stick (the herb, not the candy) - typically found in health food stores, feels cool and also numbs the gums when your baby chews on it.

Chamomilla and Calcarea Carbonica are considered two of the most helpful remedies for teething, individually or in a combination remedy. Both are safe in low doses.

Wash Cloth - soaked in Chamomile Tea and then frozen is great for chewing on when baby is teething.

Olive Oil - rub gently on the gums for relief from teething pain.

Ginger Root - rub a small piece on the baby’s gums to soothe the pain.

Pickles – can be helpful because the cold temperature and vinegar helps to numb the gums.

Camomile Oil - Wet a cotton swab with 1-2 drops and apply to the gums. It has a sedative and antispasmodic action.

Tea Tree Oil – one drop well mixed in a glass of water and rubbed on the gums provides a sedative effect.

Lobelia extract, Aloe Vera gel or Peppermint Oil rubbed on the gums can provide relief.

Chamomilla - considered the most used homeopathic medicine for teething pain.

Chamomile Tea Bag - A cooled chamomile tea bag can be gently rubbed onto a baby's gums for pain relief.

Hyland's and Humphrey's Teething Tablets – providing all natural relief for more than 60 years and available at many main-stream pharmacies in addition to local co-op or health food stores.

Caution: Even tiny amounts of alcohol can be poisonous to a baby, so avoid remedies and medications that contain alcohol.

When to call the doctor

Because some signs of teething may actually be signs of illness, call if symptoms worsen (for instance, a low-grade fever reaches 101º F or higher) or linger for more than a couple of days. Same goes if no teeth have come in by 15 months, in which case your pediatrician may want you to take your child to a dentist for an x ray.

Disclaimer: The medical information provided in this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice and shall not create a physician - patient relationship. Natural home remedies are submitted to various websites and publications by people from all around the world, and it should be understood that there is no clinical way to test or verify every one of the remedies. So, please be advised that while any and all of them may have worked well for your mother or grandmother, never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician, as there may be allergies and other drug interactions to consider. Remember, your child's doctor generally knows what is best for your child.