We want to remind you we are not medical doctors and we are not recommending the use of any medication, pharmaceutical or natural. We are just reporting what research tells us about those options, to help you to decide which of these methods, if any, to use with your own infant. Please consult your doctor before giving your child ANY medication.
Common Teething Medications
Acetaminophen: Pediatricians often recommend acetaminophen products, such as Tylenol, for infant and toddler teething discomfort. Until quite recently, there were two suspension strengths: one for infants (80 mg/0.8 mL) and one for children (160 mg/5 mL), which resulted in the potential for confusion, as well as the potential for an accidental overdose. In response to recommendations from an FDA Advisory Committee Meeting, since 2011, some manufacturers have changed the amount of acetaminophen in these medicines to one standard amount to help reduce dosing errors that can lead to accidental overdoses (Krenzelok, 2009). Infant drops, which contain 3 times more medicine than the children’s liquid, are being phased out and will no longer be available. You need to be aware that the dosingamounts are different depending on the concentration they are using. And please remember, even though teething pain might affect some children on-and-off for several months, acetaminophen is not appropriate for long-term pain-management.
Mouth gels: Even though teething gels have been popular, on April 2011, the FDA warned the public that the use of benzocaine, the main ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) gels and liquids applied to the gums or mouth to reduce pain, is associated with a rare, but serious condition. This condition is called methemoglobinemia and results in the amount of oxygen carried through the blood stream being greatly reduced. In the most severe cases, this condition can result in death. Analysis of the incidence of adverse reactions to benzocaine and dose required to produce an adverse reaction revealed 132 cases of methemoglobinemia between November 1997 and March 2002. Only 69 of the reported events specified the dose used, but of those, 37 indicated use consistent with package directions (i.e. appropriate dosing) (Moore et al, 2004). As of today, the FDA recommends that benzocaine-containing gels and sprays not be used on children younger than 2.