Teething Remedies: A Pediatrician's Guide to Safe Relief

The safest teething remedies are simple: a chilled (not frozen) firm rubber teething ring, a gentle gum massage with a clean finger, and a cold, damp washcloth. Three things you should never use are benzocaine teething gels, homeopathic teething tablets, and amber teething necklaces. The FDA warns that all three can seriously harm your baby. This guide walks through what actually helps, what to avoid, and when to call your doctor.

Unsafe teething remedies to avoid

Some of the most heavily marketed teething products are the ones the FDA warns against, because they can cause serious harm and even death.

Marketing does not equal safety. The products below are sold in stores and online, but the FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warn against using them on children.

Two more remedies to avoid:

• Numbing products with lidocaine: the FDA warns against prescription or nonprescription lidocaine for teething. Prescription viscous lidocaine can cause heart problems, severe brain injury, seizures, and death.
• Alcohol rubbed on the gums: the AAP warns that alcohol on the gums is absorbed quickly into your baby's bloodstream and can cause seizures.

Here is a quick side-by-side of what helps and what to avoid.

Safe teething remedies that actually work

The remedies the AAP recommends are cold, gentle pressure, and safe things to chew, all of which you can do at home for free.

Most teething relief is about comfort, not a cure. Teething is temporary, and no product makes it disappear. These AAP-recommended options are safe ways to ease sore gums.

Cold (a chilled ring or wet washcloth)

Cold numbs sore gums gently. Twist a clean, damp washcloth, chill it in the freezer, and let your baby chew on it. A firm rubber teething ring chilled in the fridge works well too. Keep it cold, not frozen solid, because a rock-hard teether can hurt the gums.

Gum massage with a clean finger

Gentle pressure often brings quick relief. Wash your hands, then rub your baby's sore gums with a clean finger or knuckle for a minute or two. Many babies also like to gnaw on your (clean) finger. It costs nothing and you can do it anywhere.

Firm rubber teething toys

A safe teether gives your baby something to chew that pushes back on the gums. Choose a firm, one-piece rubber or plastic teething toy. Rubber and plastic toys can safely soothe aching gums. Avoid teethers that are frozen solid or filled with liquid.

Cold foods for babies already on solids

Once your baby eats solids, cold food can soothe gums and offer a snack. Offer chilled (not frozen-solid) fruit in a mesh or silicone feeder, which lets your baby suck on the fruit safely. Always watch your baby while they eat, and ask your pediatrician about choking safety for your child's age.

Comfort measures (holding, distraction, extra feeds)

Sometimes the best remedy is you. Extra cuddles, a change of scene, a warm bath, or a favorite toy can distract your baby from sore gums. A little extra nursing or bottle time can comfort too. These simple steps are safe at any age.

What are the symptoms of teething?

Teething usually brings drooling, more chewing, a rash around the mouth, and fussiness from swollen gums, but not serious illness.

Most babies get their first teeth between about 6 and 10 months, though some feel discomfort earlier. Common signs are drooling, wanting to chew on everything, mild gum swelling, and being cranky. Importantly, teething does not cause a fever, diarrhea, or excess crying. If you see those symptoms, call your child's doctor, because something else may be going on. For a full timeline of when teeth come in, see our guide on when babies start teething.

Can I give my baby medicine for teething pain?

For a baby who is very uncomfortable, ask your pediatrician about pain medicine, and always confirm the dose first.

Numbing gels are not the answer. The AAP notes that numbing gels usually do not help, because drool quickly washes them away, and some (like benzocaine) are dangerous. For real discomfort, the safer path is a pediatrician-guided dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

• For any baby under 2, check with your pediatrician before giving acetaminophen or ibuprofen. The AAP advises that acetaminophen should not be given under age 2 without a doctor's guidance.
• Never give ibuprofen to a baby under 6 months unless your doctor tells you to.
• Dosing is based on your child's weight, so get the dose from your pediatrician rather than guessing.
• Do not give combination (multi-ingredient) medicines, such as many cough and cold products, to children under 6.
• If your baby spits up right after a dose, do not automatically give another. Call your pediatrician or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Do natural teething remedies work?

The natural remedies that work are the safe basics: cold, gentle pressure, and safe chewing. "Natural" does not automatically mean safe.

Parents often search for natural or homeopathic options, hoping to avoid medicine. The good news is that the safest remedies (a cold washcloth, a chilled teether, and a gum massage) are already natural and free. The caution is that some "natural" products are unsafe: amber necklaces, homeopathic belladonna tablets, and alcohol on the gums can all harm your baby, as covered above. Overall, the medical evidence for any single teething remedy is very limited, so focus on comfort and safety rather than a miracle fix.

How to help a teething baby at night, and how long teething lasts

Many parents notice rough nights during teething, and the same daytime comfort steps work after dark.

Interestingly, one 2025 study that measured infant sleep found no real difference on teething nights compared with other nights, so a hard night may not always be the teeth. Still, if your baby is uncomfortable, the AAP suggests gentle gum pressure or massage, a cold teething cloth, a warm bath, and quiet white noise at bedtime. Discomfort for each tooth tends to cluster in a short window, roughly from a few days before the tooth breaks through to a few days after. If nights are consistently hard or your baby seems sick, check in with your pediatrician.

When to call your doctor

Call your pediatrician if your baby has a fever, diarrhea, or a lot of crying, because teething does not cause these.

A fever means a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher. Here is when to reach out:

• Any baby 3 months or younger with a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher needs to be seen right away. Call your pediatrician immediately.
• A fever, diarrhea, or excess crying at any age is not teething. Call your doctor to rule out an infection.
• Some numbing products can cause a medical emergency. After any numbing product, call 911 right away if your baby's skin, lips, or nail beds look pale, gray, or blue. Also call 911 for trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, or unusual tiredness.
• Not sure whether it is teething or an ear infection? Our guide on ear infection versus teething can help you tell the difference.

How Blueberry can help

Teething can look a lot like other common baby illnesses, and that is exactly when a quick check-in helps.

With Blueberry Pediatrics, you can message a pediatrician anytime, day or night, without leaving home. If you are not sure whether your baby's symptoms are teething or something that needs care, our team can help you decide what to do next.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best remedy for a teething baby?

The best remedies are cold and gentle pressure: a chilled (not frozen) firm rubber teether, a cold damp washcloth, or a clean-finger gum massage. These are safe and free, and the AAP recommends them.

Are amber teething necklaces safe?

No. The FDA warns that teething jewelry can cause strangulation and choking, including a report of an 18-month-old strangled during a nap, and says their safety and effectiveness have not been established. Never use them.

Do teething gels or tablets work, and are they safe?

No. Numbing gels usually do not help because drool washes them away, and the FDA warns that benzocaine gels should not be used for teething. The FDA also warns that homeopathic teething tablets can lead to serious injury, and even death. Never use either.

Can I give my baby Tylenol or ibuprofen for teething?

For any baby under 2, ask your pediatrician first. Never give ibuprofen under 6 months unless your doctor says so. Dosing is based on your child's weight.

How long does teething pain last?

Discomfort for each tooth usually lasts a short window, roughly from a few days before the tooth comes through to a few days after, not for weeks at a time.

Sources

This guide relies only on primary medical sources, reviewed and current as of 2026.

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Consumer Update: Safely Soothing Teething Pain in Infants and Children (content current as of 06/26/2024).
• FDA Drug Safety Communication, May 23, 2018 (benzocaine and methemoglobinemia). Dated reference; the page is no longer online, but its under-2 warning still appears on current benzocaine product labels.
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), HealthyChildren.org: Teething Pain Relief: How to Soothe Your Baby's Discomfort (updated 7/9/2025).
• AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Acetaminophen Dosing Tables for Fever and Pain in Children (updated 1/30/2026).
• AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Ibuprofen Dosing Table for Fever and Pain (updated 9/19/2024).
• AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Fever and Your Baby (updated 9/23/2025).
• FDA Safety Communication, December 20, 2018 (teething necklaces, bracelets, and other jewelry). Dated reference; the original page is no longer online.
• FDA, January 27, 2017 (laboratory analysis of belladonna in homeopathic teething tablets). Dated reference; the original page is no longer online.
• Kahn M, et al. J Pediatr. 2025;279:114461 (infant sleep measured on teething vs. non-teething nights).
• Macknin ML, et al. Pediatrics. 2000;105(4 Pt 1):747-752 (timing and clustering of teething symptoms).
• Canto FMT, et al. Braz Oral Res. 2022;36:e066 (systematic review; evidence for teething remedies is very limited).

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk with your pediatrician about your child's health and before giving any medicine.