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Affordable, fast, safe teething remedy to try as an alternative to toxic “drug-free” baby teething gels available over-the-counter.
When my kids were babies, teething gels contained the chemical benzocaine as the active ingredient.
The FDA has issued repeated warnings about benzocaine over the years, finally taking action in 2018 to remove it from the market in products like Anbesol and Baby Orajel. (1)
Under certain conditions, benzocaine can trigger a rare and sometimes fatal blood condition called methemoglobinemia which causes dangerously low oxygen levels in the blood with resulting symptoms of ashen, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips and fingernail beds, shortness of breath, headache, light-headedness and rapid heart rate possible.
The scary symptoms triggered by benzocaine in baby teething gels can occur within minutes or even hours. Methemoglobinemia can occur the first time the product is used or much later after several uses even when the child appeared fine previously.
Non-Medicated Teething Gels Are Toxic
Unfortunately, the benzocaine-free teething gels that are newer on the market are not much better!
They are still highly toxic with numerous undesirable and dangerous ingredients.
Check out the label below for the popular brand Orajel’s Daytime and Nighttime baby teething gels.
I mean, SERIOUSLY?
Starting with a sketchy first ingredient…chlorinated and likely fluoridated tap water…barely a single thing in this list is safe, especially for a baby who has no developed blood-brain barrier protection yet.
From the carcinogenic saccharin sweetener to propylene glycol (edible antifreeze which causes loose bowels already a problem for a teething baby), GMO citric acid, and artificial flavor….this stuff is a nightmare!
Other Teething Remedies
While a chilled teething ring as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics may seem safer, I personally didn’t want my children chomping on plastic.
Chewing on a synthetic substance might introduce another chemical danger to their vulnerable little bodies.
Swapping one chemical cocktail (teething gels) for another (plastic) doesn’t seem like a good idea at least to me.
I never tried an amber necklace, as they seemed to be a possible choking or strangulation hazard. The FDA issued a formal warning about them in 2018. (2)
Massaging the gums does help but is not always practical.
For example, if you are trying to get baby to sleep and she won’t lie still due to teething discomfort, this approach is probably not going to work!
Homeopathy for Teething
In cases where you need help with teething pain right away, I suggest trying these homeopathic baby oral relief tablets.
The tiny white pills that dissolve under the tongue are sweetened with lactose, a natural sugar abundant in breastmilk.
No white sugar or artificial anything is added.
Since they dissolve with no chewing, even babies with no teeth can easily take them.
As a bonus, homeopathic teething pills are quite inexpensive like many homeopathic remedies I’ve used.
I can’t tell you how many times I had a crying, fussy child in discomfort from teething pain who calmed down and went to sleep within minutes of having a couple of these tiny homeopathic pills placed under the tongue!
My husband and I used to call this homeopathic teething remedy “magic pills” because of how amazingly fast and effective they were with all three of our children.
For any homeopathy doubters out there, the effect is not a placebo effect either. A baby who is still nonverbal wouldn’t even know what this meant anyway.
My suggestion is to skip the dangerous, over-the-counter gels and other teething remedies containing toxic chemicals to soothe your irritable child.
Give homeopathy a try! Hopefully, you will be as delighted as we were with the nontoxic, effective results!
It’s certainly worth a shot given how affordable they are and no doctor visit is required to obtain them!
(1) FDA Takes Action on Benzocaine teething products
(2) FDA warns about safety risks of teething necklaces, bracelets to relieve teething pain or to provide sensory stimulation
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Major recall of teething tablets
cnn.com/2017/04/14/health/hylands-teething-tablet-fda-recall-bn/index.html
Clove oil is wonderful for teething and for tooth aches for all ages – it numbs instantly. You can get “Gumomille” which is a blend of oils that include clove oil. You can also get straight clove oil and dilute slightly in coconut oil. It takes just a drop! Taste on your tongue first to see if its too strong.
With the new FDA statement about Hyland’s teething tablets which led to them stopping production, I am wondering if you have any other recommendations for teething. I appreciate the time you put into sharing your thoughts.
You might want to do proper research before claiming a recall, Hyland’s clearly states on their site they have never been recalled and explain how medically extracted belladonna has been used for 100s of years and has no negative side effects, it’s also approved by many doctors pediatricians and the fda