Few things unsettle a household quite like a teething baby. The drooling, the chewing on everything in reach, the broken sleep, it all sends most parents looking for something, anything, to bring a little relief.
Teething gel is often the first thing that comes to mind. But not all teething gels are the same, and some are best avoided altogether. Here is what teething gel actually is, when it helps, and what to look for so you're soothing your baby safely.
What is teething gel?
Teething gel is a gel you put directly onto your baby's gums to ease the discomfort of new teeth coming through. You rub a little onto the sore spot with a clean finger.
But not all teething gels are the same. They fall into two very different types, and the difference matters far more than the packaging lets on.
The two kinds of teething gel
The first kind contains a numbing agent, usually benzocaine or lidocaine, to dull the feeling in the gums for a little while. It works by deadening the area rather than easing it.
The second kind leaves those medicated ingredients out altogether and uses gentle, soothing and effective botanicals to comfort sore gums instead. That's the real divide for parents:
• Medicated gels rely on anaesthetics like benzocaine or lidocaine
• Gentle, natural teething gels use calming natural ingredients instead
• For a young baby, the gentle option is the one to reach for.
Why the medicated gels are best avoided
Health authorities have repeatedly cautioned against benzocaine and lidocaine teething gels for babies and young children. These medicines can be absorbed through the lining of the mouth, and babies often swallow much of the gel, increasing the amount that enters the body.
Because the gel is quickly washed away by saliva or swallowed, it provides little lasting relief and may encourage repeated application. Using these products too often or in excessive amounts can increase the risk of unwanted side effects.
When should you use teething gel?
Most babies start teething somewhere between four and seven months. The common teething symptoms are easy to spot: drooling, chewing on everything, mild irritability, tender gums and bum rash. A gentle, non-medicated gel can be used during these flare-ups, rubbed lightly onto the gums when your baby seems most uncomfortable, including before naps and bedtime.
If you're not sure whether teething is really the cause, our post on spotting the signs of teething is a helpful guide to what to look for. And if your little one seems genuinely unwell rather than just uncomfortable, it's always worth checking in with your family doctor.
What to look for in a gentle teething gel
When choosing a gel you feel good about using, the front of the pack matters far less than what's actually inside. Look for:
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No benzocaine, lidocaine, or other anaesthetics, so it's one less thing to worry about when your baby swallows it
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Gentle, soothing botanicals rather than synthetic actives
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A trusted, natural formulation made for babies' mouths.
Pure Beginnings' Soothing Teething Gel is a natural, non-medicated teething gel with organic liquorice, marshmallow root and chamomile. Liquorice and marshmallow root have natural soothing properties that help calm sore gums, while chamomile adds a gentle, calming effect, so you get real relief without the worry of a medicated gel. And because it's non-medicated, you can reapply as often as your little one needs, without any of the dosage concerns that come with anaesthetic gels. Most babies love the taste too, which makes application that much easier.
Comfort beyond the gel
A good gel is only one part of getting through teething. A few simple comforts often do just as much:
• A clean finger to gently massage the gums
• A firm, chilled (never frozen) teether to chew on
• Plenty of cuddles and patience on the harder days.
For more ideas, our post on natural solutions to teething is full of gentle ways to help.
Soothing, the gentle way
Teething is a normal part of growing up, and most babies don't need strong medication to get through it, just gentle comfort and a little reassurance.
So when you reach for a teething gel, reach for one that soothes rather than numbs, and that you'd feel just as comfortable using on the last tooth as the first. Gentle, honest formulation made for little mouths, from the very beginning.
