Orajel for Teethers, Is It a Good Idea??

Updated on March 10, 2008
M.M. asks from Murrieta, CA
80 answers

I am just wondering what advice you all have about putting orajel on your babies gums for teething. I have heard that it can cause the baby to choke because it numbs there mouth, but other people are suggesting that I give it my almost 6 month old teether. I can tell he is in so much pain and I don't know what to do for it. I have given him tylenol a few times but was just wondering if anyone has any other suggestions. Thanks

THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE. I have decided to buy hylands teething tablets and they seem to be working!!!!!

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So What Happened?

I BOUGHT HYLANDS TEETHING TABLETS....THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE!!
Thank you for your teething tablet advice, I am going out today to buy some, it sounds like they work really well!!!!!

Featured Answers

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L.B.

answers from San Diego on

I never liked orajel for my children. I swear by Hyland's Teething Tablets. You can find them in Rite-Aid. They're a homeopathic alternative and REALLY work! Good luck.

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R.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Even better than Orajel are these little teething tablets that you can buy at almost any store and they are GREAT. Baby's love them because they don't have a medicin tast they dissolve fairly quickly and you can give it to him as often as needed!

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J.P.

answers from Honolulu on

Hi there -- I have a 5 year old and a 2 month old. My older son cut his first teeth at 11 weeks and had 8 teeth at the stroke of 6 months. I never used orajel nor would I recommend it. What I did use (for teething pain, general crankiness, illness with fever, and for myself on a hard day) was Boiron teething homeopathics -- I think the box says Camilia or something like that. Instead of the normal tablet homeopathics, these are little vials of liquid and generally just one would do the trick. I feel so strongly about these that I give them to every pregnant friend as part of a baby shower gift. Hope this helps. aloha JP

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C.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I believe there is a version of Orajel for infants, but I am the biggest fan of "Hyland's Homeopathic Teething Tablets". They are tiny pellets that you dissolve under baby's tongue about 4 times a day. I would literally rub the residue on my daughters' gums -- it helped! I have tasted them myself and they are fine. The only "warning" is that baby may fall asleep if given the pellets while really upset due to the teething. I think my daughters' appreciated the break! Just kidding. Good luck.

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L.W.

answers from Las Vegas on

I personally think the orajel works ok. It just doesn't do much. I had a pediatrician tell me that for some reason it causes the teeth to take longer to cut if you use it. We only used it when we were desperate. I don't think you have to worry about the choking thing unless you planned on numbing the entire mouth. You only need a tiny drop or two. I never had any luck with the teething tablets. My 1 year old is teething horribly right now and I just give her childrens motrin every 6 hours when she's this bad. I think it work better than tylenol personally. I hate when they're teething. Is so miserable for them and us.

L.

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N.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am a mother of three gorgeous daughters, 15, 13, & 11. I also have been in the dental field for the past 20 years. I recommend Baby Orajel for teething babies. I have never heard of them choking due to the Orajel numbing there throat. As long as you dont put on an excessive amount of Orajel on there gums. A cold / frozen teether is also good or a cold wet wash cloth also can be used. Good Luck!

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S.W.

answers from Visalia on

i used hylands teething tablets with all three of my children. they are small tablets that disolve on in their mouth. not sure about the choking hazard, but do know that they seemed to really help them. good luck!!

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L.F.

answers from Honolulu on

Hi Jes,

I was introduced to Hyland's homeopathic teething tablets and gel by my sister, she is a massage therapist. When my now 2 year old was teething I would just give her 2 tablets (that would instantly dissolve in her mouth) every 4 to 6 hours. If she was in a lot of teething pain I would also rub Hyland's teething gel on her gums to sooth her. I didn't worry about side effects because the ingredients are 100% natural. You can find Hyland's products at any health food store or grocery store with a health food section. All their products for infants are great!

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S.D.

answers from San Diego on

There are these tablets that are all natural they sell them almost everywhere. They work wonders! They disolve in seconds and are safe for the baby. hope they work for you as well as they work for me.:)

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T.R.

answers from San Diego on

I have tried teething tablets that are natural and desolve in their mouth. They work well. I would give the tylenol at night. You can get the teething tablets at any health food store. Good Luck.

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K.P.

answers from Las Vegas on

I never used orajel, but I have used Hylands Teething Tablets. They work great! The disolve instantly in their mouth(I tried it myself because I was nervous the first time with my baby). You can find them at the health food store or almost any grocery store. Good Luck!!

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J.S.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

I've used Orajel for both of my sons while they were teething & they never had a choking problem. That would only happen, in my opinion, if they were given too much. I would take small dab, put it on the end of a clean q-tip & gently swab it on the swollen area. It gave them such relief!

I tried the teething tablets w/my younger son, & it didn't give him any relief. They may work for your child, though.

Also, with my oldest son, the teething rings helped him a lot. I would put them in the refrigerator & take one out when he needed it. The cold helped to numb the sore area while he chewed on it.

Experiment with different things, and you'll find what works best for your child. Hang in there, mom!

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M.A.

answers from Washington DC on

Orajel is a miracle. Use it! I also give tylenol and/or Motrin every night before bed during the teething "painful" days.

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K.E.

answers from Los Angeles on

Orajel will numb everything, but if you use a little, it should just numb the area. Plus it only last 5-15 min. I found that the homeopathic "teething tablets" found at Walmart and other pharmacies worked really well. I have three daughters 10,7, and 15 mo. I used it on all three and it worked.
Good luck
K. E.

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R.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am no expert, but I can tell you from experience from my 13 month old daughter who has been teething since she was 3 months old, that Orajel is perfectly safe as long as you don't give it to her before a bottle because her her gums/mouth go numb and she can choke because she doesn't have the sensation when swallowing. Also Tylenol works wonders too especially at night when they tend to actually be more fussy from teething. Hope this helps! Good luck!

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D.M.

answers from San Diego on

Hello,
My Dr. told me not to use Orajel and to use these natural tablets. I can't think of the name (WILKEN, WATKINS SOMTHING LIKE THAT) but if you go to Albertsons and look in the childs aisle you will find them. They are little white tablets and are all natural and they work wonderful. You can give it to them as many times a day and there are no side effects.
I used them on my daughter and they worked.

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P.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Jes,
Orajel never worked for us. Go to Walmart and in the vitamin/medicine aisle you'll fing Hylands Homeopathic Teething Tablets. THEY WORK!! They are 100% natural, have no side effects (except a happy baby), and they dissolve instantly. We love them.
Good luck.
P.

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N.G.

answers from Santa Barbara on

I am not a huge fan if orajel because it only lasts a few minutes and tastes horrible. I love Hylands homeopathic teething tavlets. They just dissolve in their mouths and have calming things in them like chammomile. Good luck!

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S.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Jes,

I was told by my pediatrician that orajel is just fine. I found something that works even better that Orajel. They are homeopathic teething tablets. They are called Hylands teething tablets. You can but them at any drug store. They cost anywhere between $5 and $6. You just give them 3 or 4 tablets every 4 hours.The tablets just melt in their mouth. When I got them I put one in my mouth and it dissolved in about 10 seconds. I started giving them to my son when he was about 6 months old too. If it gets really bad you can add Tylenol to it and the pain completely goes away. Hope this works for you!!

S. M

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E.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'd recommend avoiding any medication for teething including orajel or other topical medicines. A good natural, topical remedy is clove oil, an essential oil that can be applied directly to the gums to help numb the pain. While teething can be extremely painful for the baby and challenging for the parent, remember that emergence of teeth is a completely normal occurence. I would also avoid tylenol and other anti-pyretics than can be extremely damaging to a baby's liver. Instead you could try a homeopathic teething remedy which you can purchase at Whole foods or other healthfood stores which is completely safe for your baby and effective in alleviating teething discomfort.

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S.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

Have you tried teething tablets? My girls are older now,so I dont remember the brand it's Rylands, I think they are all natural and disolve quickly. Just place under baby's tounge. They worked instantly. I sware by them even when my girls have a toothache, or a loose tooth, It helps relieve the pain so they can just pull their tooth out when it is ready. Good Luck!

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C.K.

answers from San Diego on

No
I've never heard any medical provider recommend it.
Try a cold washcloth for chewing and using your clean finger to massage the gums.
good luck

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B.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi Jes,
I use the Orajel Q-tips. They work very well for precise placement of medicine without any worry of squirting too much medicine into the mouth. I also use Tylenol occasionally when my daughter is in desparate need for relief. Have you tried teething tablets? They are homeopathic and I was a skeptic until I used them, they are a godsend. My daughter (now 1) has been getting teeth since 4 months old and is currently cutting her 13th tooth and I have used the tablets for the last 3 or 4 teeth and nothing else. Try them, really. Good luck!

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Y.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

I used Hyland's Teething tablets they are all natural so you need not worry about overdoseing and thay see to work great on my lil one. Best of luck to you oh ya you could find the at any walgreens or cvs typ store.

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F.L.

answers from Reno on

It's better to put a couple of dampened baby washclothes in the freezer and when your little one is fussy, pull one out and let them chew on the now cold washcloth. They can gum the washclothes and it won't hurt them and feels good on those swollen gums.

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T.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

hi,

I highly suggest Highlands teething tablets! You just put them in your baby's mouth and they dissolve quickly you put your finger in and rub it around when it's dissolving and it doesn't numb there mouth they work great! I don't know what I would of done with out them. You can get them at whole foods or ralphs market.

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S.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

Jes,

I used BABY Orajel, Hyland teething tabs and Tylenol for my daughters and they made it through teething pretty well. Try one for a day or so and then see if the others work for you either seperatly or in small dose combinations. I have an 8 month old and she is just starting to break teeth so we give her 2-3 Hyland tabs when we notice her eating her hands! ALl the best! S.

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C.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi. I see you've gotten a lot of great responses to your question, but I wanted to add my 2 cents. : ) My son didn't respond much to the Teething Tablets, but there's another natural product that really worked for him. It's called "gummy rub" and it's basically a natural version of orajel -- you rub it on the gums and it semi-numbs them. The great thing about the gummy rub is that it's all natural, made mostly of ground cloves/clove oil -- along with other herbal ingredients. It has a very strong taste, but my son seemed to actually enjoy it. We used it for all of his teething, up through the toddler years. In fact, one of his first two-word combinations was "gummy rub!" I've also used it for my own tooth pain, and it works for me, too. Hope this is useful, and gives your little one some relief.

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A.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

hello,
go homeopathic! hyland's makes a great teething preparation. really calms them down. can get it just about any natural food store. my daughter LOVED it. they take it under the tongue, but don't put your fingers on it. just drop it in. dissolves instantly and works in about 60 sec.

she would go looking for it herself when she did not feel good!
-A.

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T.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Camilia is best. it is lactose free.

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H.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I never used Oragel for my son because my doctor said that it did not really work that well. However, I usee Hylands Teething Tablets, and they worked quite well. They dissolve instantly when they hit your baby's saliva, and I used to rub it all over his gums, and the screaming and pain would be gone within a minute...literally! Many of my friends used this as well, and thought it was a great product.
Good luck!

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R.M.

answers from San Diego on

I have been told by friends and doctors that Orajel hardens the gums back up and to use Baby Ambesol instead because it does not harden them. Only use a little bit and do not feed them anything for at least 30 minutes to an hour because of the numbing and it will make them choke. That is why they say the baby will choke from using this is because parents feed their babies immediately after using this product. Try to stay clear of Orajel and stay with Ambesol.
Happy Teething!!!! (Ok I know there is no such thing, just tryin to make you smile!!)
R.

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K.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I used orajel on my daughter when she was 6 months (she's 19 months now), and she never choked. I could tell however, that sometimes her lips and/or tongue got numb when I wasn't that accurate with the application. SHe would work her mouth kind of funny from the feeling.

Just be careful with the application if you are really worried about choking and make sure it goes straight on her gums. Since she's only 6 months, I'm assuming the teeth are in front, so it should be a little easier to keep the stuff away from the back of her throat. The bottom line for me was that I couldn't stand watching her suffer. Orajel also makes a "nighttime" version that is a little stronger than the regular stuff. We used that, too, with no problems.

Hope that helps to ease your mind to hear there's at least one mom out there that used the product with success!

K. P.

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R.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I used it with my daughter and she is fine. It helped her to sleep through the night when she was teething. I would only give it to her at night, and I would give her cold things during the day. I don't know about the other things, but this was easy and worked well for my family.
Good luck
R.

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C.Z.

answers from Los Angeles on

Baby Orajel is perfectly safe. I gave to both of my kids, by daughter just turned six months old and is going through the same thing. Contrary to what you heard about your baby choking is not true. All it does, is numb the gums and relieve the pain for a while. If you are concerned about your baby choking, try teething tablets. They are fairly cheap and you can by them just about anywhere. There are small tablets that you place right underneath your baby's tounge and there is no need to worry about choking because they don't completley numb the mouth and they dissolve instantly. You might also try teething rings as well. Not only is it really safe, but your baby will be enertained for hours. Good luck.

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B.E.

answers from Los Angeles on

We tried Orajel one night but it seemed useless. We have since used the Hyland's homeopathic tablets. They are awesome. Whenever Isaac is fussy for what seems like no reason, we give him one or two and instantly, he's better. I've purchased them at Babies R Us, CVS, and Rite-aid. They are everywhere - grocery too. There are 100 tablets in the little jar too so it lasts a while. Good luck!

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N.W.

answers from San Diego on

I used Nighttime Baby Orajel for my baby starting at 5 months and never had a problem. There is also something called Little Teethers which is made by the same maker as Little Tummies. At Kaiser they have a quick dissolve tablet that they sell over the counter. I tried it for a while and that seems to work as well. It is supposed to be one of the herbal type remedies.

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C.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hello, Jes,
Tylenol, orajel and a cold teether to chew on will help those painful gums till the tooth breaks thru. you probably know the tooth comes up, goes down and back up again, cutting a path until it finally breaks the surface.
The numbing thing is from people putting too much orajel on the gum.
you just put a drop..a small drop.. on your finger and rub the affected area. never enough to spill over. some people think more is better and that is not the case with things like orajel, after 5 kids, this combo is what worked for me.
C.

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J.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I second the teething tablets. I like them and didn't care for the orajel, it just doesn't last to long. One of the things I discovered @ Walmart for them is look by the vitamins if I remember correctly by the kids and they have a 250 ct instead of the 100 ct one's you normally find. Also yesterday my neice said she got a prescription for teething from her dr and it worked wonders, I can't remember the name right now though.

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M.B.

answers from Honolulu on

Have you tried Teething Tablets? They are made by Hyland and I have seen them at Walmart or a health food store. They work great and dissolve instantly under the tongue. My daughter is 7 months and has pushed 2 teeth so far and we have used them with great results.

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T.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

Humphreys teething tablets. Ask your pharmacist. They aren't prescription, but they seem to keep them behind the counter. Our entire family swears by them. We have been using them for over 20 years. They are better than Hylands and they don't have the side affects of oragel. If you do use the oragel, use the cotton swabs ones. It is direct application to the area that is hurting. It keeps from getting all over their mouth and creating issues.

We also used carrots. Washed of course, but fresh from the fridge. Especially when they get that first tooth, it really seemed to soothe them.

Good luck.

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B.T.

answers from Las Vegas on

Jes, What has saved me through my children's teething bouts is Hyland's Homeopathic Teething Tablets. They are 100% natural and are soft tablets that dissolve instantly. By babies have all LOVED them. It works like a charm. I will give them tylenol if they run a fever due to the teething, but for general discomfort, pain, or crankiness I give them 2 to 3 and they are very happy babies very soon. I have found them at Walmart or walgreens. I tried orajel, but couldn't see that it was making much difference! All that saliva in their mouthes, it just didn't seem like it would stay on their gums long enough to numb their gums only their tongues! Good luck.

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M.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I don't recommend orajel. Hylands has some natural teething tablets that seem to work.

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C.H.

answers from San Diego on

I found all of these products not very effective for my children. I don't know why. The homeopathic pills made them extremely sleepy, like I was drugging them. The Orajel did nothing that I could tell.

Cold teething toys were the best with my boys. They'd gnaw and gnaw and gnaw.

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S.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

i haven't heard that orajel causes choking but from experience and just talking to others i don't know anyone that found it to work. teethers that are cold should really help relieve some of the pain and keep up with the tylenol.

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M.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

We preferred Hyland teething tablets. You can find them at Target or your grocery might cary them. For some reason they are not on the shelves any longer you have to go to the pharmacist and ask for them at some places and they carry them behind the counter. You disolve them under the toung and you can use up to 4 at a time. They are great and never gave out kids that numb mouth feeling. Absolutely wonderful to help them sleep.

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B.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi! well, I did not like a lot of medication I let my girls teeth on a large piece of beef jerky one they could hold on to or on one of my leather belts or purse strap also even though its bitter at first, I took a q-tip and put some clove oil on the gums and it numbs it naturally and works, the bitter taste goes away soon. The jerky was the girls favored choice.God Bless.

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R.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Orajel for a 6 month old could be okay as long as you don't over do it. A better alternative though, is popsicles. The coldness will numb his gums and he'll love the popsicle. Just have lots of napkins cause it'll be messy, but he and you will be happy! Hope this helps : )

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T.T.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

I havn't tried the orajel, but I can say only the best about
Highlands Teething Tablets! They are homeopathic, so very small, and they dissolve immediately in the mouth without any strange taste (I tried them myself, before I administered them to my son). You should be able to find them in most drugstores, and the health food stores have them for sure.
What also helped my boy a lot was to put an icecube covered tightly with clear plastic (to prevent a mess) in a baby sock, which I tied a knot over, so there was no chance of choking.I hope, that this helps your baby.

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D.N.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hey, I totally understand how hard it is to have a teether, especially when you feel like there is nothing you can do to ease their pain. My mother-in-law suggested something that I now can't live without. Hyland's teething tablets. These are the best! They are tiny little tablets (I imagine they are about the same size as nitroglycerin tabs) that you put into the baby's mouth. Don't worry, he won't choke as the tabs dissolve immediately. The instructions say to give three or four tabs every fifteen minutes, but I cheated and did five every half-hour to hour. No problems there because they are basically just cell salts. I have never had any problems with these pills and they seem to be completely safe. I also highly recommend the Hyland's brand of colic tablets and C+Cold. These wipe out runny noses like nothin' else! Hope that helps!

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D.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hyland's teething tablets are the best. There is also a liquid called Camilia (sp?) That worked for my daughter. You can go to Whole Foods and they can show you the products. Good luck.

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L.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

stop giving him tylenol. It's really not good for kids. Get teething gel or cubes for babies or try a refridgerated teething ring. They will help you out at Walgreens or any drug store in your area, ask the pharmacy.
L.

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J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

our son hated baby orajel - he gagged, screamed and cried the first time he tried it so that was the end of that. but maybe your baby will like it. keep giving tylenol and after he's 6 months, use motrin. but give him lots of stuff to chew on - our son loves his Nuby teether - we put ice or teething biscuits in the mesh holder. we got an assortment of teething toys too - rubber, plastic, wood and cloth - some he really liked, some not. it's so hard to see them in pain.

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S.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

My Pediatrician also told me that Orajel could make the baby choke, so I never used it. Have you tried Hyland's Teething Tablets? They are natural and Homeopathic. They really worked well on both of my children! I recommend them to anyone with a teething baby. You can find them in most drugstores or Whole Foods Market. Good luck!

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K.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

Teething tablets by Hyland are the BEST. My 5-year-old lived on them and now my 1-year-old does too. They are homeopathic so I was skeptical but they work. They dissolve instantly in the mouth. I get mine at Target, Whole Foods, and most grocery stores. My son cried when I put Orajel on his gums. My Dr. suggested the tablets.

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H.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Orajel worked great when my baby was a baby.....Use a cottonswab to apply a very little amount to his gum line.....I can see how it would numb a babies mouth if too much were applied.....It has worked for me and it is so much better than watching your little one in pain.....GOOD LUCK!

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A.M.

answers from Las Vegas on

hello there,

I used orajel on my son when he was teething and it worked great for him my pediedration told me to use the one for overnight right after he fell asleep, and the regular ones during the day . I aslo use a cold washcloth during the day, teething rings, my finger, frozzen otter pops, I also got one of the mesh food bags that you can buy at babies r us and I put in frozzen grapes, and ice cubes in it. he loved it. so I hoped that this has help you. have a good day.

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C.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have 1 year old twin girls and when they were about 6 months old they were teething bad. I had the same questions so I found out what worked for my babies. I used baby Orajel and it worked I just didn't give them too much just a tiny amount. The numbing didn't last long just long enough too give them a break from the pain and relax them. Another thing that worked was teething pills they disolve under the tounge and help them sleep and there's nothing in them that would hurt them. The pills are good if you're concerned about what's in the Orajel. Hope something works out for you I know how stressful it can be and how you feel their pain and want to ease their pain.

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B.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

I used (very) diluted clove oil with my son--it has a similar numbing effect. You put about a drop of essential clove oil in about 4 oz of olive oil (you wouldn't want to ingest clove oil unless it's in a very dilute form).

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C.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I used camomile beads. They are a natural, non harmful for your baby and they are found in the healthfood store. And they work...I used them.

C.

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G.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Go to GreatStart.com. A father invented this device when his baby almost choked. Basically, it is a small strawberry-shaped net with a handle for baby to hold. When my daughter was a baby and teething, we put ice in it and she absolutely LOVED it! We would also put frozen fruit such as strawberries in it as well. When she was not teething, we would put other foods that she was not old enough to chew and swallow in the net such as seasoned meat. I have not seen a child yet who does not like this invention. The nets are dishwasher safe and refills are also available. It has been sometime since my daughter was teething. Since then I have seen similar devices in Target and other retailers.

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R.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

yes it is safe i have that to all of my children when they were teething and one thing that also help very well is teething tablets you can get those at walmart in the baby section or the pharmacy and i found that teething tablets work alot better than baby orajel

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J.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

my boys never liked orajel but they are these little tablets
you can find then in rite aid or walgreens and the brand is hilands the boys werent fussy at all, they really worked

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C.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have used it for both of my kids when they were teething! When my oldest son now 4 was a baby I wondered just how strong it was so I took one and put it on my gums and discovered that it is a very weak form of a teeth number, it only lasted about 2 hours (probably long enough to get them to go to sleep because of the pain which was always the case for me). I think your concern for the choking is pretty much only if you plan on feeding him soon after. I normally feed my son first then put the gum gel on. I preferred the gel that was in the little swab that you can just break the tip off to control exactly where the medication goes, because if you use the gel thats in the toothpaste-like tube then you can have problems with the medication not going where you want it. The orajel in the swabs cost a little more but you have it already pre-measured out for you. Hope this helps!

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

I never heard the choking theory. I don't think Orajel is strong enough for that. I gave it to all three of my kids. But I also gave them a great English product called Gripe Water (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gripe_water). In the meantime, try frozen washcloths and (supervised) frozen bananas! Good luck!

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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hi!

We loved using teething rings. We would put them in the fridge and give them to our now 2 year old son. There are some that are safe to put in the freezer, but those are harder to find (try Babies R Us for those-that's where we found those ones- all others are fridge only). They chew them and the teethers numb the gums.

According to my Pediatrition, using Orajel is totally okay to use as long as you are not feeding him right away so he doesn't choke. Give it to him a little after he finishes eating.

Personally, I had more reccomendations for Hyland's teething tablets (bought at a grocery store like Smith's- Babies-R-Us does not carry them). You give them two to three tablets and they are so tiny they dissolve instantly in their mouths. They are safe and work just as well or better than Orajel- and they are all natural so they aren't getting alot of chemicals, which is nice. The package even tells you what to do if they don't seem to be working, so that was great too. I got better results with these tablets than I did with anything else-tylenol, orajel etc.

Good Luck!

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F.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi Jes, used Orajel for both my Preemie (now 11 yrs) when she started teething and then my son (now 4), who started teething at about 5-6 months (which was early compared to my daughter). Neither, I thank God, had any problems with it. Another thing I did that seemed to help was "massage" their gums with a clean finger. It helped my daughter, but my son enjoyed clamping his gums down on my finger more :).
Hope that eases some of the anxiety you may have about using Orajel. Good luck and enjoy your baby.... don't worry, the teething doesn't last forever.

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J.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi there! My baby began having teething symptoms about a week before she turned 3 months. Several woman would say "Oh, I bet she's going to start teething" when they would see her slobbery face. I thought to myself "No she isn't-she's way too young." Boy was I wrong! Right at 3 months she had the diarrhea, fever, and was in intense pain. I didn't want to give her Tylenol around the clock, but got over that real soon. Sometimes she has it every 4-5 hours other days she doesn't need it at all.

I use baby orajel and that has worked great. She screams, fusses and hates the taste. Then, about 20-30 seconds after she usually (not always) settles and it numbs her pain. I tried it out just to see how it feels, since I had never used Orajel. Another great teething aid is these little disolvable tablets called Hyland's. They sell them at Whole Foods and they are homeopathic. They do seem to calm her eventually, but it's not an immediate fix. She will suck on my finger after I give them to her. Lastly, this works for my baby, might not for yours, but when she is having an extreme fit, due to the teething pain I take her outside for a quick walk in our courtyard and it almost always distracts her and stops the screaming. Best of luck to you. I know how much it breaks my heart to see my little one in such pain I would not wish that on anyone!

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R.H.

answers from Las Vegas on

Jes,
I used Hyland's homeopathic Teething Tablets for my child. They're great, and they work fast. You can get them over the counter at Target, but you have to ask the pharmacist for them, they keep them behind the desk. Hope this helps.

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S.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have three children (6, 4, 2)and I used to work with infants and toddlers in a child development center. I would recommend a few things. Try the infant orajel not regular orajel. Th teething tablets worked good for 2 of my 3 kids. I would also use Tyenol at night. I have to add if you noticed that your son seems to be crying A LOT and in a lot of pain I would take him into the doctor. My children all got ear infections when they cut teeth. Just a another thought the eye teeth and molars seem to cause them the most pain. As far as teethers at 6 months give him teethers or anything he can safely chew on. You can even freeze a clean washcloth. Freeze it in a plastic bag (so it stays clean).The purpose of cold teethers is that it helps numb the area naturally. As your child gets older and is eating "people food" I would give my kids frozen wild blueberries (cut up) or a section of a bagel. Hope these ideas help!

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K.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

I don't know about the choking thing, but have you put orajel in your own mouth??? No wonder our kids scream! My daughter had her first tooth at 3 months and we went thru miserable teething issues. Until we found a homeopathic remedy called "Hylands Teething Tablets"...any health food store will carry them and sometimes the larger pharmacies will also carry them. They worked great!!!!

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V.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi Jes! I raised 3 kids so maybe I can help. When mine were teething, I had 2 things I used besides the ring you can put in the freezer. #1 is take a soft washcloth (like a baby one), wet it & put in freezer til semi frozen. Baby can chew on it as it softens; it's olny water plus the fact of the semi-freeze numbs the gums at the the same time. Repeat as needed. #2 is take an ice cube, put in the toe of a sock (small enought for baby to hold), put a knot in it & give to baby. Does the same thing as #1. Let me know if this works for you. Blessings, V.

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T.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son is also teething and I have tried both the baby orajel and teething tablets. He hated orajel - it made him cry even more. I think it was both the taste and sensation. I tried it on my gums and it was strong for me so I could just imagine for a baby. I am stickin with the highland teething tablets as my son always seemed better after.

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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

Dear jes r;
to me orajel is not the best treatment for babys.
You can try using does gum toys that you can put on the freezer that helps to numbs the gum and take care of the pain.
You can by those in any drug stores or wal-mart.
Good luck anna leger

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R.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try hylands homeopathic teething tabs. YOu can get em at rite aid and grocery stores. Target dosent have em. They work great if it is their teeth they may pass out from relief and if it isnt their teeth no harm done its homeopathic. Also we have always used Tylenol during day and Motrin at night because it is 6 hours of relief.

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G.M.

answers from San Diego on

I can only share my experience. I have a 10 month old with 8 teeth that came in pretty close together. We have some Orajel, but have never used it. A friend recommended Hyland's Teething Tablets. They are homeopathic and somehow that seemed better for us. When our daughter's teeth are bothering her we dissolve two tablets in a bottle before putting her down to bed. (Her teeth seem to bother her the most when she is trying to go to sleep.) With the tablets, she goes right to sleep and sleeps like an angel.

Good Luck!

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A.P.

answers from Santa Barbara on

We were told when our children were young that the gum medicines like orajel make the gums harder which means it takes longer for the teeth to come through which means longer pain time for the baby. I asked our dentist and mind you he is an old timer not one of the new young only medicine helps type. He told us to rub a little whiskey on thier gums and it really helps just a little dab on your finger and then on thier gums. Niether me or my husbamd drink any alcohol at all but I was willing to try anything so I bought a mini bottle of jack daniels and have swore by it ever since.

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K.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I tried them all too. The whiskey, the orajel, the ambosol, the wash clothes, and the teething rings. I am also going along with the majority. Hyland's teething tablets were the best. I used them with both my girls.

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A.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I like Hylands teething tablets. They are natural and they worked for my 1st son. I got them at Wal-Mart. You give them two and they dissolve quickly and easily! They're in the baby teething aisle. :)

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R.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have 4 kids, ages 10 (soon to be 11), 9, 7, and 2 months old. With my first child I tried Orajel, and it did work - sometimes. Anyways, my doctor recommended Humphrey's pellets when I discussed Orajel's effectiveness (you dissolve them in a teaspoon of water for small babies) and those worked better than Orajel ever did. I plan on using them for my little one when he starts teething - Just an alternative suggestion. Of course, discuss with your Ped first!

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