Question

What is the best medicine to relieve the discomfort of teething?

Answer

First, make sure it is teething that is causing the pain. Fever, diarrhea, and colds are not caused by teething. If your baby is chewing on everything, fussy, and putting his fingers in his mouth, chances are you are right.If you can see a tooth erupting, use one of the commercial teething gels (like Numzit or Orajel) directly on the spot. Avoid spreading the gel all over the gums. Too much could affect the throat and make the baby prone to choking.If you cannot see the exact spot, give the baby something cold to chew on — a teething ring from the refrigerator or a frozen miniature bagel. For nighttime relief, a dose of children's acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra, etc.) is perfectly all right so everyone can get to sleep.