First aid
In order to relieve the child’s pain, parents can carefully cool the affected areas. Many babies find it helpful to chew something cold, such as a cooled teething ring. A piece of frozen bread or a small piece of apple can also help to ease the pain.
Very small children are often at risk of choking on small foods, so it is safer to offer cold yogurt or applesauce to the baby. Some children find a light massage of the gums a relief, but parents should be careful not to build up too much pressure with the finger, as this can be very uncomfortable for a teething baby. If there are severe problems during the dental process, a painkiller (for example paracetamol or Nurofen) can be administered in consultation with the pediatrician. There are also special tooth gels that can slightly anaesthetize the soft tissues and thus help to relieve the pain. Learn more about this under: Tooth gel In addition, many pharmacies offer homeopathic preparations to support tooth eruption.
When should Paracetamol suppositories be used?
If the restlessness increases significantly and the child and parents cannot sleep at night, the child may be given paracetamol in the prescribed dose by means of suppositories provided the child is at least 3 months old. The package leaflet should be read carefully. An alternative to paracetamol suppositories is ibuprofen.
However, they should never be administered together. It must be considered whether it is toothache or another condition such as an ear infection. If this is the case, a consultation with the treating physician must take place.
Homeopathy and globules
In addition to the usual means such as gels, ointments or teething rings, many parents like to use homeopathic remedies to make teething easier for their child. Homeopathy is based on the concept of activating the baby’s self-healing powers. Babies always behave very differently during the time they are teething.
There are different homeopathic remedies, each of which refers to specific conditions of the child. The universally known globules are suitable as a form of administration. A homeopath will put together the appropriate homeopathic remedy based on the child’s symptoms.
The globules can be administered to the teething baby after a certain dose. The globules can either be placed on the side of the baby’s cheek or dissolved in water. Most commonly, chamomile is prescribed for pain and agitation of the baby. However, if the baby is very weepy or already has a fever, an individual remedy is prescribed.
