Teething: what actually helps — and what to avoid
Chewing, cold and cuddles help. Numbing gels, amber necklaces and honey don't belong near a teething baby.
Most babies get their first tooth between 6 and 10 months. Teething can bring drooling, chewing on everything, red cheeks and broken sleep for a few days around each tooth.
What helps
- A clean, firm teething ring — chilled in the fridge, not frozen hard.
- Rubbing the gum gently with a clean finger.
- For babies on solids: cool, soft foods like chilled fruit purée.
- Extra cuddles and patience. It passes.
What to avoid
- Numbing gels with benzocaine or lidocaine — not recommended for babies.
- Amber or bead teething necklaces — a choking and strangulation risk.
- Honey on a dummy or gums — never before age 1, and the sugar starts decay.
- Sweet biscuits as teethers.
Is it really teething?
Teething does not cause a high fever, diarrhoea or a rash. If your baby has these, or seems unwell, see a doctor rather than putting it down to teeth.
The first tooth is also the day to start brushing — twice a day, with a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste.
Make brushing predictable at home
A brushing calendar, a 2-minute spell timer, streaks and awards for kids — free, no sign-up.
General information for healthy children. It does not replace an examination by a dentist.