SATURDAY, June 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Tending to a teething baby is tough: Parents want to help, but might not be sure how. Teething typically begins around 4 to 7 months of age, as the 20 or so "baby teeth" that will emerge by the age of 3 begin to form. The usual signs of teething include "mild irritability, a low-grade fever, drooling and an urge to chew something hard," the U.
S. Food and Drug Administration said in a special tips sheet . Turning to medicines with painkillers like benzocaine or lidocaine , or homeopathic treatments is not the answer to teething pain, the agency said.
In fact, "these products can be dangerous to children and can lead to serious injury, and even death," the FDA warned. Common brand names of nonprescription oral health care products containing benzocaine include Anbesol, Cepacol, Chloraseptic, HurriCaine, Orabase, Orajel and Topex. Avoid the temptation to try them on your teething baby.
"Using benzocaine products can lead to a serious, and sometimes fatal, condition called methemoglobinemia, in which the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells is greatly reduced," the FDA explained. Likewise, products containing lidocaine are also unsafe for infants. "It can cause grave harm, such as heart problems, severe brain injury and even death," the FDA warned.
"In addition, topical oral viscous lidocaine solution can cause seizures in infants and young children when too much is applied, or it is accidentally swallowed." Another danger: Teeth.