We all know what teething is and have experienced the suffering it can cause in our young children. Babies are born with 20 primary teeth below their gum line. These teeth usually start to erupt somewhere between the ages of 6 and 12 months. Many babies become fussy, have trouble sleeping, demonstrate loss of appetite, and can even have excess drool during this process. Your baby’s gums may become very sore or tender when teeth cut through the gums. The best way to help your baby with teething is to gently rub their gums with a clean finger. Parents can also use a gauze pad or even a cool, small spoon. Parents may even want to give the correct dosage of ibuprofen for infants as recommended by their doctor. However, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has urged parents NOT to use homeopathic teething products containing belladonna. Belladonna is commonly known as deadly “nightshade,” which is a toxic substance.
Hylands is a brand name for teething products, and they have recently discontinued producing their teething products including their homeopathic teething tablets. These tablets have been around since the 1900s. They were used to provide relief for babies who were teething. However, the FDA has recommended against these products based on testing that was done finding that these products contained inconsistent amounts of the substance, belladonna. There have been seizures and even deaths related to the use of these products; although not completely conclusive, they are still being investigated. If you have this product at home, it is strongly recommended to immediately discontinue use and dispose of it. Many of the labels on these products read that they contain “natural ingredients” such as chamomile, but many of these also include the toxin, belladonna. We are urging all our parents to forgo these gels and teething tablets and give baby a clean, cool washcloth to chew on instead.
If you have any other questions about this important topic, please feel free to speak to us.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Premier Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. The ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
Image Courtesy of Healthline
