Teething pain: medicine, gels, and what actually works
Teething is one of those stretches of new-parent life that feels longer in the middle of it than it really is. Your baby is miserable, you're guessing what's wrong, and then a tiny white edge appears and explains everything.
Here's a practical guide: what's actually a teething symptom, what to try first, when Calpol helps, and the gels you should stop using.
The quick answer
- Try non-medicine options first: chilled teething rings, gentle gum massage, distraction, extra cuddles.
- If pain is persistent or affecting sleep: paracetamol (Calpol Infant) from 2 months, or ibuprofen from 3 months and over 5kg.
- Don't use Bonjela Original or anything containing choline salicylate in under-16s.
- Teething doesn't cause real fever. If your baby's temperature is over 38°C, treat it as illness, not teething.
What teething actually looks like
The genuine, well-documented teething symptoms are:
- Red, swollen gums where a tooth is about to push through
- One flushed cheek, often on the side of the emerging tooth
- Heaps of dribble — sometimes leading to a chin rash
- Chewing everything: fingers, toys, the side of the cot
- A mild rise in temperature (under 38°C)
- Disturbed sleep and general grumpiness for a day or two before the tooth appears
What teething does not reliably cause, despite popular belief:
- Diarrhoea or vomiting
- High fever (over 38°C)
- A streaming cold
- A rash on the body
If your baby has these, look for another cause — viral illness, ear infection, something they ate — rather than attributing it to teeth.
Step 1: the non-medicine toolkit
For mild grumpiness, work through these first. They're often enough:
- Chilled (not frozen) teething ring — 20 minutes in the fridge. Frozen items can damage gums.
- Cool, soft food for older babies on solids — chilled cucumber sticks, plain yoghurt, a slightly damp flannel to chew on.
- Gentle gum massage with a clean finger — surprisingly effective.
- Extra cuddles and feeds — sucking is comforting, even on a sore gum.
- Distraction — change room, get outside, run a bath. Discomfort feels worse when there's nothing else going on.
- Wipe drool to prevent a chin rash, and barrier cream if a rash starts.
Step 2: medicine, if needed
If pain is genuinely affecting feeding or sleep, both paracetamol and ibuprofen are reasonable options. The NHS lists them for teething. Use them sparingly — not as a routine — and follow the dose chart on the bottle.
| Medicine | From age | Typical dose at 6 months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paracetamol (Calpol Infant) | 2 months (post-vaccinations: 8 weeks+, single dose) | 2.5ml every 4–6 hrs | Up to 4 doses in 24 hours |
| Ibuprofen (Nurofen for Children) | 3 months and over 5kg | 2.5ml every 6–8 hrs | Give with or after food |
The principle: medicine for genuine pain, not as a substitute for cuddles. Babies aren't supposed to be on a daily course of Calpol for two months while their teeth come through.
What about teething gels?
The advice has shifted over the last decade. Here's where it stands now in the UK:
Don't use:
- Bonjela Original and any gel containing choline salicylate. The MHRA warned against this in under-16s due to a theoretical Reye's syndrome risk. There's a separate Bonjela Teething Gel for babies — read the label carefully.
- Anything containing benzocaine — not licensed for under-2s in the UK, and avoided by paediatricians.
- Homeopathic teething "powders" — no evidence of benefit, and the US FDA has linked some products to harm.
- Amber teething necklaces — no evidence they work, and present a choking and strangulation hazard. Strongly advised against by paediatricians.
OK to consider (briefly):
- Sugar-free, age-appropriate teething gels (such as Bonjela Teething Gel for babies over 2 months) — used to the dose on the box, expect 20–30 minutes of relief at best.
- Anbesol Teething Gel (lidocaine-based) — licensed for babies 5 months+. Use sparingly.
None of these are magic. The most reliable comfort still comes from the cold ring, cuddle, and judicious Calpol.
Step 3: ruling out something else
It's easy to label everything "teething" for a few months. But if your baby:
- Has a fever over 38°C
- Has a rash anywhere on their body
- Is refusing all feeds, not just being fussy
- Has fewer wet nappies than normal
- Is unusually drowsy or floppy
- Has been miserable for more than a couple of days
…it's worth looking past the teeth. Common look-alikes:
- Ear infections — also cause irritability and feed refusal
- Viral illnesses — colds, hand-foot-and-mouth, roseola
- UTIs in babies — easy to miss
- Reflux flares — often disguised as teething
If unsure, call NHS 111 or your GP. Don't sit on a fever assuming it's teeth. See when fever needs a doctor for thresholds by age.
How long does each tooth take?
Roughly: the worst of any one tooth is 2–4 days before it actually breaks through. After that, the gum heals quickly and your baby's grumpiness fades. The whole baby teeth set takes about two years to come through, with the first appearing around 6 months (some babies earlier, some not until 12+ months — both are normal).
Frequently asked questions
Can I give Calpol for teething?
Yes — Calpol Infant from 2 months, used briefly when teething pain is genuinely affecting your baby. The NHS supports this.
Do teething gels work?
Mildly and briefly, if at all. Don't use gels containing choline salicylate (old Bonjela formulations) in babies. Sugar-free, age-appropriate alternatives are OK.
Does teething cause a fever?
It can cause a small rise — up to 38°C. Anything above that should be treated as illness, not teething.
Can I give Calpol every day while my baby is teething?
No, not as a routine. Calpol is for breakthrough pain. Daily use for weeks shouldn't be necessary — if it is, something else may be going on and a GP visit makes sense.
Are amber teething necklaces safe?
No. There's no evidence they work and they present real choking and strangulation risks. Paediatricians strongly advise against them.
What about teething powders?
Homeopathic teething powders have no evidence of benefit. Some have caused harm in the US (Hyland's recalls). Avoid.
How Dosey helps
Teething doses tend to be scattered — a Calpol at bedtime one night, an ibuprofen the next afternoon. Easy to lose track of, especially when both parents are dispensing. Dosey keeps a 24-hour view per child, so you can see at a glance how much your baby has had this week and whether you're slipping into daily use without meaning to.
This isn't medical advice. If you're unsure whether your baby's symptoms are teething or something else, call NHS 111 or your GP. Especially worth doing if there's any fever above 38°C.
Related posts
- Calpol dose by age
- Ibuprofen for children: the essential guide
- Should you wake a sleeping child to give Calpol?