What you can do for teething discomfort
Silicone finger cap
Gently massage your baby’s gums several times a day with a clean finger or a silicone finger cap. From your baby’s reactions, you’ll quickly see if it feels good.
Teething ring
When chewing on an easy-to-grip teething ring, your baby can decide how much pressure to apply. Look for tested quality when buying: the best options are PVC-free models made of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), free of softeners and phthalates.
Important: Only put teething rings with cooling liquid in the refrigerator, never in the freezer! Otherwise, you risk frostbite on your baby’s delicate gums.
For babies who prefer softer textures, a damp, cooled washcloth can be a good teething aid. Make sure to change it several times daily.
Because of the increased drooling during teething, your baby’s chest and neck can quickly become wet. Especially in the cold season, this can easily lead to a cold. A muslin cloth, bib, or scarf helps keep clothes dry.
If stools become softer and there is diaper rash, changing diapers more often and applying a protective baby cream generously can help prevent sore bottoms.
And of course: extra cuddles are the best medicine for teething discomfort. In a baby sling, your child feels comforted and soothed, and the gentle movements are calming. Very important: try to stay relaxed yourself – your baby will sense it.
Breastfeeding also has a pain-relieving effect. Many babies instinctively want to nurse more often while teething.
No worries about teeth while breastfeeding
As a breastfeeding mom, you can relax: breastfeeding is painless even with teeth, because the lower teeth are covered by the baby’s tongue during feeding. At first, there’s also no counter-bite. If your baby does bite, gently remove them from the breast with your little finger and clearly but gently show them that it hurts you.
Tips for cooling
From the second year of life, irritated gums can also be soothed with cool yogurt or quark.
Applying a teething gel can also help care for and calm the gums irritated by tooth eruption.
Ear pain caused by teething?
Because of gum swelling, the tube that connects the middle ear and nasal cavity (the Eustachian tube) can also swell shut. Ear infections are then not uncommon. Watch your baby carefully: do they shake their head restlessly? Want to lie only on one side? Often touch their ears?
Tip for ear pain:
Gently press the front ear cartilage with your finger. If your baby turns away, grimaces in pain, or cries, it’s likely a middle ear infection. In that case, take your child to the pediatrician immediately.
When to see a doctor?
Always consult your pediatrician if there are:
- Gum or mouth inflammations
- Severe pain, especially ear pain
- Persistent diarrhea, constipation, or colic
- Concentrated/dark urine
Typical signs your baby is teething
For most children, the first tooth appears between 4 and 9 months. This is exactly when babies love exploring their world with their mouths – the “oral phase.” They now notice strongly that something is happening in their mouths: pressure, itching, and tickling. Drooling also increases significantly.
Teething is a natural process marking an important developmental step – readiness for solid foods. For some babies, it’s painless; for others, it comes with many symptoms:
- Gums are red, swollen, and sensitive. Appetite may decrease temporarily.
- Cheeks are red and warm, sometimes slightly swollen, often with mild fever.
- Skin around the mouth becomes irritated or sore from saliva.
- Everything goes into the mouth – especially fingers – to chew on.
- Some babies have looser stools or diaper rash, since the immune system is under stress.
- Increased fussiness, crying, and disturbed sleep are common.
Teething can even be one cause of a sore baby bottom.
Teething or infection?
Not every symptom is caused by teething. Around this age, the maternal antibody “nest protection” fades, and the immature immune system must learn to cope with germs. Infections are therefore common in the first year and sometimes mistaken for teething. If you’re unsure, always consult your pediatrician.
When does teething start, and which teeth come first?
The 20 baby teeth erupt in stages in both jaws, usually in a typical order. By age three, all should be present. Root growth completes around the third birthday.
Baby teeth are important because they:
- Hold space for permanent teeth
- Ensure correct jaw and tooth alignment
- Help bite, hold, chew, and grind food
- Support speech and sound development
- Contribute to facial development
FAQs about teething
What does the gum look like when babies are teething?
It’s red, swollen, sometimes with whitish bulges where teeth push through. Small red spots in the palate may appear. Rarely, bluish eruption cysts or minor pus occur.
Can a baby start teething at 3 months?
Yes, it’s possible. Usually, teeth appear between 4–7 months. Rarely, babies are born with teeth. If no teeth appear by 18 months, consult a dentist.
My baby’s teeth are erupting in the “wrong” order – is that a problem?
No. The typical sequence is common but not fixed. Differences in order or speed don’t affect dental health.
Homeopathy & natural remedies for teething
Chamomilla, Kreosotum, Magnesium phosphoricum, Calcium phosphoricum, and Belladonna are often used. Prepared remedies like Viburcol suppositories, Osanit globules, or Dentilin gel are also available. Ask your midwife or pharmacist.
Can I use violet root instead of a teething ring?
Yes. Violet root, made from iris rhizomes, releases soothing substances when chewed. It softens with saliva, releasing safe natural oils that slightly numb the gums. Before first use, freeze for 24h to kill germs (don’t boil). Replace after a few months.
Early or late developer?
Tooth development is genetic. Some babies get teeth as early as 3 months, others not until after their first birthday. This has no impact on overall development.
Wound protection paste as a helper
If drooling causes sore cheeks or corners of the mouth, apply Töpfer Babycare Wound Protection Paste. Its zinc oxide and calendula extract soothe and protect delicate skin.
