The transformation from a gummy grin to a toothy smile may not be a smooth ride for all babies. You may resort to some remedies, like clove oil, to make your baby comfortable during this period. Read on…
Teething is an important developmental milestone in every baby’s life. In most babies, teething starts within three to seven months of age. In some cases, it could be as early as three months and for some others, it could be as late as a year. While teething may not cause any discomfort for some babies, for others, it may not be a smooth ride. Those in the latter category may develop severe discomfort, along with symptoms during teething. Such symptoms may include drooling, swelling and tenderness of the gums, vomiting and/or diarrhea, irritability, refusal of food and sleeping trouble.
According to some health experts, such symptoms are not caused by teething, but can be due to the stress experienced by the baby during this time. Whatever it may be, such discomfort can be minimized with medication (if the symptoms are severe) or home remedies (for mild symptoms). You can use certain home remedies to make teething comfortable for your baby. One of the age-old remedies that has been used for this purpose is clove oil.
How to Use Clove Oil for Teething
You might have heard about the use of clove oil for tooth pain. This remedy may prove useful for babies too. Nowadays, various clove oil based commercial tooth pain relievers are available in the market. You may use any of them that are meant for babies. Make sure to seek the opinion of the pediatrician beforehand. You may also prepare a clove oil remedy at home itself. All you have to do is to get a good quality clove oil from the health store and dilute it with almond oil. As you need it for babies, the concentration of clove oil must be very low. This is because this oil can cause blistering of the gums, if used undiluted.
Clove oil being an anesthetic, can numb the gums for some time, thereby providing relief to the baby. However, make sure to apply small amounts of diluted clove oil, as it can cause a stomach upset, if ingested in large amounts. You may apply this oil (in diluted form) on the baby’s gum, at regular intervals. However, it is always advisable to test it on your gums, before using it on your baby. If it is found to be too strong for the baby, you may dilute it further. If the baby does not like the remedy or if he/she develops some side effects, discontinue the use and contact the doctor. Otherwise too, it is advisable to seek the opinion of your doctor before resorting to remedies.
Other Home Remedies for Teething
Apart from clove oil, there are various other home remedies that can relieve the symptoms caused by teething in a baby. One of the most popular remedies is the frozen spoon. Freeze a spoon with blunt edges and allow the baby to bite on it. You may also use frozen banana slices for this purpose. This will numb and soothe the gums for some time. Fill water in a baby bottle and keep it inside the freezer upside down. The ice that forms inside the nipple will prove useful for soothing the gums of the baby, as the baby bites on it. You may also use teething biscuits or chilled bagels for this purpose. Keep a clean, soft washcloth inside the refrigerator and give it to your baby to chew. You may also try gentle massaging the gums as a teething remedy for babies.
Apart from clove oil, you may also try some of the other remedies mentioned above. However, medical attention must be provided, if the symptoms are severe or are getting worse. Otherwise too, talk to the pediatrician, for better knowledge about teething and remedies for teething. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice. It is always better to seek the opinion of your doctor, regarding the use of clove oil for teething, in case, you are doubtful about the same.
