Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Never give aspirin to a baby. Avoid teething gels containing benzocaine. If your baby has fever above 38°C or seems very unwell during teething, consult your paediatrician — high fever is not a teething symptom.
Baby teething pain India is something every Indian parent navigates — the drooling, the fussiness, the night wakings, the baby who chews everything in sight and is clearly uncomfortable without being able to say why.
My daughter started teething at five months. The signs were unmistakeable in retrospect — rivers of drool, everything going straight to the mouth, a fussiness that was different from her usual fussiness. It took two weeks before the first tiny white edge appeared on her lower gum. Those two weeks were difficult.
My mother-in-law had three remedies — saunf water, clove oil on the gums, and a chilled steel katori to chew on. My paediatrician said: chilled (not frozen) teether, paracetamol if genuinely distressed, lots of cuddles. “Teething is uncomfortable but not agonising,” she said. “If the baby seems genuinely unwell — high fever, very lethargic — that’s not teething, that’s something else.”
This guide covers what actually helps, what is safe, and what to avoid.
Baby Teething — When and What to Expect
According to the World Health Organization’s child development guidelines, tooth eruption typically begins between 4-7 months, though some babies start earlier and some later. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics considers teeth appearing anywhere from 4-12 months to be within the normal range.
Typical teething order:
- 4-7 months: Lower central incisors (bottom front teeth — first to appear)
- 8-12 months: Upper central incisors
- 9-13 months: Upper lateral incisors
- 10-16 months: Lower lateral incisors
- 13-19 months: First molars
- 16-23 months: Canines
- 23-33 months: Second molars
Total: 20 primary teeth by approximately 3 years.
True teething symptoms: ✅ Drooling (significantly increased) ✅ Gum swelling and redness where tooth is emerging ✅ Chewing on everything ✅ Fussiness and irritability — especially at night ✅ Mild temperature elevation (below 38°C) ✅ Disrupted sleep ✅ Rash around the mouth from drool irritation
What is NOT teething: ❌ Fever above 38°C — this is illness, not teething ❌ Diarrhoea — not caused by teething (see paediatrician) ❌ Significant vomiting ❌ Extreme lethargy
The Indian family debate: In India, many symptoms — diarrhoea, fever, rashes, poor feeding — are attributed to teething. Research consistently shows teething causes mild local discomfort and increased drooling, not systemic illness. If the baby has fever above 38°C or diarrhoea during the teething period — these need paediatrician assessment, not dismissal as “teething.”
10 Best Safe Teething Remedies India
1. Chilled (Not Frozen) Teether — Most Effective
The most evidence-based, safest teething remedy is a chilled silicone or rubber teether.
Why cold helps: Cold reduces inflammation and temporarily numbs the gum — providing genuine relief.
The critical distinction: Chilled = kept in the refrigerator (not freezer). A refrigerator-temperature teether is cold enough to soothe without risk. Frozen = kept in the freezer. A frozen teether is too hard and too cold — it can damage the emerging tooth and freeze-burn the gum.
Available in India: Silicone teethers are available at baby stores and online. BPA-free is the standard to look for.
Indian alternatives: A chilled steel katori (small bowl) pressed gently against the gum — the traditional Indian approach. Steel is safe, non-toxic, and always available. Chill in the refrigerator (not freezer) for 30 minutes. A clean, damp washcloth chilled in the refrigerator — the baby can chew on it freely.
2. Gum Massage — Direct Pressure Relief
Direct counter-pressure on the gum from a clean adult finger provides immediate relief — the pressure against the emerging tooth soothes the ache.
How to do it: Wash hands thoroughly. Place one clean fingertip on the swollen gum area. Apply gentle but firm circular pressure. 2-3 minutes per session.
When: Before feeds (if teething is interfering with feeding), before sleep, whenever the baby is distressed.
What the baby does: Many babies initially pull away, then lean into the pressure as they realise it helps. This is a reliable sign you have found the right spot.
3. Saunf (Fennel) Water — Traditional Indian Remedy
Saunf (fennel seed) water is one of the most widely used traditional Indian teething remedies — and fennel does have mild anti-inflammatory and carminative properties.
How to prepare: Boil 1 teaspoon of saunf in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes. Strain. Cool completely to room temperature.
How to use: Dip a clean finger or small clean cloth in the saunf water. Apply gently to the gum. Or give 1-2 teaspoons by spoon to babies over 6 months.
Safety: Safe from 4-5 months in small amounts. Do not give large quantities.
4. Paracetamol — When Genuinely Needed
For babies who are clearly in significant discomfort — crying that is not consolable with other methods, disrupted sleep despite trying all non-medication approaches — age-appropriate paracetamol (Calpol or similar) provides genuine pain relief.
Important: Use the correct dose for the baby’s weight — check the label or confirm with your paediatrician. Do not give more frequently than the label states. Do not give prophylactically — only when the baby is actually distressed. Ibuprofen is appropriate from 6 months and may be slightly more effective for dental pain — confirm dose with paediatrician.
What not to give: ❌ Aspirin — never for babies or children ❌ Adult pain medications in reduced doses
5. Cold Food — For Babies on Solids
For babies aged 6 months and older who are eating solid foods — cold food provides both nutrition and gum relief.
Safe cold teething foods: Chilled mashed banana — the soft texture and cold temperature are soothing Chilled curd — excellent teething food Chilled cucumber stick (for supervised gnawing — not for swallowing) Chilled soft fruit — pear, mango, papaya
Mesh feeder: A small silicone mesh feeder bag with chilled fruit inside allows the baby to gnaw and suck the cold fruit without choking risk. Available at baby stores.
6. Clove Oil — Traditional Remedy With Caution
Clove oil (laung ka tel) is a traditional Indian teething remedy — cloves contain eugenol which is a genuine local anaesthetic used in dentistry.
Safe use: Dilute 1 drop of clove oil in 1 teaspoon of coconut oil. Apply a tiny amount to the gum with a clean fingertip. A very small amount only.
Important cautions: Clove oil is very strong — undiluted clove oil directly on the gum can irritate and burn. Use sparingly — not more than 2-3 times daily. Not for babies under 6 months.
What the paediatrician says: Most paediatricians recommend chilled teethers and paracetamol over clove oil — but diluted clove oil used carefully is not harmful.
7. Extra Breastfeeding — Comfort and Pain Relief
Breastfeeding provides comfort, pain relief (breast milk contains natural analgesic compounds), and the close physical contact that distressed babies need.
The teething-feeding conflict: Some teething babies bite during breastfeeding — a significant problem for nursing mothers. The baby bites at the end of feeds when swallowing slows and the urge to chew increases.
Managing teething biting: Watch for the end of the active feeding phase — when swallowing slows, unlatch before the bite occurs. Say “no” firmly (not loudly) when a bite occurs and unlatch. Offer a teether immediately after unlatching.
Teething is not a reason to wean — with management, breastfeeding continues successfully through teething.
8. Drool Rash Management — Skin Around the Mouth
The drool that accompanies teething can cause significant rash and irritation around the mouth, chin, and neck folds — from constant moisture exposure.
Prevention: Wipe drool gently (not aggressively) with a soft cloth throughout the day. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or zinc oxide cream around the mouth and chin as a barrier. Use a bib to catch drool and change when wet.
Treatment of established drool rash: Keep the area clean and dry. Barrier cream after each wipe. If the rash is very red or has broken skin — see your paediatrician (may be secondary infection).
9. Distraction — Underrated But Effective
Distraction is a genuinely effective pain management strategy for babies — not a dismissal of the pain, but a redirection of attention that reduces pain perception.
What works: Going outside — a change of environment and sensory input. A new toy or object to explore. Water play. Songs, music, movement. Social interaction with familiar faces.
A baby who is distressed from teething at home may settle within minutes of a walk outside or a visit to another room. This is not because the teething pain has gone — it is because the baby’s attention has shifted and pain perception has reduced.
10. Amber Teething Necklace — What the Evidence Says
Amber teething necklaces are widely sold across India and globally — the claim is that amber releases succinic acid when warmed by the baby’s skin, which acts as a natural analgesic.
The evidence: There is no scientific evidence that amber teething necklaces reduce teething pain. The succinic acid claim is not supported by research.
The safety concern: The IAP, WHO, and paediatric organisations globally advise against amber teething necklaces for babies — they are a strangulation and choking hazard. Necklaces on babies during sleep or unsupervised time are dangerous.
The recommendation: Do not use amber teething necklaces. The safety risk is real. The benefit is unproven.
The Indian Joint Family Teething Experience
Teething in an Indian joint family is rarely a private parent-and-baby experience. Every family member has a remedy, an opinion, and strong feelings about whether the baby is “really” teething or whether the parents are being anxious.
Managing the advice: Most traditional Indian teething remedies — saunf water, gum massage with a clean finger, chilled metal objects — are harmless and some have genuine benefit. The remedies to firmly decline are those with real safety concerns: alcohol on the gums, honey before 12 months, and amber necklaces.
The honey rule is absolute: No honey for babies under 12 months. Infant botulism from honey is rare but can be fatal. This is not negotiable regardless of how traditional the practice or how insistent the family member.
What grandparents get right: The instinct to provide close physical contact, carry the baby, rock and soothe — these are evidence-based teething management strategies. The baby who is being held and engaged is a baby whose pain perception is reduced. Grandparents who carry fussy teething babies are genuinely helping.
What to Avoid
❌ Benzocaine teething gels (like Bonjela — original adult formula): Benzocaine can cause methemoglobinaemia (reduced oxygen-carrying capacity) in babies. Not safe for under-2. Some baby-formulated gels are available — check with paediatrician.
❌ Whisky or alcohol on the gums: A traditional remedy in some Indian families — not safe. Alcohol is toxic to babies in any amount.
❌ Frozen teethers: Too hard and too cold — can damage the emerging tooth.
❌ Amber teething necklaces: Strangulation risk, no evidence of effectiveness.
❌ Aspirin: Never for babies or children — risk of Reye’s syndrome.
FAQ — Baby Teething Pain India
Q: My baby has a temperature of 38.5°C and I think it’s teething. Should I see a doctor?
Yes — see your paediatrician the same day. A temperature above 38°C is NOT a teething symptom. Teething may cause a very slight temperature elevation (below 38°C) but does not cause genuine fever. Your baby may have a viral illness coinciding with teething — which is common, since babies put everything in their mouths during teething, increasing infection exposure. Fever needs assessment.
Q: My 4-month-old is drooling a lot and chewing. Is this teething?
Possibly — teething can begin from 4 months. However, drooling and mouthing at 4 months is also normal developmental behaviour as the salivary glands mature and oral exploration increases. If there is no gum swelling, no tooth visible on the horizon, and the baby is otherwise well — this may simply be normal development rather than teething. Watch and wait.
Q: My baby refuses to feed during teething. What should I do?
The gum pressure of sucking can be uncomfortable during teething. Try feeding when the baby is drowsy (the suck is gentler). Offer chilled teether before a feed to numb the gum first. For bottle-fed babies — try a different teat shape. For breastfed babies — feeding lying down (biological nurturing position) changes the pressure dynamics. If feeding refusal is significant and prolonged, see your paediatrician.
Q: Should I take my baby to a dentist for teething?
The IAP recommends a first dental visit by the time the first tooth appears or by 12 months — whichever comes first. This visit is primarily for parental education (how to clean baby teeth, fluoride guidance) rather than treatment. Teething itself does not require dental intervention.
Q: My mother-in-law wants to apply nani ke nuskhe — turmeric and honey on the gums. Is this safe?
Turmeric in small amounts is not harmful after 6 months. However, honey must NEVER be given to babies under 12 months — risk of infant botulism, which is potentially fatal. This is an absolute prohibition. “Our paediatrician has specifically said no honey for babies under one year — it can be very dangerous” is the clearest way to communicate this.
More from MumPappaHub — Read These Next:
- Baby Teething Signs India
- Newborn Care Tips
- Baby Sleep Schedule Month by Month
- Baby Constipation Remedies India
- Baby Gas Colic Relief India
- Baby Fever Guide India
- Baby Rash Types India
- Baby Vaccination Schedule India 2026
- Baby Development Month by Month
- Indian Baby Weight Chart
- Breastfeeding Problems India
- Child Development Milestones
About This Article
Written by the MumPappaHub Research Team — including a researcher whose daughter started teething at five months. Two weeks of drool and fussiness before the first white edge appeared. Mother-in-law had three remedies. Paediatrician had three too — chilled teether, paracetamol if genuinely distressed, lots of cuddles. “If the baby has high fever — that’s not teething, that’s something else.” This guide is that clarity.
Reviewed for accuracy against WHO child development guidelines and Indian Academy of Pediatrics teething and infant oral health guidance. This content is for general informational purposes only. Consult your paediatrician for significant teething distress or any fever during the teething period.
MumPappaHub — Real talk for real Indian parents. mumpappahub.com
