Teething Pain Product Warning

Teething can be a tough time for kids and parents. But the FDA is warning against using one product in particular to cut down on teething pain.

The warning is against using certain over-the-counter teething gels and liquids. That's because they contain an ingredient that can be dangerous for children.

Having a teething child can be very frustrating. You know they are in pain and you want to do what you can to help them out. Sometimes that means reaching for teething pain remedies you can get over the counter. These liquids and gels work because they contain the numbing ingredient benzocaine. According to the FDA, common ones include Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel and Orabase.

The problem is that this ingredient, benzocaine, although it's very effective at numbing the gums, it can also lead to a rare and potentially fatal condition called "Methemoglobinemia." Again, this is a rare side effect of the benzocaine, but when it happens, it cuts down on the amount of oxygen a baby's blood supply can carry. That can cause serious problems. Since 2006, when the FDA first issued this warning, they have gotten reports of 29 cases of this problem caused by the benzocaine in these numbing agents. 15 of those happened in children less than 2 years old. This newest warning is that the FDA recommends that parents and caregivers not use these products for children younger than 2. Instead they recommend the good old fashioned refrigerated teething rings or gum rubbing with a finger to help handle that inevitable teething pain.