Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that teething powders and gels do nothing?

31 replies

Walktwomoons · 14/04/2020 11:25

I bought two boxes of teething powders and bonjela teething gel yesterday. When I looked at the ingredients, all that's in them are flower extracts and sweeteners! What's more, the boxes are covered with "homeopathic" and "based on traditional use only". This usually means that something is not actually a proper proven medicine in my experience! So, do they work? I have an open mind, I've been told there's no evidence for lanisol or tens machines but they both worked for me. I had just expected teething products to include some kind of painkiller.

OP posts:
Crayfishforyou · 14/04/2020 11:28

They don't work.
The only thing that worked for a few hours with dd was calpol followed by nurofen 10 minutes later.
She wasn't a chewy baby so teething toys etc was out for us.

ElloElloVera · 14/04/2020 11:31

DD loved the Teetha powders. They always eased her suffering.

tainot · 14/04/2020 11:33

Powders work here, the gels can work but are slippery and quite difficult to actually get them on the gums. Anbesol liquid is better and easier to get on the right bit.

QuestionableMouse · 14/04/2020 11:34

They work for some babies. My oldest nephew found them very soothing but my his baby brother seemed to hate them.

LittleLittleLittle · 14/04/2020 11:36

Chewing on everything going, ibuprofen, and being cuddled worked best for my LO.

I know bonjela works for primary children and some adults with sore mouth/ulcers.

happymummy12345 · 14/04/2020 11:37

Cal gel always helped my son. Tried the powder once and it was useless.

Stompythedinosaur · 14/04/2020 11:38

I don't think there is any evidence that they work.

Equally I remember being the desperate parent who tried them.

Umnoway · 14/04/2020 11:39

The best thing is calpol if they’re really struggling or giving them teething toys like Sophie Giraffe to chomp on. The powders and gels are naff. Anbesol is pretty good though tbf, also great for mouth ulcers.

Frariedeamin · 14/04/2020 11:39

They removed the ‘good stuff’ from the kids bonjela due to a potentially very serious side effect in under-16s. Didn’t seem worth the money after that (not saying they shouldn’t have done it but I am saying the product didn’t seem effective any more!).

MuddlingThrough1724 · 14/04/2020 11:40

Dentinox gel and anbesol liquid (over the counter) both work a treat.

GrumpyHoonMain · 14/04/2020 11:40

The powders will work if their gums are sore - for maybe an hour or two. I find rubbing them into the gums with a clean finger seems to work better.

Hedgehog26 · 14/04/2020 11:41

Astons and parsons seems to really help my dad. She has that most of the time when she’s teething, if it’s a bad day she has anbesol but that’s getting harder to apply now she has more teeth. We save calpol for nighttime and very rarely give it during the day.

I’d have a hierarchy of things, start at the bottom and work your way up, don’t go straight in at calpol

TSSDNCOP · 14/04/2020 11:42

The best advice I ever had was if you had banging, mind drilling toothache would you reach for Bonjela or Ibuprofen and Paracetamol? Dish the hard stuff and lots of cuddles.

Eemamc · 14/04/2020 11:43

They’re homeopathic, which is why I never bothered. Might have as much luck with crystals or singing to the moon. Fan of anbesol here, which does have an active ingredient. Worked well for us alongside calpol. Good luck!

oohnicevase · 14/04/2020 11:45

You need anbesol

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 14/04/2020 11:45

Anbesol is not homeopathic. It contains a numbing/anaesthetic chemical. I think it's lidocaine or benzocaine. It's topical though, so at best you are talking 15 -20 mins of light relief.

WhateverHappenedToBathPearls · 14/04/2020 11:48

You have to ask at a pharmacy counter OP. A year or so ago they changed the rules so the ones that actually work (i.e. have lidocaine in) can only be sold by a pharmacy, not on supermarket shelves. The best one is anbesol liquid.

winniesanderson · 14/04/2020 11:49

Anbesol liquid and calpol was the only reliable thing that worked here too. Occasionally a later dose of ibuprofen if needed.

stargirl1701 · 14/04/2020 11:49

Agreed. Tried them all with DD1.

DD2 got ibuprofen.

VenusClapTrap · 14/04/2020 11:49

Pointless. Give the poor child actual pain relief - Calpol.

MumInBrussels · 14/04/2020 11:54

Why would you not give paracetamol? As long as it's in the right dose, it's safe and effective. If someone tried giving me a homeopathic sweetie when I had crushing toothache, I would be distinctly unimpressed, and I can't imagine it's that different for children, even if they can't say so.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 14/04/2020 12:08

Ps agree with all PP. Iburofen best thing.

mynameisntlouise · 14/04/2020 12:08

I think the teething powers did something. Maybe it's just feeling like you're doing something rather than nothing!

LittleOwl153 · 14/04/2020 12:21

Yep anbesol liquid - not the gel - is great. Works for adults too!

pinkazing · 14/04/2020 12:23

The a&p powders stopped some of the discomfort when my wisdom teeth came throughBlush (yes I was desperate)