Teething - can it cause real pain/distress?

[MoragG]

DD is nearly 5 months. We think she may have started teething, but if this is the case it seems to be causing her real pain and distress. She is currently crying inconsolably and nothing I can do seems to help. Gels seem to give a little temporary relief, but I think I will have to resort to Calpol. Could it be something else causing her to be so unhappy? I am really concerned.

Yes teething can cause real pain, have you ever had dental pain? My wisdom teeth were unbearable.
Yes it could be something else at that age.
Can't quite believe you posted before giving Calpol, thats sweet, you'll get over it really fast. We go through bottles of Calpol like its going out of fashion.
IME teething will come and go, we used to get 3 nights and then no teeth and nothing for a few weeks then a few nights again, used to affect how he chewed on the bottle and now it affects what he wants to eat, selecting easy chew foods and spitting everything else out. But I know friends babies who were screaming for a fortnight and then had 2 teeth and then nothing until the next set came through. I is really individual, but if the drugs don;t work (Calpol and teething gel) try the GP/ Pharmacist for further advice. We also have a second home at the GP surgery!
Good Luck

Yes it can. DS3 (7.5 months) has just had 4 teeth come through in 10 days and is still desperately unhappy, dribbling, grizzling, gnawing on anything that doesn't run fast enough ( chair legs, cot bars, unsuspecting ankles, sleeping cat....) so I expect another will appear any day now.
His first tooth came through at 4.5 months, so at this rate maybe they'll all be through before he is a year old!!!

Definately give DD the Calpol, it may help. If it doesn't then try childrens' Ibuprofen as that reduces the inflammation (according to the pharmacist).

Good Luck from me too!

I found ibuprofen much better - its a more effective NSAID and seemed to act quicker and more effectively, so I used at a lower frequency than the bottle said I could go up to.

There is no shame in reaching for the drugs (within reason) my ds is in agony when they are bad.

Second vote for liquid ibuprofen. Ask the chemist for the generic version - Calbrufen etc are three times the price.