Top Tips to Treat Sore Gums in Babies

Healthy gums are firm, pink, or pale in color, and have a good blood supply to nourish them [1]. However, loose, puffy, discolored (deep red) gums often appear when gums are inflamed, resulting in swelling. This causes the gums to become tender, sore, and painful. There could be a cascade of causes or reasons for the gums to swell in babies.

Top Tips To Treat Sore Gums In Babies

Once your baby’s teeth start pushing their way out, the little one’s gums begin to swell and become sore making the entire teething process quite uncomfortable and painful too. It can be heartbreaking as a parent to see your child cry in pain.

But relax as here are 8 simple tips that will help to relieve your baby of the pain and also reduce the soreness in your baby’s gums.

1. Cuddle Therapy

This therapy involves giving extra love and care to your baby having a hard time. If the baby gets stressed, and cranky, hugs and cuddles will help comfort them. Try and distract your baby from pain with activities like singing or playing with them [2].

2. Massaging Gums

Massaging your baby’s gums with a finger dipped in cold water or even a cold spoon is found to be quite an effective and age-old remedy for easing the uneasiness of sore gums [2A].

3. Teething Rings

Teething rings are quite effective for the little ones to get some relief from their sore gums. So, get some silicone teething rings that are easily available in the market and give them to your little one to chew after refrigerating them. These cold teething rings will provide some relief for the baby’s sore gums. The frozen teething rings numb the area, and the pressure is soothing for the inflamed gums [2B].

4. Pacifier

For babies who are younger than six months of age, a pacifier is also quite a good option. Chewing the nipples of the pacifier will help to soothe your baby’s gums that have turned sore due to teething.

5. Chewable Foods

If your baby is six months and older, you can provide hard food that they can chew. Foods like breadsticks, rusk, or extra-hardened bread are good options. You can even try a cold banana or cucumber. [2C]

6. Teething Gels

Many teething gels are easily available in the market today and are safe to use. They will provide temporary relief to your little darling. These gels normally contain an antiseptic and a local anesthetic combination that works effectively to provide pain relief and also keep any kind of infection at bay.

The only disadvantage is that they are washed off quickly by the little one’s excessive saliva which is another symptom of teething [2D]

7. Ginger

Ginger is also an excellent home remedy to treat sore gums. You just require taking a piece of peeled ginger and massaging the little one’s gums for a couple of minutes continuously. Ginger works as an anti-inflammatory when rubbed on your baby’s sore gums [3]. You can use this remedy for babies who are older than six months and have started solids. Ensure that your baby is not allergic to ginger before trying this remedy.

8. Almond Extract

One more home remedy that is found to provide a soothing effect for sore gums is almond extract. Mix a few drops of almond extract with a little water. Massage this solution onto the gums of your baby either with cotton or with your fingertips. You need to repeat this procedure regularly. It has been proven to be very effective for treating swollen gums in babies [4].

FAQ’s

1. What is a Natural Remedy For Sore Gums?

Breast milk is the most effective natural remedy for sore gums in your baby. Pump out your breastmilk, and pour it into an ice cube tray to freeze it. Mash the frozen cube into small chunks and offer your baby in a teething mesh or baby feeder.

2. What is The Fastest Way to Heal Swollen Gums?

Massaging your baby’s swollen gums with your fingers or wet gauze can provide instant relief. This is because massage improves blood circulation and reduces inflammation and swelling. Additionally, it also helps alleviate pain and tenderness.

References

1. Inflammation of the Gums – PMC – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7136683/]
2. Teething trouble and its management in children – [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278003460_Teething_trouble_and_its_management_in_children]
3. Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginger in Health and Physical Activity: Review of Current Evidence – PMC – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3665023/]
4. The uses and properties of almond oil – PubMed – [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20129403/]