Baby Orajel Review

My children have had LOTS of pain with teething. I have spoken with several parents who say that they did not even realize that their kids cut a tooth. My kids have always made teething a memorable experience, and I feel for you and your child if you are in the midst of this tough time.

Baby Orajel is topical (placed on the skin, such as the gums) benzocaine and is used as an anesthetic.

What I like about Orajel:

• Works quickly--the baby tends to stop crying within a short period of time after application if the pain is related to teething
• Easy to find--it is often available at stores with a pharmacy section and sometimes in the baby section as well
• Available in different strengths (stronger strength for nighttime relief)
• This worked much better than teething tablets that I tried--those made my child SCREAM (they have caffeine and can aggravate reflux)
• Available with applicators (but these are more expensive)--can use a cotton applicator or your finger if you don't mind a numb finger
• The last time I checked, Baby Orajel was gluten free (I would suggest that you contact the manufacturer to be sure because manufacturers can change their formulations often.)
• I believe some people may use this product on adults on gums amd other areas that they wish to numb

What I don't like about Orajel:

• It is not effective for pain related to other issues--sometimes it is hard to tell exactly why a baby is crying. All three of my children have had colic and reflux, and I found that they all have multiple food sensitivities and changing their diets and getting them on Prevacid helped tremendously.
• My pediatrician mentioned that Orajel can actually toughen the gums and prolong the teething process.
• This small tube of medication is pretty expensive (but only a SMALL amount is needed for application)
• Benzocaine can have severe side effects, including breathing problems and even death. This medication will absorb through the skin and can enter the bloodstream. I would highly suggest discussing options for control of teething pain with your pediatrician first before using any product such as this on a baby. Orajel should not be used on anyone with a blood disorder called methemoglobinemia.

My Viewpoint:

I became desperate when searching for help for my crying babies and found Baby Orajel to be effective for some pain control related to teething. However, Orajel does have some possible serious side effects, including breathing problems and even death. I found that using Tylenol (cherry flavor for infants) and cold teethers tend to be effective for teething pain with fewer possible side effects and therefore cannot recommend this product because of the risks of serious side effects unless your pediatrician specifically encourages you to use this product.