Essential Oils Can Help Babies With Teething Pain
Babies are supposed to be cute and cuddly, but when they're teething it can feel like they've become irritable little monsters. They cry incessantly, refuse to eat or sleep, and behave badly. Several remedies are using essential oils for teething pain market including homeopathic preparations, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), and benzocaine-containing gels such as Anbesol or Orajel. Although these medications may sometimes help relieve the symptoms by using essential oils for teething pain reducing inflammation in the mouth or numbing an irritated tongue, most of them have not been scientifically tested for safety in babies.
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Furthermore, the FDA has issued a warning against using Benzocaine in children under 2 years due to risks of methemoglobinemia (over-concentration of oxygen in the blood). In contrast, essential oils for teething are completely safe to use on babies. The scientific literature is rife with studies showing that certain essential oils for teething such as clove, cinnamon, and myrrh are effective analgesics and that others like basil and rosemary have properties that reduce inflammation. Why would a baby need analgesics or anti-inflammatory agents? For one thing, teething can be quite painful for babies who are cutting their first set of teeth.
Best Essential Oils For Teething Babies
1. Clove Essential Oil (Eugenia caryophyllata)
Cloves are popular teething remedies because they act so quickly: a warm poultice can relieve toothache pain within 20 minutes of application. In one study, essential oil for teething pain, clove oil, was shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in the oral cavity, reducing irritation and inflammation. It also has analgesic properties and is used as an antifungal remedy. (Clove Essential Oil is not suitable for children under 2 years of age due to risks of methemoglobinemia.)
2. Cinnamon Essential Oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
Cinnamon Essential Oil is commonly used as a teething remedy because it acts quickly to relieve pain. It is also used as a remedy for several ailments, including gastrointestinal problems and toothache. In one study, cinnamon oil was shown to have a significant analgesic effect on the pain associated with teething.
3. Myrrh Essential Oil (Commiphora myrrha)
Myrrh has a long history as a popular remedy for toothache and it acts quickly in the oral cavity. It is also used as an antifungal and antiviral agent, especially for scalp infections. In one study, myrrh essential oil was shown to have a significant analgesic effect on the pain associated with teething.
4. Cypress Essential Oil (Cupressus sempervirens)
Cypress Essential Oil is another well-known remedy for toothache. It is also used to treat rheumatism and various respiratory problems including bronchitis and coughs. In one study, cypress oil was shown to have a significant analgesic effect on the pain associated with teething.
5. Lemongrass Essential Oil (Cymbopogon citratus)
Lemongrass is distilled from the leaves of the lemongrass plant and it has been used as a remedy for various ailments in traditional medicine. The oil is primarily made from the leaves, although it is sometimes also made from the stems and flowers as well. Lemongrass Essential Oil is one of the best-known remedies for teething pain because it acts quickly and can be easily massaged into a baby's gums or applied to a warm compress to relieve pain.
6. Rosemary Essential Oil (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Rosemary Essential Oil is a traditional remedy for toothache and is also used to treat headaches, respiratory problems, and other ailments. In one study, rosemary was shown to reduce inflammation of the surface of teeth undergoing eruptive maturation. It is also used as an insect repellent and a carminative (indigestion-relieving) agent in aromatherapy. In another study, the essential oil was shown to be more effective than ibuprofen at relieving pain associated with teething.
7. Oregano Essential Oil(Origanum vulgare)
Oregano Essential Oil is distilled from the whole plant, including flowers, leaves, and stems. It is used for a variety of conditions including toothache and respiratory problems. Like lemongrass, it is also easy to apply warm to relieve pain.
8. Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha piperita)
Peppermint Essential Oil was traditionally used as a remedy for everything from headaches to stomachaches and teething pain. Its antiseptic properties make it helpful in relieving infections of the mouth and throat.
9. Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium graveolens)
Geranium Essential Oil has been used since ancient times to treat various ailments including menstrual cramps, headaches, respiratory problems, stress and anxiety, digestive problems, depression, and tension.
DIY Mix Of Essential Oils For Teething Pain:
Recipe 1:
The essential oils of basil, clove, cinnamon, cypress, geranium, marjoram, and rosemary are massaged into the baby's gums or applied to a warm compress to relieve pain.
Recipe 2:
For babies who are not yet at the stage where they are cutting their first teeth, an alternate teething oil mixture is made by combining equal parts of peppermint and lavender oils with 1-2 drops of each oil of balsam fir (Abies balsamea), cypress and wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). Older children can apply the mix topically on the gums or painful areas.
Recipe 3:
Adults can make a similar blend by combining 1-2 drops each of peppermint, frankincense, and myrrh oils into almond, apricot, or grape seed oil.
Whether a baby experiences pain associated with teething or not will vary depending on the child's age and the length of time it takes to cut their first set of teeth. For example, children who cut teeth at an early age may not experience much pain because their teeth erupt quickly; in contrast, children whose teeth erupt slowly may experience considerable pain. Therefore, it is important for parents not to assume that babies of different ages will all handle teething with the same ease.
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Benefits Of Using Essential Oils For Baby Teething
1) Gentle: These natural remedies work quickly and gently, providing fast-acting relief from teething pain.
2) Convenient: Essential oils are easy and convenient to use – all you need is a few drops of oil in some water and a cotton ball for topical application, or a few drops of oil in baby's bathwater.
3) Portable: Essential oils can be carried around in the diaper bag or purse – so they are always on hand when you need them.
4) Safe: Parents can rest assured that these natural remedies are safe, gentle, and non-irritating. They have been used safely for centuries by herbalists and aromatherapists.
5) Environmentally Friendly: Essential oils are pure and natural and do not contain harmful chemicals. Some oils are even organic.
6) Economical: Because of the cost-benefit ratio, many parents choose to treat their children's teething pain with natural remedies.
7) Effective: Natural remedies work better than prescription drugs and over-the-counter remedies – both because they are safer and because they are more effective.
FAQs
1) How to use essential oils for a teething baby?
You can place 1-2 drops of a few drops of essential oils good for teething babies on the baby's gums or massage them into the baby's gums to relieve pain. You can also apply the essential oils good for teething babies on a cold compress and gently massage them into the baby's gums.
2) Can I use these essential oils for teething babies?
This will vary depending on the age of your baby and when he/she is about to cut their first set of teeth. For example, some parents apply these oils before their babies are born to reduce the risk of teething pain – and some parents start applying them once the baby starts cutting teeth – but this will depend on the individual child.