FDA Recommends Alternative Teething Pain Relief Measures

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement recently warning parents of children who are teething as well as parents and caregivers of children and young adults who use teething accessories as a physical stimulator that using teething medicines or other remedies can be dangerous, and even fatal. Even homeopathic remedies can cause irreparable damage to a child. Being aware of the potential problems popular teething remedies could cause will help well-meaning, good parents who want nothing more than to ease their baby’s pain avoid catastrophic outcomes.

For over two decades, Parker Waichman LLP has achieved unparalleled results for the firm’s injury clients. To date, Parker Waichman LLP’s lawyers have collected over $2 billion in damage awards for clients injured by someone’s carelessness or recklessness as well as defective or dangerous products and medical devices. A parent or guardian who questions if he or she might have a claim against a company that produces teething remedies for injuring their child is encouraged to contact our medical product defect lawyers today. We are here 24/7 to assist you and your family in your time of need. Parker Waichman LLP provides free case evaluations to help you learn more about the possible financial award available to you and your family for a teething injury.

Safer Alternatives to Teething Remedies

Babies start teething sometime between four months and seven months old. The average child will have 20 baby teeth by the time the child is three years old. Although grownups do no remember what it was like to be teething, we know from experience by watching our children, oranother’s children that teething makes a baby uncomfortable, ornery, tearful, and difficult to handle. Parents quickly reach for the nearest remedy, whether it is Orajel, Anbesol, or another over-the-counter drug containing the pain reliever benzocaine, teething jewelry, or a frozen teething ring. These remedies provide relief for child and parent alike.

Until recently, over-the-counter remedies, homeopathic options, and giving the child something to chew on were considered by many to be safe options. Most parents would not think twice about it. The FDA, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), announced that oral medications, teething jewelry, and even using frozen teething rings are dangerous and must be avoided due to the danger they present to children.

The FDA and AAP say that giving your teething child a frozen ring can hurt the baby’s gums. Also, the frozen ring is a possible choking hazard. Similarly, teething jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, and other items that resemble traditional jewelry must be avoided by parents. These items can break. The small, fractured pieces can get stuck in a child’s throat and choke the child. Additionally, the child could strangle itself with the rope or chain holding the teething jewelry together. The teething jewelry can inflict cuts to the mouth and throat of a child. Furthermore, a child could contract an infection from bacteria present on the teething jewelry.

One of the most severe health problems a child from which a child could suffer after using an over-the-counter teething gel is methemoglobinemia. Methemoglobinemia is potentially deadly. The disorder occurs when insufficient oxygen is carried through the blood cells. The lack of oxygenated blood turns a person blue. Other symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, and an altered mental state. If allowed to persist without treatment, methemoglobinemia can cause developmental delays, seizures, and intellectual disabilities in children. Severe loss of breath can indicate an emergency, which could be deadly.

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