If you toddler is teething, you may discover the appearance of mouth sores on the gums where a tooth is trying to come in. Because these can cause an increase in pain, you may wonder what you can do to give you child some relief. If so, use the following three-step home remedy for treating your child's discomfort, as well as preventing infection.
Step 1: Massage Your Child's Gums With Salt Water
Gently massaging your child's gums with salt water will help them in two ways. First, the salt relieves the pain by pulling inflammation out of the tissue. Second, it kills the germs in and around the ulcers that could be contributing to their development and posing an infection risk.
In a small bowl of water, add a tablespoon of salt in a quarter of a cup of water. Allow the salt to dissolve for five minutes.
Dip a clean, soft washcloth into the salt water. Wrap it once around your fingertip, then use it to massage your child's gums. Be careful when you reach the ulcers, since they will be extremely sore. Also, you do not want to bust any that have blistered up since this could cause more pain for your toddler.
Once you have finished massaging the gums, wait five minutes. Then, go on to the next step.
Step 2: Apply Watered-Down Peroxide To The Gums
Applying hydrogen peroxide to the gums helps eliminate the inflammation and kills bacteria. Watering it down keeps it from irritating your child's delicate gum tissues, as well as cuts the bad taste.
In a small bowl or glass, mix together three tablespoons of water with one tablespoon of peroxide. Using your fingertip or a cotton swab, apply the solution over the entire surface of the gums.
After five minutes, use a washcloth soaked in cool water to wipe off the gums. Then, go on to the third step.
Step 3: Give Your Child A Cold Teething Ring Coated With Clove Oil
When applied to a cold teething ring, clove oil provides pain relief almost instantaneously. The oil penetrates the tissue to numb the nerve endings. It also aids in faster healing of the ulcers because it also stimulates blood flow to the area. This helps transport the body's natural healers to the ulcer so they can ward off infection and repair the damage.
If your child does not like the taste of clove oil, you may find it difficult to keep the teething ring in their mouth. As an alternate solution, you could use peppermint oil instead of or together with the clove oil. It has the same effect but has a more pleasing flavor. Both oils can be found in pharmacies, department stores, and most grocery stores.
In a bowl large enough to hold the teething ring, combine a half of a cup of cold water with five drops of either clove or peppermint oil. If you choose to use both oils, use three drops of clove oil and two drops of peppermint oil.
Place the teething ring in the mixture and refrigerate for an hour. Give the ring to your toddler to use for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, put it back into the refrigerator for later use.
Using the above treatment twice a day for a week will give your child much-needed relief and help heal the sores quicker. However, if the pain seems to increase or if your child starts running a fever, you may want to contact your child's dental care specialist as soon as possible. The sores could have become infected and the dentist will discuss treatment options with you. For more information, contact a local dental clinic, like Dentistry For Children & Adolescents.