Some, but not all children experience sore gums when their teeth are coming through. This discomfort can often be eased by using teething toys or chilled teething rings. Over-the-counter gels are available in pharmacies to rub onto the gums but are often ineffective due to the large amounts of saliva produced by teething infants. If symptoms are prolonged or are disturbing sleep then infant Tylenol, Calpol or Advil can be used for relief.

Please note that teething does NOT cause fevers, diarrhoea and vomiting or other various systemic symptoms sometimes mistakenly blamed on teeth. At around the age that the teeth erupt a baby starts to lose the protection of mum's antibodies and is therefore more vulnerable to picking up viral and bacterial infections. If your child has these symptoms you should consult your pediatrician.