Parents with teething toddlers and special needs children have become used to giving their children teething jewelry like bracelets, necklaces and other things to soothe their gums. The FDA has warned parents that these jewelry pieces are not automatically safe for your children.
The FDA Has Reported
The FDA has warned caregivers and parents that teething jewelry is not safe for special needs and young children. These jewelry pieces are often thought of as giving stimulation to the gums when teething. The materials that are often used for these jewelry pieces are marble, silicone, wood, and amber, and are not recommended for children.
The traditional plastic or rubber that is used in teething rings is more durable and safer for your child. The necklaces and bracelets made of other materials can often cause choking and strangulation hazards. They can also injure the mouth and gums and cause infections, even if the caretaker or parent has followed the manufacturer’s use suggestions. The FDA warning of December 2018 has also gone out on teething gels, sprays and creams.
Reasons Teething Jewelry Is Risky
There has been a number of documented cases of strangulation and choking that has occurred because of the use of teething jewelry. The risk is because of the unique type of materials that have been used in the making of these jewelry pieces. The jewelry pieces are made of less durable materials and are not as strong as the rubber and plastic infant-teething pieces. The alternative material pieces break off or break down in the mouth and cause major hazards.
The binding and closing methods that are used in the jewelry pieces are of poor quality and the ends do not fit together well for young users. The stress and strain that is put on the jewelry necklaces and bracelets cause many risks for strangulation. Toddlers like to pull and stretch out objects which causes a strain on the items. The risk for injury or infection is high because of the direct use by toddlers. Toddlers are always putting things in their mouths that they find on the floor, the contaminants could give your child sores in the mouth that may turn into infections.
Promoters and retailers of jewelry teething devices have different opinions and go as far as telling consumers that the jewelry teething items, like the Baltic amber, has soothing agents and provides teething relief when used in the mouth. Many will say that the jewelry contains analgesic agents that will help to numb the gums. These claims have not been proven by the FDA. Poor manufacturing and the improper use of these items are causing risks to users. There is no point in taking such risks by using unsafe items for teething.
Teething Pain Relieved with Safe Solutions
There are a number of things Greater Houston Pediatric Dentistry recommends to alleviate teething pain and bring some relief to your toddler.
- To relieve swelling and that awful pain from pressure, talk to your toddler’s pediatric dentist about manual massage methods for the gums.
- Only use teething rings that are made of firm rubber. Do not freeze the teething rings. This will cause them to become rigid and can injure the child’s mouth.
- To relieve the local pain, use a cold, wet child’s washcloth and apply moderate pressure. Your child may suck on the cloth for a while and get some relief. Make sure you stay with your child while he or she is using the washcloth. Repeat this procedure a few times and your toddler will get some relief.
- To prevent pain-causing issues from forming, make regular appointments with your pediatric dentist. This will keep your child in good oral habits.