Parents are warned against using benzocaine products to relieve teething pain in their babies except under the advice and supervision of health care professionals, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
Benzocaine is a local anesthetic found in over-the-counter products such as Anbesol, Orajel, Baby Orajel, Orabase and Hurricane.
The use of benzocaine gels and liquids to relieve gum and mouth pain can lead to a rare but potentially deadly condition called methemoglobinemia, in which the amount of oxygen carried through the bloodstream is greatly reduced. Children under two years are at particular risk for the condition, the FDA said in a news release.
The agency first warned about the potential dangers of benzocaine in 2006 and has since received 29 reports of benzocaine gel-related cases of methemoglobinemia. Nineteen of those cases occurred in children, 15 of them under two years of age.
The FDA also noted that parents may have difficulty recognizing the symptoms of methemoglobinemia, which include: pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips and nail beds; shortness of breath; fatigue; confusion; headache; light-headedness and rapid heart rate.
Symptoms can occur within minutes to hours after benzocaine use, and after using the drug for the first time or after several uses.
Parents should immediately call 911 (or the local emergency number outside the United States) if a child has symptoms of methemoglobinemia after being given benzocaine, the FDA said in the news release.
Instead of using benzocaine to ease teething pain, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that parents give a child a teething ring chilled in the refrigerator, or use a finger to gently rub or massage the child’s gums.
In another development, oral care is important even for newborns, long before a child’s first tooth emerges.
The American Dental Association mentions these oral-care tips for infants and young children:
- Starting within a few days after birth, gently wipe baby’s gums clean with a clean and moist washcloth or gauze pad.
- Once teeth appear, gently brush them with a child-sized toothbrush and some water.
- Once your child is older than 2 years, brush with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste. Make sure your child spits out the toothpaste.
- When your child has two teeth that touch, floss the teeth each day.
- Continue to brush your child’s teeth twice daily until you’re sure he or she can brush without help.
The MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia has more about teething.
Culled: Daily Health Newsletter
