The most common problem while teething that causes irritation and pain in babies is swelling of gums and itchiness in them, as teeth push the gums from beneath, causing them to bulge. Sometimes, the pain in jaws becomes so severe that it gets shifted to ear canal too. Babies cry and wail and are inconsolable and the helpless parents are at a loss about what to do to soothe their little darlings. Here are some tips for soothing babies with soreness in gums while teething:

* Cool off the pain: Use fake Popsicles or teething pacifiers that have bumps on them by keeping them in the refrigerator and giving them to the baby to bite, chew or suck and cool the pain off, when he/she is hurting. Remember that teething rings or teethers are not to be kept in the freezer as they can harm the tender skin of the infant.
* Distraction: Teething pain can be chronic and cause great discomfort to the baby making him/her irritable. You can cuddle the baby more often, talk to him or offer her a new toy as a way of distraction to soothe her so that she forgets her ache for sometime as she gets attracted to you or the toy.
* Massage: A tooth deep in the gum may be painful and yet not have bruised the gum. In such cases, counter pressure created by chewing can help to soothe the baby and plastic toys, teething rings and other soft plastic toys for teething babies may help her to satisfy her urge to chomp. If the babies’ gums are too tender, then you can lightly massage them with a clean finger or a finger wrapped in washcloth to soothe the baby.
* Medications: Many parents trust over-the-counter local anesthetics like Anbesol or Orajel for their babies but do remember to follow the directions carefully or the baby may fall sick. They should never be given to a baby more than four doses a day or for more than two weeks. Acetaminophen drops may also help the baby to fall asleep but they must be used only at the time of nap or in nighttime. Do not use them to soothe the baby when he should be awake.