Baby Orajel Dangers

Do Benefits Outweigh Risks?

Nov 8, 2009 Kristeen Mandak

Baby Orajel can be a lifesaver to a parent with a teething baby in pain. However, there is skepticism that this medication is really a safe treatment for babies.

How Baby Orajel Works

Baby Orajel is a medicated gel which can be applied directly to a baby's gums when they are teething. Since the introduction of its gel, the brand has also introduced complementary products, such as Nighttime Formula and Teething Swabs.

According to drugs.com, Baby Orajel works by numbing a baby's gums, thereby reducing the effects of painful nerve signals within the mouth. The active ingredient in Baby Orajel is benzocaine. Users should be careful not to use other products which contain benzocaine in conjunction with Baby Orajel.

Skepticism

Baby Orajel is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which makes the product a reasonable solution to treating teething pain. However, there is skepticism that Baby Orajel may actually harm babies. This is due to the underlying dangers of benzocaine. Drugs.com explains that benzocaine used in large amounts can cause side effects in babies, such as breathing difficulties, an abnormal heart rate, and seizures. A suspected overdose should be checked out at an emergency room immediately.

Still, there is skepticism that Baby Orajel, even used in moderate doses, can cause a decreased gag reflex and methemoglobinemia in babies. A decreased gag reflex can increase a baby's risk of choking on food, liquids, or even their own saliva. Methmoglobinemia is a type of blood disease in which cells stop producing adequate oxygen levels. Drugs.com advises that babies who already have a diagnosed case of methemoglobinemia should not be administered products with benzocaine.

Risks and Prevention

Babies who have asthma, or other respiratory disorders should not use Baby Orajel, unless parents are instructed otherwise by their pediatrician.

An overdose of Baby Orajel is prevented by following the manufacturer's directions. Baby Orajel can be used when needed, but cannot be used more than four times in one day.

The makers of Baby Orajel advise that parents do not use their products on babies under four months of age. However, since some babies start to teeth as early as three months, a pediatrician should be consulted for advice.

Baby Orajel's makers caution that parents do not use regular adult Orajel in teething babies, as these products contain higher doses of benzocaine.

Although there are potential risks of using Baby Orajel in teething babies, parents do not have to necessarily avoid the product all together, unless their baby has one of the aforementioned pre-existing health conditions. A parent should always ask their child's doctor about Baby Orajel usage. If they are given the okay to use it, then they need to follow the instructions carefully in order to prevent a benzocaine overdose. Baby Orajel should be used conservatively, since it can only be used four times a day.

The copyright of the article Baby Orajel Dangers in General Medicine is owned by Kristeen Mandak. Permission to republish Baby Orajel Dangers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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