The Best Teething Remedies in History
The Best Teething Remedies in History
Parents and babies can find teething a difficult phase, but different remedies have been used throughout history to help ease the pain. Since ancient times, parents used natural remedies to ease the pain, such as massaging the gums using cooled herbs, or using cold stones. Amber teething necklaces were popular in the 18th century. It was believed that succinic acids found in amber could relieve pain and inflammation. In recent years, gels and rings with mild numbing substances have become popular teething remedies. One thing remains constant, despite the evolution of remedies: the desire to provide comfort for babies during this difficult stage of development. Many parents still turn to natural remedies like chamomile or chilled fruit, while remaining cautious about what is safe for their children.
In 1842, this misconception was so common that ‘teething was the cause of death of just under 5 per cent (of infants) who died in London younger than a year and 7 per cent for those between one and three. Gosh, only God knows the true cause of death for all those poor little poppets.
As these London baby deaths misattributed show, teething has been a concern for parents for literally thousands of years.
The primitive teething remedies included all kinds of terrible things. We’re talking about treatments such as putting leeches on feet, or blistering and bleeding the gums.
Since the very beginning of mankind, teething has been a topic of debate and concern. According to a published paper “There are references to teething problems in the Homeric Hymns of around 1200 BC, and in the early Indian Literature around 1000 BC.
You can blame it on teething
Hippocrates attributed all kinds of illnesses to teething by the 300s. He said that teething children suffered from fevers, convulsions, and diarrhoea. This is especially true when their eye teeth are cut and they become very corpulent.
It’s fair to say that he might have contributed generously to the whole teething chain of misinformation thing.
Another favourite was pig and rabbit brains. Shudder. MP Ashley wrote:
The fourth century AD records a cure: “If the gums are sore, apply dogs or hare brain to the area. This works if consumed. If a tooth is difficult to erupt, apply butter and oil of lilies on the area where it is. Cyperas, a plant type.
Not only the Europeans like to rub their gums with things that aren’t very tasty. According to American folklore, babies can be soothed if they rub a tiny fish (a minnow) on the gums where their teeth are growing.

The 1500s
The French surgeon AmbroisePare invented the abominable practice of lancing babies’ gingivae, believing that teeth that were slow to appear needed a clear path.
The practice of lancing, which involves cutting the gums open to reveal the teeth, was finally abandoned in the 1930s.
In the 1800s
In the 1800s, parents began to medicate their children for teething pain. Many different preparations were on the market that promised “relief and health for your baby and rest to yourself”.
This was because they contained different amounts of alcohol and morphine.
The Founders of Ancient Teeth Remedies
Ancient Teeth Remedies was founded by a group of visionary individuals who were deeply rooted in traditional healing practices. They drew on centuries of wisdom passed down from generation to generation to create holistic oral care solutions. They were often herbalists and healers who used a variety of minerals and essential oils to create remedies that not only promoted dental health but also overall wellness. These founders laid the foundations for many natural dental remedies that have endured the test of time. They are often passed down through the generations and refined.
Hippocrates (1000 BC)
In the past, many childhood diseases have been blamed on teething. In the early Indian literature of 1000 BC, there are references to teething problems in Homeric hymns. Hippocrates’ on Dentition was written in the 4th century BC. states that teething children experience itching, fevers, convulsions, and diarrhoea.
He observed that the harder the teething was, the better the outcome for the child. It may have been an allusion to the idea of survival of the fittest, as a child who was strong enough to endure the pain and change in diet that occurs at this age would be more likely to survive the normal traumas associated with childhood.
Ephesus (117AD)
The physician Soranus from Ephesus, in 117 AD, was the first person to suggest the use of a hare brain for teething. It was a popular remedy up until the 17th century. The fourth-century ad records a cure: “If the gums are sore, apply dogs or hare brain to the area. This works if consumed.” If a tooth is difficult to erupt, apply butter and oil of lilies on the area where it is emerging.

Aetios
Aetios, in the sixth century AD, recommended the use of hare brains, either roasted or boiled and, if hare brains were not available, lamb brains would work just as well. “because, by its nature, it helps”. Aetios encouraged wearing amulets and charms to ease teething and prevent death. He suggested “Root of colocynth (a poisonous wild vine), bramble roots, or the teeth of a viper – especially a male viper – set in green jasper or gold, and suspended around the child’s neck, so that they hang over their stomach”.
In the ninth century, doctors were trying to determine the best season for teething children. “Those who teethe in the winter come out best”. In the summer, gastrointestinal disorders were more common. Also, food contamination was more prevalent.
Von Louffenberg (1429)
In medieval times, infants who were teething were encouraged to chew hard objects like roots. Von Louffenberg summarized the care for a teething child in 1429.
Thomas Phaire (1545)
Thomas Phaire was an English physician who recommended an ointment that contained oil of roses, and nightshade juice in 1545. His recommended charm was ‘The first cast tooth of a calf set in silver, bone or red coralle, in lyke fashion, hanged around the neck whereupon he should oftentimes work his gums.’.
Coral was also used as a protective substance in other contexts. “By agreement of all authors it resisteth lightning, helps the children of the falling evil (epilepsy) and is good to be powdered and dronken for all kinds of bleeding in the nose or foundation”.
Flemish doctors
Around the same time, Flemish doctors advised “Make use of, in this affliction primarily, the canine teeth of a she-wolf; and the latter has a better reputation than the former”.
Ambriose Pare (1517-1592)
A French army surgeon began advocating a new method to solve the problem of “breeding” teeth: cutting the gums using a lancet. He described in 1575 how he came up with the method after examining a dead baby. When we searched for the cause of death of this child, we couldn’t find anything other than the hardness of his gums. We cut the gums and found that all of the teeth were visible. ‘
Francois Mauriceau (1668)
In 1668 Francois Mauriceau a French male midwife recommended that the procedure “Be done with lancet instead of a knife. Although a thin groat [a small coin] would be as good or even better”.
Mauriceau questioned the effectiveness of charms. However, he thought that the silver coral sticks were helpful because their hard smoothness soothed a child’s gums. “There are several remedies that people claim can aid in the cutting of teeth. These include rubbing the gums with Bitches’ Milk, hare or pig brains, and hanging a snake’s tooth around the neck of a child.”
John Hunter and Joseph Hurlock (1742)
Both John Hunter and Joseph Hurlock wrote about teeth. Hurlock published his Treatise on Dentition in 1742. He believed that more children than previously thought died of teething. According to him, convulsions are also responsible for many deaths. Hunter and Hurlock both tried to encourage lancing the gums to prevent deaths. Hunter would lance the gums of a newborn baby up to 10 times. Hurlock recommended lancing the gums for any childhood illness or disease, regardless of whether a tooth was visible. Lancing does not seem to have caused any problems. John Hunter believed that lancing never had dangerous consequences.

Teething Symptoms And Signs
Children can begin teething anywhere from 4 months to 2 years old. During this time, your baby might become irritable and fussy as the new teeth start to appear.
Each child reacts differently to teething symptoms. Children may show little or no signs while others may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Reduced appetite
- Drooling
- Gnawing and chewing on objects around them
- Irritability
- Gums that are red and swollen
Before using any remedy, always check with your pediatrician to make sure it is safe for your child.
Natural Teething Remedies
Breastmilk
You can soothe your child’s sore teeth by freezing breast milk in ice cubes. Pour the breastmilk in an ice-cube tray, and then freeze. Once the ice is frozen, break it up into small bites. Offer them to your baby in a teething mesh.
The sucking action can relieve the pressure on your child’s gums. Chamomile tea is a wonderful way to reduce the stress of teething and its fussiness. This caffeine-free tea is great for mothers to drink and can pass on the benefits to their babies.
Items That Are Cool Or Frozen
You can give your baby cold or frozen food such as apples, carrots or bananas. To prevent large pieces of food from entering your baby’s mouth, you should give them in a silicone or mesh teether.
Many parents love a slightly frozen washcloth. After soaking a washcloth with water or caffeine-free chamomile diluted tea, freeze it for a few minutes. If your baby shows signs of teething you can give them the cold cloth. This can reduce inflammation and have a soothing effect.
Massage
When your baby’s first teeth appear, tension along the jaw can cause pain to travel from their mouth up to their ears. A gentle facial massage for your baby can reduce the pain and irritation caused by teething.
Start by massaging your baby with your fingers. You can also massage the area above or below the top lip. Move your hands slowly to the cheeks of your baby and start moving your fingers in a circle. To relieve tension, move your fingers up and gently draw your thumbs across the baby’s eyebrows.
This teething remedy is great for reducing teething symptoms and calming your baby. It is also a wonderful opportunity to bond with your child.

Rings Or Teething Toys
A safe, non-toxic teething toy or ring is an excellent choice to help relieve your baby’s pain and allow them to chew. Rubber or silicone are both safe options. A wooden teether is another option. Be sure to choose a brand with water-based sealants. Some may require lubrication before use.
Choose a teething toy that you can place in the freezer or fridge. This will protect it in case there is a break in the seam or a hole.
Cleaning Your Finger
Last but not least, use a clean, dry finger. This is one of the oldest and best natural remedies for teething. You can relieve pain and tension by rubbing your finger over your child’s sore teeth or allowing them to chew on your finger.
There are many teething remedies. However, you should always consult your pediatrician to get the best advice. Try these natural remedies for teething to relieve your child’s pain and symptoms. The average time for a new tooth to emerge and the symptoms to subside is 3-4 days.
Ancient teething toys
No wonder teething is a horrible time. In the past, babies were mistreated under the pretext of ‘teething remedy’.
There are other ways to ease the eruption of baby teeth. For centuries, teething toys have also been used. Some babies received semi-precious gemstones, wolves’ or snakes’ teeth, donkey hair or plant roots. They were mounted on silver handles or worn around the neck or waist as amulets. It was believed that this would provide a magical relief to teething babies.
It’s all any parent wants when their child is stroppy. Maybe we should all be decorating our babies with animal teeth or coral belts. I’m not sure we can accept a necklace made of viper vertebrae.