Research shows teething products may contain alcohol, lidocaine, or sucrose

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 2 October 2019

save

LONDON, UK: Though teething is a difficult experience for both parents and their babies, a judicious decision-making process should be employed when selecting a product to relieve it. This, at least, is the conclusion reached in a recent study regarding teething products in the UK.

The research examined all 14 teething products currently licensed for commercial sale in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The results revealed that two products contained sucrose, which could cause newly erupted primary teeth to undergo decay, as these products are applied directly to the teeth. Six products were found to contain alcohol, which has a number of potential side effects, including impaired motor development.

All six of the teething gels licensed by MHRA were found to contain lidocaine at a 1% or less solution. In 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration found that the presence of viscous lidocaine at a 2% solution had been associated with 22 adverse reactions, including six deaths.

Scroll down

In response to the research, the British Dental Association (BDA) has urged parents to be aware of which teething products could be potentially harmful for their children.

“Parents buying teething powders to save infants from distress won’t always realise they’re offering their kids sugars, alcohol or lidocaine,” said Chair of the BDA’s Principal Executive Committee Dr Mick Armstrong.

“Buying a licensed product should offer confidence you’re making a safe choice. The reality is consumers are navigating a minefield of potentially harmful ingredients. We need to see real change in the way these products are licensed and marketed, and clear guidance so parents understand the risks. If your little one is suffering, then a teething ring kept cool in the fridge is all you need,” Armstrong added.

The study, titled “Teething products may be harmful to health”, was published on 27 September 2019 in the British Dental Journal.

Tags:

To post a reply please login or register

New research shows chewing gum may turn off earworms

READING, UK: Earworms, from the German “Ohrwurm”, are catchy tunes that repeat in one’s head. A recent poll suggested that over 90 per ...

Webinar to discuss periodontal side effects of orthodontic treatment

Although orthodontic treatment has become increasingly commonplace, its periodontal side effects are often overlooked. In a free CURADEN webinar on Tuesday,...

Gum infection may be a risk factor for heart arrhythmia, according to new research

Periodontitis can lead to a litany of dental issues from bad breath to bleeding and lost teeth. Now, researchers at Hiroshima University have found that it ...

Research indicates mouthwash may impede benefits of exercise

PLYMOUTH, UK: The systemic health benefits of regular exercise are myriad and well documented, and much the same could be said about the use of mouthwash. ...

Poor oral health may contribute to a decline in brain health, according to new research

The link between oral health and systemic heath has been long understood by dental experts. Now preliminary research, to be presented at the American Stroke...

Interview: “Tooth discolorations can have a psychosocial effect on the patient’s life”

Until recently, performing a tooth whitening procedure on British dental patients under the age of 18 was illegal. However, recent changes in the position ...

Women disproportionately affected by UK dental crisis, new report shows

LONDON, England: The UK dental crisis is a highly significant public health issue, having escalated in recent years owing to continued reductions in ...

Study shows dentists may underdiagnose when under time pressure

PLYMOUTH, UK: Though dentistry can be a highly stressful field to work in at times, little research has been done into how time pressure can affect a ...

Benefits of water fluoridation may have peaked in rich countries

MANCHESTER, UK: Researchers from the University of Manchester have conducted a pioneering study in the UK focusing on the oral health and economic impacts ...

Sugar tax may have reduced UK paediatric tooth extractions—study

CAMBRIDGE, UK: Dental caries is the primary cause of elective hospital admissions among UK children aged 5–9 years, and the disease accounts for nearly ...

Education

On-demand
webinar