Because it causes pain, teething can be a challenging time for both parent and child. In the past, the application of teething gel has been a popular way of coping with it. While a gel that you rub directly onto your child's inflamed gums may sound like the perfect solution to his pain, these products are usually not as useful as they seem, because the saliva in your child's mouth will wash the gel out quickly.
In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now cautions against using teething gels, many of which are still sold over the counter.