When your baby starts teething, you want a product that can help soothe your infant while giving you some much-needed relief from the stress of crying and fussiness. At the same time, you want to make sure the products you’ve chosen are safe for your little one and understand the ingredients that go into baby oral care products. The question becomes: how do you decide?
We’re going to discuss the ingredients in Orajel™ Baby formulas and why they are safe for your infant when used as directed. We’ll also talk about why our products are benzocaine-free and belladonna-free so you can make good choices as you nurture your little one.
Is Orajel™ Baby Safe?
Yes, all Orajel™ Baby products are benzocaine-free and safe for babies when used as directed, from Orajel Baby™ Cooling Gels, Tablets, & Swabs for Teething to Orajel™ Baby Tooth & Gum Cleansers. In fact, these products are totally drug-free!
Whether you choose a daytime or nighttime cooling gel, swab, or tablet, Orajel™ Baby products provide an instant cooling sensation that helps you soothe teething infants. Meanwhile, Orajel™ Baby Tooth & Gum Cleansers contain 100% naturally sourced ingredients and work gently to help clean your infant’s teeth and gums.
But what is benzocaine, and why did we remove it from our baby cooling products?
What is Benzocaine?
Benzocaine is a topical local anesthetic found in some over-the-counter (OTC) oral products to help temporarily relieve pain, soreness, or irritation. In oral products, benzocaine is often used for temporary relief of pain in the mouth or gums by numbing affected areas.
Benzocaine is safe (when used as directed) for adults and children 2 years of age or older. However, there’s a reason you should try to avoid baby oral care products with benzocaine.
What is Methemoglobinemia? Benzocaine Side Effects in Baby Oral Care Products
Methemoglobinemia is a condition that occurs when an excess amount of methemoglobin (higher than 1%) leads to a reduction in the amount of oxygen carried in the bloodstream throughout the body.
Methemoglobin is a form of hemoglobin, a critical protein that helps bind oxygen in red blood cells. However, unlike other hemoglobin proteins, methemoglobin not bind oxygen in red blood cells and thus cannot help transport it throughout the body.
In a previous study, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) found that methemoglobinemia has been reported with all strengths of benzocaine gels and liquids. This resulted in the FDA advising parents not to administer any of these applications to children under the age of 24 months unless they receive prior guidance and supervision from a healthcare official.
Benzocaine is not advised for use in baby oral care products. But it’s not the only ingredient to look out for when making purchasing decisions for these products.
What is Belladonna?
Belladonna (atropa belladonna) is a plant in the Solanaceae family, and its roots, leaves, and fruits contain alkaloids that are sometimes adapted for homeopathic medicine. In this form, belladonna has sometimes been used to soothe pain and treat symptoms associated with inflammation.
However, since the belladonna plant itself is toxic, products containing belladonna (even homeopathic remedies) are generally not recommended. The potential toxicity and risk, especially for infants, is something the FDA has warned parents about.
Is Belladonna Safe?
No, belladonna is not safe when included as an active ingredient in baby oral care products. The FDA suggested in 2017 that a baby’s response to belladonna, specifically those under 2 years old, is “unpredictable and puts them at unnecessary risk.”
The announcement came after lab analysis found inconsistent amounts of belladonna in some teething products. In some cases, that amount exceeded the amount claimed on the label. This led the FDA to ask for a recall of some products.
Fear not, there's no need for you to sift through numerous product labels anxiously searching for belladonna. That’s because Orajel™ Baby products do not contain belladonna!
Orajel Baby™ Products Come Pediatrician Recommended†
The ingredients in Orajel™ Baby products are drug-free and safe for infants when used as directed. That’s probably why they are the #1 pediatrician recommended brand for teething.† Try any of our products, including:
- Orajel™ Baby Daytime Cooling Gel for Teething and Orajel™ Baby Daytime Cooling Swabs for Teething offer daytime formulas to help you soothe your infant during the morning and afternoon hours of the day.
- Orajel™ Baby Nighttime Cooling Gel for Teething has a nighttime formula to help you soothe teething infants before you prepare to put them down to sleep.
- Orajel™ Baby Daytime + Nighttime Cooling Gels for Teething is a twin pack that includes both the daytime and nighttime formulas!
- Orajel™ Baby Daytime Cooling Tablets for Teething with Vitamin D are quick, dissolvable cooling tablets with Vitamin D for healthy tooth support*.
- Orajel™ Baby Tooth & Gum Cleansers contain 100% naturally sourced ingredients and help you gently but effectively clean your baby’s gums when brushing.
We’ve tried to make the decision easy for parents. So whether you need cooling solutions for teething infants or help figuring out how to brush your infant’s teeth and gums, choose Orajel™ Baby products!
†among those who recommend a brand
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
