Motrin Prolonging Teething? (x post Health & Healing)

[kamane18]

A poster mentioned this yesterday in a different thread and I had never heard of it - basically that since Motrin is an anti-inflammatory and teething is an inflammatory process, the medicine actually slows down teething. Does anyone know if this is true? My 7 month old is starting to teethe badly and Hylands, etc haven't been cutting it. I do have Motrin for REALLY bad times (which is how I used it with DD) but wouldn't want to use anything that is going to prolong things!

[vitar82]

I am not a pediatrician but an adult doc I do however had firends in pediatrics and they advise to stay away from NSAIDs (motrin and the like) for babies and rather use tylenol as it is safer. I use tylenol for my daughter when she needs it (post shots sometimes). Sorry this does not directly answer your questoin, however I doubt that motrin would prolong teething as motrin wears out in 6-8 hours so unless you use it continuosly (a big no-no obviosly) it should not have lasting effects.

[Jayray]

Personally, that sounds ridiculous to me. The inflammation occurs because the tooth is moving. The tooth doesn't move because of the inflammation.

At least I don't think it does. I could be wrong.

[eternamariposa]

I have actually heard similar theories about motrin, but of corse I don't know for sure one way or the other. You could always go the tylenol route.

[kamane18]

Well I prefer not to use Tylenol because (1) I don't like the affect it has on the liver or immune system (depletion of glutathione) and (2) because it doesn't work nearly as well for something like teething. I try to stick with homeopathics but they don't always cut it, hence why I keep Motrin around and was curious when I saw this theory on MDC yesterday.

[kamane18]

Just bumping in case anyone else had thoughts on this!

[Masel]

I used to work in a library for an orthodontist association. I came across an article when DD1 was teething that suggested ibuprofen inhibits tooth movement. I didn't find anything about teething.

[kamane18]

Originally Posted by Masel

I used to work in a library for an orthodontist association. I came across an article when DD1 was teething that suggested ibuprofen inhibits tooth movement. I didn't find anything about teething.

Thanks - interesting. So if ibuprofen can inhibit tooth movement with regard to orthodontics, I guess it might stand to reason that it can affect the teeth moving down through the gums? Hmmm.

[CageFreeFamily]

There is some evidence to suggest that teething pain is due to insufficient calcium.
We had a great deal of success with a calcium tea made of equal parts Oatstraw, Horsetail, Comfrey root and Lobelia. We sweetened it with a little peppermint and maple syrup.

Alternately, you could soak ground egg shells in apple cider vinegar and dose with that. I could never get mine to take that though.. ick.