‘No benefit’ to teething gels under crackdown

Products containing lidocaine used for teething in babies and children will only be available over the counter in pharmacies from next year.

A review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) found such medicines should only be used when non-medicinal options such as rubbing or massaging the gums or using a teething ring do not provide relief.

It found a lack of evidence of any benefit to using products containing lidocaine for teething before the non-medicinal options.

The review was prompted by a warning issued by the US Food and Drug Administration, which found a lidocaine solution used as a pain reliever on teething babies’ gums could cause deaths and serious injuries.

However, lidocaine was used in far higher concentrations than in any products available in the UK. An MHRA spokeswoman said teething is a natural process and gels containing lidocaine should only be used as a second line of treatment after discussion with and the guidance of a healthcare professional.

The body said pharmacists were best placed to provide guidance and support when babies and children were teething.

MHRA deputy director Dr Sarah Branch said: “Our review showed there is a lack of evidence of benefit to using teething gels.”