Retrospective analysis of the effects of a hyaluronic-based gum gel to counteract signs and symptoms of teething in infants

BACKGROUND: Teething discomfort is a widespread disorder affecting a very high percentage of infants. It creates anxiety in parents, who look for help in pediatric clinics. The use of hyaluronic acid gels has been shown in the last 20 years to be an effective tool, generally devoid of side effects, in reducing oral mucosal inflammation in adults. Recently, such results have also been confirmed in infants affected by teething. METHODS: From our routine practice results, we have retrospectively reported the efficacy and the safety profile of Bonjela® Soothing Teething Gel (Bonkela, Reckitt Benckiser, UK), a teething gel capable of addressing in a significant way this infant complaint, which improves all the clinical outcomes used in these types of study to describe the clinical condition of infants. RESULTS: The time×group interaction showed significant differences in unexplained cry, irritability, inappetence, salivation and gum redness (P<0.01 for all comparisons), with lower Likert scores in the treated group respect to the control one. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment with Bonjela® Soothing Teething Gel contributed to reduce some common symptoms of teething, in comparison to the standard use of a teething ring alone.