Teething is often a period of stress and storm for both the parent and the child. It is due to this that our grandmothers were seen to resort to kitchen ingredients to relieve us from our oral pain.
Recent discussion among anxious mothers whether the vanilla extract is indeed good for their children is on a rise. If you are among those mothers, read on to know more on the health benefits of vanilla extract for teething and ways to use it.
Recent trends in the community show a desire for natural and organic ingredients as ways for overcoming pain. Mothers seek for non-toxic means for teething cure, and this led several mothers to use vanilla extract for babies. Vanilla extract for teething is on the rise for many reasons and one of them is due to its healing properties.
Vanilla is a major relaxant when it comes to the aroma of the ingredients. This is especially emitted from vanilla extract where the aromatic smell of vanilla is known to relieve a person. As per research by Mayo Clinic, teething children are known for their crankiness and anxiety levels. This teething in babies often demands a mild relaxant.
The vanilla extract acts as a relaxant for such anxious babies, leading them to even sleep at night. Vanilla has aroma stimulant properties which stimulate the brain cells of the teething baby. This results in vanilla extract to act as a relaxant for teething babies. So go ahead and use vanilla extract for teething babies.
[ Read: Essential Oils for Teething ]
Vanilla extract is derived from vanilla beans. These vanilla beans consist of chemicals like Coumarin, Eugenol, salicylic acid, which have analgesic properties. While teething, babies experience pain in the gum due to swelling and tenderness of the said oral zone.
This results in extreme agony among teething babies leading to distress among parents. Rubbing the vanilla extract on the gums of the baby often helps in overcoming the pain.
| Vanilla extract numbs pain experienced by babies. |
Vanilla extract(1) derived from the vanilla beans has Eugenol. This chemical present in the vanilla extract has both antiseptic and analgesic properties. Eugenol is known to have pain-relieving properties which enable one to experience reduced orofacial pain by acting on the ganglion of neurons around the tooth of the babies.
Babies undergoing teething experience swelling of gums which increases the pain. However, vanilla extract for teething reduces the pain of teeth due to its anesthetic properties helping to numb the pain experienced by babies.
Vanilla extract has a chemical known as vanillin. This vanillin is rich in antioxidants, which helps in healing the body, including teeth. Its antibacterial properties provide it with ample immunity promoting properties, helping the vanilla extract for teething babies in the aspect of healing of injuries due to teething.
[ Read: Home Remedies for Colic in Babies ]
However, according to the Handbook of Medicinal Herbs by James A. Duke, a few drops of vanilla rubbed on the tooth and gums can be used for toothaches. It can also have a calming effect.
Rubbing a drop of vanilla extract over the area on the gum where the tooth is trying to get through may help ease the pain and have a soothing effect on your baby’s anxiety. Vanilla is also known to help with upset tummies, so if your little one is distressed from swallowing too much drool, vanilla may help.
Teething in babies is known to cause swelling of gums. This leads to pain among babies. You can simply rub vanilla extract on the gums. It is good to apply vanilla extract for toothache since its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce swelling and inflammation of the gums, helping in healing and preventing toothache in teething babies
Simply take some vanilla extract on your fingers and rub it on the gums of your little one. Rubbing this vanilla extract will let the chemicals Eugenol and Vanillin to act on the gums of the baby, reducing the pain and inflammation of the gums and experience of pain among the teething babies(2).
It is advisable to only use a two-inch piece of vanilla bean. This is enough to give you one teaspoon of the ingredient, which is sufficient to numb the pain of your child’s oral cavity.
We can say that vanilla extract for babies is a good alternative when it comes to treating teething in young children. Its antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic properties help to numb the inflammation and pain of your little ones. So next time you find your baby wailing away due to toothaches and teething, get that vanilla extract on your fingers and apply it to the gums right away!
[Also Read: Home Remedies for Teething ]
You need — vanilla beans and alcohol — It does take a bit of patience as you wait for the alcohol to extract the flavor from the beans, the delicious results are well worth it.
Maple syrup: Replace the vanilla extract with an equal amount of maple syrup or pancake syrup. Any changes in flavor will be subtle. Almond extract: Swap out the vanilla with half as much almond extract. Almond has a stronger flavor so less is required.