Do amber teething necklaces work?

Teething is a hard period for babies and parents alike the pain can cause frequent waking, long crying sessions, and fussy nursing. There are many products on the market that are supposed to ease the pain of teething for babies. Among them are amber teething necklaces. Do they work, or is this just another fad?

Why amber?

Amber contains succinic acid, a dicarboxylic acid that has historically been used to treat certain aches and pains, like rheumatic arthritis. This succinic acid was retrieved from amber by pulverizing and distilling it. The idea with amber teething necklaces for babies is that the succinic acid will reach the baby's blood stream and soothe its teething pain. There is, of course, no scientific evidence that that's even true.

I'd also have to point out that lots of the so-called amber teething necklaces sold today aren't actually amber, but mostly resin they're artificially manufactured amber. There may be some succinic acid in these artificial amber products, but it would be very little.

So, do they work?

It's very unlikely that amber teething necklaces have the capacity to soothe teething pain for your baby. They may look nice, but that's it. If you are looking for relief for your baby's painful little gums, Tylenol will help some. Homeopathy is another equally unproven thing you could try to remedy teething pain. And teethers may have some positive effects on some babies, particularly the ones you stick in the freezer before you give them to your baby.

Teething is indeed a pain in more than one sense of that word but perhaps you can take some comfort in the knowledge that it will pass before you know it. Before you take the "if it won't help, it won't harm" view, remember that necklaces represent one of the many hidden dangers for babies.