WASHINGTON (CLARKSVILLENOW) – On Dec. 20, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about the safety risks of jewelry used for teething, including bracelets and necklaces.
The agency said the jewelry should not be used to relieve teething pain in children or to provide sensory stimulation to persons with special needs, such as autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
According to a release, the FDA has received reports of death and serious injuries to infants and children, including strangulation and choking, caused by teething jewelry, such as amber teething necklaces.
The FDA issued the warning after receiving a small number of medical device reports, including one death. One report involved a 7-month old child who choked on the beads of a wooden teething bracelet while under parental supervision and was taken to the hospital, and another involved an 18-month old child who was strangled to death by his amber teething necklace during a nap.
Teething jewelry can come in various forms, including a necklace, bracelet or anklet, and can be worn by either an adult or child. The beads of the jewelry may be made with various materials such as amber, wood, marble or silicone.
“Consumers should consider following the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations of alternative ways for treating teething pain, such as rubbing inflamed gums with a clean finger or using a teething ring made of firm rubber,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. in a release.
The risks of using jewelry for relieving teething pain include choking, strangulation, injury to the mouth and infection, according to the FDA. Choking can happen if the jewelry breaks and a small bead enters the child’s throat or airway. Strangulation can occur if a necklace is wrapped too tightly around the child’s neck or if the necklace catches an object such as a crib.
Other concerns include injury to the mouth or infection if a piece of the jewelry irritates or pierces the child’s gums. In addition to choking and strangulation concerns, amber teething necklaces contain a substance called succinic acid, which allegedly may be released into an infant’s blood stream in unknown quantities.
“Manufacturers of these products often claim succinic acid acts as an anti-inflammatory and relieves teething and joint pain. The FDA has not evaluated these claims for safety or effectiveness and recommends parents not use these products,” officials said.
In addition to avoiding using jewelry to relieve teething pain, the FDA continues to recommend that caregivers avoid using teething creams, benzocaine gels, sprays, ointments, solutions and lozenges for mouth and gum pain. Benzocaine and other local anesthetics can cause methemoglobinemia, a serious condition in which the amount of oxygen carried through the blood is reduced. This condition is life-threatening and can result in death.