The Food and Drug Administration alerted parents on Thursday to the possible dangers that teething jewelry can pose to children.
The warning comes after the FDA says that they have received reports of death and serious injuries to infants and children including strangulation and choking. The agency advises that parents not use these types of items to relieve teething pain or provide sensory stimulation to those with special needs.
The teething jewelry can come in several forms including necklaces, bracelets, and anklets worn by adults and children and are sold by several manufacturers.
The FDA says that the jewelry can break creating choking hazards and that strangulation can occur if a necklace is wrapped too tightly around a child’s neck. The agency has also pinpointed amber teething necklaces that contain a substance called succinic acid which may be released into a child’s bloodstream. Makers of the amber teething rings say the acid helps to soothe teething pain, but the FDA says these claims have not been evaluated.
The small number of reports received by the FDA include choking and the strangulation death of one 18-month-old child.
Along with teething jewelry, the FDA recommends that parents refrain from using teething creams, benzocaine gels, sprays, ointments, solutions, and lozenges.
The agency says they will continue to monitor reports on the jewelry. Injuries or adverse effects sustained from these types of jewelry can be reported to the FDA by calling 1-800-FDA-1088.
Read more from the FDA, here.
