Is it safe to use peppermint oil around babies for teething?

What's actually in it

Peppermint oil is a concentrated essential oil. Its key cooling chemical is menthol. That cooling feeling is not a teething treatment for babies.

Do not rub peppermint oil on a baby's gums, cheeks, chest, nose, or teether. Babies can inhale menthol when it is near the face.

What the research says

NIH NCCIH guidance updated in 2025 says menthol in peppermint oil should not be inhaled by or applied to the face of an infant or small child because it can affect breathing. The same guidance says peppermint oil should not be applied to the face of infants or young children.

For teething, use a clean chilled washcloth, gum massage with a clean finger, or a teether your pediatrician approves. Call the pediatrician for fever, poor feeding, or pain that does not settle.