(HealthDayNews) -- Your baby's crankiness may be because he's cutting a tooth, especially if it's accompanied by drooling and red or swollen gums, says the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Here's what you can do:

• Massage the swollen gum with your finger for two minutes.
• Place a rubber teething ring in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, then give it to your baby.
• If your child is older than nine months, offer him a popsicle or ice cream to suck on.
• Avoid feeding him salty or acidic foods, such as orange juice.