Gel filled teething device

A method of manufacturing a teething device, comprising the steps of:

• forming a resilient, fluid impervious body member having an interior cavity and sized to be received in a mouth of an infant;
• forming a body of self-sustaining, non-flowable, pliable gel within the interior cavity of the body member such that the body of gel substantially fills the interior cavity, the body of gel being characterized by the properties of maintaining the self-sustension and pliability over a temperature range of from about -20.degree. to 215.degree. F. whereby the body member and the body of gel can be heated or cooled over a temperature range of from about -20.degree. to 215.degree. F. without substantially altering the resilience of the body member and the pliability of the body of gel;
• and
• sealing the body of gel within the interior cavity of the body member.

A method of administering a thermal treatment within a mouth, comprising the steps of:

• providing a resilient, fluid impervious body member sized to be received in the mouth and filled with a body of self-sustaining, non-flowable, pliable gel being characterized by the properties of maintaining the self-sustension and pliability over a temperature range of from about -20.degree. to 215.degree. F. whereby the body member and the body of gel can be heated or cooled over a temperature range of from about -20.degree. to 215.degree. F. without substantially altering the resilience of the body member and the pliability of the body of gel;
• treating the body member and the body of gel by altering the temperature of the body member and the body of gel to a level significantly above or below body temperature while maintaining the pliability of the body member and the body of gel;
• and
• introducing the body member into the mouth and applying the body member and placing the body member in close proximity to a selected portion of the mouth for heating or cooling of the selected portion.