KIDS-ORAL-HEALTH

Teething Fever: Can teething cause fevers?

Teething Fever Relief Common Teething Fever Mistakes

Sometimes teething can cause fevers, but not always. It is possible your baby’s body temperature increases while teething, however only slightly. You should contact your baby’s doctor if your baby’s fever lasts longer than 24 hours, has a fever higher than 100.4 Fahrenheit, experiences vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash with the fever.

Between four and seven months, you should start to see your baby’s teeth coming in. Some babies do not experience any pain or fussiness during teething. For others, teething can be a challenging time both for the babies and the parents.

Baby Teething Symptoms

Teething affects every baby differently, and there is not a single set of teething symptoms. Some common symptoms your baby may experience include drooling, irritability, trouble sleeping, trying to bite or suck on nearby objects, and rejecting food. Some symptoms can last for a few days to several months at the arrival of a new tooth breaking through the gums.

It is important to keep in mind that this is only a phase and will pass. For more information about teething, please refer to “Baby Teething: When it Starts, Signs, and Relief.”

Teething fever lasted more than 24 hours? Call the doctor

Teething Fever Relief

Teething may cause a low-grade fever, especially on the day the tooth comes in. If your baby is experiencing a fever while teething, there are a few ways to soothe your baby’s discomfort including:

Giving your baby a lukewarm bath.
Massage your baby's body with a warm washcloth.
Massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger to relieve some pain to help your baby sleep.
Keep your baby water, baby formula, or breast milk to help them get through a fever.
Give them something safe to chew like a teething ring. These can be cooled in the refrigerator, but do not put them in the freezer which can cause them to leak or break.

Common Teething Fever Mistakes

A common mistake parents make is lowering the room temperature. This will not reduce your baby’s fever. Your baby’s room should stay between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Another common mistake is giving your baby adult medication or aspirin. This is never a good idea even when given in a smaller dose. Thankfully, there are fever-reducing medications specifically for infants, but always make sure to read the dosage instructions beforehand to ensure you give the correct dose.

Remember, teething fever is very normal and short lived. If your baby’s fever lasts longer than 24 hours, contact your baby’s doctor.