From the Research
Teething can cause a slight increase in body temperature, but it typically does not cause true hyperthermia or fever (temperature above 100.4°F or 38°C). If a child has a temperature above this threshold during teething, parents should consider other causes for the fever and consult a healthcare provider. According to a prospective study published in Pediatrics 1, symptoms associated with teething include increased biting, drooling, gum-rubbing, sucking, irritability, wakefulness, ear-rubbing, facial rash, decreased appetite for solid foods, and mild temperature elevation. However, congestion, sleep disturbance, stool looseness, increased stool number, decreased appetite for liquids, cough, rashes other than facial rashes, fever over 102 degrees F, and vomiting were not significantly associated with tooth emergence.
During teething, babies may experience mild discomfort, irritability, increased drooling, and sometimes a slight temperature elevation, but these symptoms are generally mild. For teething discomfort, parents can offer:
- Clean, chilled (not frozen) teething rings
- Gently massage the gums with a clean finger
- Use over-the-counter teething gels specifically formulated for infants Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be used for pain relief at appropriate doses based on the child's weight, but parents should avoid benzocaine-containing products due to rare but serious side effects, as noted in various studies 2, 3, 4. The slight temperature increase during teething occurs because of local inflammation in the gums as teeth break through, but this inflammatory process is not typically severe enough to significantly raise core body temperature to fever levels. It is essential to rule out other possible causes of fever before attributing it to teething, as emphasized in a study published in Archives of disease in childhood 5.