Teething is one of those phases in the child’s life that requires patience from the parent’s side. This phase brings about a lot of changes, the baby becomes fussy and a range of symptoms appear that are generally quite discomforting. One of the teething issues is that it can cause fever spikes. It is relatively common for the two to show up together.
Let’s shed some light on the realities of teething and what issues it causes in babies.
Can Teething Really Be A Cause of Fever?
Since the two symptoms often appear together, it is not wrong to think that they interrelate with one another. Well, according to AAP – American Academy of Pediatrics, the baby may suffer from a slight, extremely minute temperature elevation when the tooth starts to erupt.
The main reason behind this is gum inflammation because the teeth literally tear the tissue apart to come out. Having said that, the elevation does not mean that the fever during teething goes high enough to be detected on a thermometer; teething cannot cause a significant fever spike.
You need to know when your baby’s body temperature while teething qualifies to be a fever since there may be other lingering issues that need to be taken care of.
Check for Any Illness
So, now that we know that the two are unrelated, why do babies get fevers then while in teething mode? Well, the phase usually starts around when the baby hits 4 to 7 months time. This is often when the baby develops their first cold and ear infection that spikes a fever.
The main reason behind this is the immunity that they get from their mothers at birth starts fading off at 6 months. Therefore, 6 to 12 month range is prominent with a fever, diarrhea, and runny nose along with teething.
Actual Signs of Teething Other Than Fever
Every baby is different from one another. However, some of the common symptoms that appear in most of them during teething include:
- Drooling – a consequence due to increased saliva production.
- Rash – Face rash is common from excessive drooling because it contains tiny bits of food irritating the skin.
- Chewing – gum irritation can result in an increased need to chew on everything they can get their hands on.
- Gum Pain – pain in the gum is moderate and in episodes. This may make your baby act a little fussier. You will find your baby in discomfort but not high enough to cry; just sleeping trouble at night.
Conclusion
Massage the gums of your baby to alleviate their pain. The teething process is pretty weary and can take a toll on the baby’s health. In case you suspect deviation from normal oral health, talk to one of the dentists from AT Dental Care San Jose.