Can Teething Cause Fever?

When your baby starts teething, some of the associated symptoms can make you and your baby miserable. However, it should never make your baby sick.

It is crucial to recognize which signs and symptoms are associated with teething. Fever, as a symptom of baby teething or tooth eruption, has been a common misconception for several years.

In previous years, easily dismissing this potential health-related issue has led to the compromise of a baby’s health through misdiagnosis or misuse of analgesics [1].

Due to the limitations in educating the public about baby physiology, baby teething has perpetuated many myths regarding signs, symptoms, and the evolution of baby teething. It has been a widespread myth that baby teething can cause fevers.

Stay ahead of your baby’s health with familiarizing yourself with the signs and symptoms associated with baby teething.

Baby Teething Myths and Legends

There are a few great examples of baby teething misconceptions that have occurred in history.

Famous Greek physician, Hippocrates, believed teething caused symptoms such as illness, fever, convulsions and more [2]. He named the baby teething process “dentition difficilis,” or difficult dentition, believing it was a deadly disease. Hippocrates and other philosophers at this time had agreed that this was a difficult and challenging process for infants.

They theorized that teething was affecting the infant nervous system, which was so sensitive that the teething process itself resulted in illness and death. Infants who were able to survive the teething process were assumed to have a successful adulthood.

The ancient Hindus and Greeks also believed that teething attributed to illness and death. To remedy the teething symptoms in infants, medical professionals would rub baby gums with dog’s milk, hare’s brain, or colocynth root (a poisonous vine) [3]. Other remedies used included opiates, mercury salts, bromide, honey, and salt. It was also a common practice to cut the gums with a lancet.

Fortunately, these practices are outdated and have been discontinued in most, but not all places. Rest assured, there are safer and proven natural remedies to relieve baby teething symptoms and discomfort.

Studies Revealing That Teething Does Not Cause Fever

Fever as a symptom of baby teething is an old wive’s tale that must be rectified. In order to uncover the true cause of fever in teething infants, several studies have been conducted to understand the baby teething process.

Classic signs of an impending tooth eruption along the associated signs and symptoms, such as fever, vomiting, rash, and diarrhea, were measured in the following studies.

Misconceptions Between Parents and Baby Teething Fevers

There is a famous saying, “teething only produces teeth,” which is still misunderstood by parents around the world. Even today, it is assumed that fevers, diarrhea, and vomiting are associated with baby teething.

Many studies around the world have been conducted to find a connection between baby teething and parental awareness.

In a few studies, parents from Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Australia were asked to answer a structured questionnaire regarding baby teething. In all three studies, parents were held to their own opinions of baby teething and were unaware of the teething myths and realities. [2]

With unawareness of the teething realities, parents can easily dismiss an underlying issue that could be more serious unrelated to teething. Although teething remedies and practices have changed over time, a misdiagnosis could mean the life of a patient. Evidence from the use of analgesics has had this type of impact.

The Relationship Between Teething, Fever, Diarrhea, and Vomiting

Vomiting, diarrhea, and a high fever are not teething symptoms and should not be treated as such.

If your child has an emerging tooth while also suffering diarrhea and high fever, there may be an underlying issue unrelated to teething. In about 98% of cases where a teething baby is vomiting, babies were also experiencing other issues unrelated to teething.

These symptoms should be treated separately and monitored to rule out a serious illness.

To ease the aches and symptoms that babies experience during teething, such as sore gums, try various natural teething remedies such as a chilled, all-natural teething toy from Kute Keiki that provides safe and soothing relief for your growing little one.

What Do I Do If My Baby Has A Fever During Teething?

If your little one is showing signs of fever over 100 ⁰F (37.7 ⁰C) degrees, this likely is NOT related to teething. A slight fever of under 100 ⁰F sometimes occur.

As a baby tooth erupts through the gums, localized swelling will occur. Theis swelling triggers a baby’s immune system, as their body sees this as a possible infection. The triggering of their immune system will raise their temperature only slightly, but never over 100-101 ⁰F.

Some children may have a body temperature above 100 ⁰F and still seem to be behaving normally. Kenneth Stoller, M.D. [4], suggests that monitoring your child’s behavior or reaction to fever is the best way to determine whether their fever is related to a greater issue.

If your child is playing or behaving normally with a fever than there shouldn’t be much to worry about, however, if your child is lethargic and sleeping more than normal during a fever, than this should be more of a concern.

Make sure to keep your baby comfortable and well-hydrated while they are experiencing a fever. If your baby is still experiencing fever for 3-4 days and the symptoms are not subsiding, schedule an appointment with a pediatric doctor.

Analgesics and Antibiotics

Many parents are burdened with “fever phobia” because they have heard that high fevers can cause seizures or something more serious. This leads to parents purchasing over-the-counter medicines such as Tylenol or ibuprofen to help bring a fever down.

The fact of the matter is that fevers can actually strengthen your child’s immune system. If your baby is younger than 3 months with a rectal temperature of 100.4⁰F or higher, then this is something to worry about.

Giving your child any form of fever reducer will only mask the problem at hand, when most times your ill child may just need time to rest and recover.

It is recommended to NEVER give aspirin to any child under 18, as this can lead to a Reye’s syndrome, a serious and potentially fatal disease which causes swelling in the liver and brain.

Although we are no medical professional, Kute Keiki always advocates for natural remedies in dealing with any health issues. Sometimes the most effective remedy for fever is giving your child some good comfort and cool water – an ancient natural remedy that still exists today.