For most infants who are teething fever is a rare occurrence and often coincidental with an infection or other health issues. While a low-grade fever of about 100-degrees may be present, if it goes even slightly high the pediatrician should be contacted to learn the true cause of the fever. While a fever has been thought to be a sign of teething, it is not often the case and if it coincides with teething, a doctor should be consulted especially if the fever is accompanied by diarrhea.

While many pediatricians point out that teething fever is a myth and often the result of an infection unrelated to an infant’s teething, some still insist that a fever is a natural part of teething. Finding a straight answer may be difficult but many mothers contend that when their infants were teething and had a fever, taking the to the pediatrician often resulted in no cause, other than teething, being found for the temperature rise. Other doctors says it is possible for the fever to be a response to the stress on the infant caused by the teething process.

As most pediatricians point out that among all the signs of teething fever is not usually one of them. While every child is different and may react differently to the teething process, a fever is generally caused by something other than cutting teeth.

Studies Do Not Support Theory Of Teething Fever

Numerous studies of infants while they were teething have been conducted and each time a child is taken to the pediatrician for check ups or other medical concerns, a record is made of their temperature. In studies of those who were teething fever was rarely cause for concern. With some having a low-grade temperature of around 100-degrees, fevers pushing the thermometer higher were generally caused by an infection.

Others however, argue that the stress placed on an infant by the teeth pushing through the gums is enough to cause a rise in temperature. The fussiness and crying generally associated with teething can cause a fever in some infants. Additionally, with the parents constantly holding the infant while teething fever may be caused by an increase in body temperature transferred by the parent.

There are numerous methods available to reduce the discomfort by a teething child such as rubbing the gums or allowing them to chew on clean wet rags. Other cures such as rubbing the gums with an alcoholic beverage is discouraged by most doctors and instead suggest topical anesthetic gels for temporary relief. 

Tags: teething fever, baby teething