Teething

Is this your child's symptom?

  • The normal process of new teeth working their way through the gums
  • Questions about teething
  • Baby teeth come in between 6 and 24 months of age
  • Caution: at least one tooth should be seen before using this care guide

Proven Symptoms of Teething

Teething has been researched in-depth. Kids who are teething are little different from kids who are not teething. Here are the main symptoms that have been proven:

  • Drooling. Increased spit and drooling.
  • Rash on the face from drooling. The drool contains little bits of food that are irritating to the skin.
  • Chewing. Increased need to chew on things.
  • Gum Pain is mild and not always present. May be due to mouth germs getting into the new break in the gum. Most often, your baby just acts a little more fussy. There's not enough discomfort to cause crying. It also doesn't hurt enough to cause sleep problems.

False Symptoms of Teething

  • Teething does not cause fever, diarrhea, diaper rash or runny nose.
  • It does not cause a lot of crying.
  • It does not cause your baby to be more prone to getting sick.
  • Caution about Fevers. Blaming teething for fevers can lead to a delay in seeking care for infections. Examples are ear and urinary tract infections. Another example is meningitis.
  • There are 2 reasons why infections start between 6 and 12 months of age. One is the loss of antibodies transferred to baby from the mother at birth. The other is the developmental milestone of chewing on everything.
  • Caution about Crying. Blaming teething for crying can lead to a delay of care for other illnesses. Examples are ear infections or other causes of pain.

When to Call for Teething

When to Call for Teething

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

  • Your child looks or acts very sick

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

  • You think your child needs to be seen
  • You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

  • Normal teething

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

  • Your child looks or acts very sick

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

  • You think your child needs to be seen
  • You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

  • Normal teething

Care Advice for Teething

What You Should Know About Teething:

  • Teething is a natural process.
  • It's harmless and it may cause a little gum pain.
  • The main symptoms of teething are drooling and rubbing the gums.
  • It does not cause fever or crying. If these are present, look for another cause.
  • Here is some care advice that should help.

Gum Massage:

  • Find the irritated or swollen gum.
  • Rub it with your clean finger for 2 minutes.
  • Do this as often as needed.
  • Putting pressure on the sore gum can decrease pain.
  • Age over 12 months. You can use a piece of ice wrapped in a wet cloth to rub the gum.

Teething Rings (Teethers):

  • Babies rub their own sore gums by chewing on smooth, hard objects.
  • Offer a teething ring, pacifier or wet washcloth that has been chilled. Chill these items in the fridge. Do not use items frozen in the freezer.
  • Age over 12 months. A piece of chilled banana may help.
  • Do not use hard foods that could cause choking. An example is a raw carrot.
  • Do not use ice or popsicles that could cause frostbite of the gums.
  • Avoid "teething necklaces." They are not approved by the FDA and are not helpful. They also have harmful risks including choking and death.

Cup Feeding:

  • If your baby refuses nipple feedings, try a cup.
  • A spoon or syringe can also be used for a short time as needed.

Pain Medicine:

  • Pain medicines usually are not needed for the mild discomfort of teething.
  • Fussiness often gets better with gum massage. If not, you can give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol). If age over 6 months, another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Just do this for one or two days. Reason: frequent use can cause liver or kidney damage.

Teething Gels: Do Not Use

  • You can get special teething gels without a prescription.
  • Most have benzocaine in them. They are not approved by the FDA at any age.
  • Reason: benzocaine can cause choking, bluish skin and allergic reactions. It can be very harmful if used during the first 2 years of life.
  • Also, teething gels only give brief pain relief.
  • Gum massage works much better.

What to Expect:

  • Most often, teething does not cause any symptoms.
  • If your child is having some discomfort, it should pass in 2 or 3 days.

Call Your Doctor If:

  • Crying occurs
  • Fever occurs
  • You think your child needs to be seen
  • Your child becomes worse

    • Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

    Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

Copyright 2000-2025 Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.

Reviewed: 5/1/2025 Updated: 1/25/2025