Pediatrics

Fever when teething

What is a fever when teething?

Teething is the process by which the baby gets its first teeth at around six months of age.
This process can be accompanied by many different symptoms:

These include, for example, the need to chew, slight to severe pain, increased salivation, but also increased temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius.
Fever - i.e. temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius - can also occur.
However, the fever is not directly related to teething. Therefore, if you have a fever, you should definitely rule out another cause, such as an infection.

Why does a fever occur during teething or is the connection a myth?

Up to the fourth to sixth month of life, the baby's immune system still benefits from the mother's nest protection. Nest protection means that the baby still has antibodies from the mother against pathogens in the blood. Since teething usually begins around the age of six months, teething correlates mostly coincidentally with the working immune system of the baby, which has to defend itself against germs for the first time.

Babies have an urge to chew, especially during teething, and put many things in their mouths, which makes infections more likely.
Therefore, special attention should be paid to the level of body temperature and how long the elevated temperatures or the fever last. Teething can still be stressful for the baby and thus further weaken the immune system. This means that infections are in turn favored.

At very high temperatures, a pediatrician should be consulted so that an infection of the baby can be clarified and treated if necessary.
Thus, the fever during teething can be seen as a myth, since teething does not in itself trigger a fever.

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What can I do about the fever?

For high fever, fever suppositories or paracetamol juice, which are suitable for babies or children, can be given.
Calf wraps are also a way to lower the fever. However, this method should not be used if the baby has chills or cold hands and feet.
Another way to reduce the fever is to put a lukewarm, damp washcloth on the forehead.
It is also important to drink enough fluids to keep the body from drying out.
Furthermore, sufficient bed rest should be ensured.
If the fever is high, the child should not be covered too warm, otherwise there is a risk of overheating.

If the fever cannot be lowered or the child becomes unusually calm, a doctor should be consulted.

You can find more measures in our article:

What to do if your baby has a fever

When should I start giving a fever suppository?

Since fever is a natural defense reaction of the body and supports it in the defense against pathogens, lowering the fever should not be started too early.

However, if the fever rises above 39 degrees Celsius, a fever suppository should be given.
It is also useful if the baby or child has a severe fever and is, for example, restless, unable to drink or can no longer sleep.

If you are unsure, you should consult a doctor.

Duration of fever

The symptoms associated with teething can last from a few days to two weeks.

During this period, symptoms such as whining or crying are normal, and diarrhea can also occur due to the stress of teething.
Since high temperatures and fever should not be attributed to the teething process, attention should be paid to the occurrence of high body temperatures in the baby and attention should be paid to other symptoms.
Elevated temperatures can be observed a little longer.

Fever - i.e. temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius - that lasts longer than a day should, however, be clarified by a doctor, since the cause of the temperatures is usually not the teething, but an infection - such as an otitis media or cold. There is further evidence to be observed and which should lead to a visit to the doctor.
These include, for example

a changed drinking behavior,
a gray skin color,
repeated vomiting,
Diarrhea or
severe and unusual tiredness (lethargy).

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Fever suppositories (for babies and children)

Which teeth have a particularly high fever?

Teething alone does not cause a fever. Therefore, there is generally no connection between the height of the fever and the place where the tooth breaks out.

Since the urge to chew is stimulated by teething and babies tend to put things in their mouth, it is possible that when molars break through, infection is more likely because objects are pushed further into the mouth.

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