Teething: Everything You Need To Know About Teething Myths and Truths

It is a worldwide debate. Teething has been a quite divided conversation topic for decades now. Previous generations will quickly tell you that teething is the result of x, y, and z, when it comes to symptoms. Are these symptoms, such as high fever, something to actually be worried about. We will cover this and tons of other teething-related topics in the article below.

In this Article:

• What Is Teething?
• Signs and Symptoms
• Common Myths and Truths
• Teething Remedies
• More Information

What Is Teething?

We know that most of you are probably wondering why we would include something that seems self-explanatory in this article. The truth is, if it was so self-explanatory it wouldn’t be such a divided topic of conversation. Also, since teething is very important for your child’s development, the more information the better.

Teething is when the first teeth your baby will have begin to break through the gums. Babies are born with their teeth below the surface of their gums. These teeth begin to rise as their food needs change from liquids to solids. Although this transition is a great developmental milestone it is also a challenging process. It can be a very irritating and painful time for your baby, so being patient with them as they learn what is going on and how to deal with it is crucial. This process can begin as early as 3 months or even as late as 12 months. Most babies will be done teething around the 3 year old mark. All babies are different, so anywhere within this timeframe is considered normal.

Signs and Symptoms

As stated before, all babies are different. Knowing this can help you understand better that your baby may not show the same signs as your friend’s child, and that is totally fine. Some babies experience a great deal of pain during this process, only brief moments of pain and irritability, or possibly no pain at all.

You may notice that your child begins to drool a lot. We have an entire article on this, which you can read here. Along with this excessive drool may come a want to chew on everything within sight. This is your babies’ way of learning to soothe the irritation, so teethers are a great way to support this process. You may also notice that they seem very cranky at certain parts of the day. While this can often be attributed to needing a nap or food, teething may also be a viable cause.

Recommended Article: 24/7 Drool and Why They Need It

Other symptoms that are typically cause by the ones previously mentioned are:

• Facial Rash (From the Excessive Drooling)
• Neck Rashes (Also Due to Drooling)
• Biting, Sucking, and Rubbing Their Gums
• Decreased Appetite for Certain Foods (Whatever Makes Their Gums Hurt)
• Ear Rubbing

Common Myths and Truths

It doesn’t take too long to find some ridiculous myths about anything on the internet. Teething is no exception. We decided to dig in some research articles, scholarly journals, and even research from companies. Here’s what we found for different “hot topics”.

Rashes

Rashes occur mostly due to your baby developing sensitivities to certain materials, clothing, food, etc. They also occur due to drool. While teething does cause your baby to drool excessively, it does not directly cause rashes. Keeping areas like the face and neck dry can help alleviate rashes caused by drool, but they are sometimes unavoidable. Being aware of this and using products for rashes can help clear them up rather quickly.

Fever

You have definitely hear this before: “When my child was teething they ran a fever all the time” or “Teething always made my daughter/son run a fever”. No matter the layout of that sentence, it is probably all from coincidence. While teething may cause a slightly elevated fever in children, it does NOT cause a fever. Any fever over 100.4 should immediately be brought to the attention of a pediatrician.

Diarrhea

Another symptom commonly attributed to teething is upset stomachs and diarrhea. Based on studies done by the AAP and multiple pediatric groups across the United States, no evidence can be found to support this. Most diarrhea during teething is coincidental and due to other factors like your baby’s developing immune and digestive systems. When teething begins around the 6 month mark, your baby has a high chance of contracted a small “stomach bug” which can cause them to have symptoms such as diarrhea or even fever and rashes as mentioned above. This is coincidence. Diarrhea is something to still watch out for as too much can warrant the need to see a pediatrician.

Sleeplessness

While the discomfort from teething can cause your baby to wake up or refuse to sleep there is nothing in the process of teething itself that causes sleeplessness. We have an entire article dedicated to sleeplessness in babies, which we highly recommend checking out, here. This article covers why your baby may be refusing to sleep and how these problems which are happening around the same time as teething, can make you think it is just teething that is the culprit.

Teething Remedies

For something that causes as much irritation and pain for your baby, it is sometimes necessary to give them some comfort. There are great solutions and ones that you should be aware of and avoid altogether.

Remedies to Avoid

Teething Gels

It may seem like a great idea, because the name clearly states that it is for teething. However, teething gels are one that you need to avoid. The FDA does not actually approve of gels for babies as it contains ingredients that can be harmful for them. One of them is typically benzocaine or lidocaine. These pain relievers cause a plethora of issues (some fatal) when too much is consumed, especially at such a young age. Also, these relievers wash away rather quickly from the gums and do not provide an extended relief, so using the approved remedies below is a much better option anyway.

Amber Teething Necklaces

A fad from a few years ago, Amber Teething Necklaces are still prevalent on many parenting forums. These necklaces are typically made of tree resin and are very harmful to children. The FDA has also never found that these provide any sort of relief from teething irritation or pain. Not only do the necklaces not help, they also hurt as babies can ingest pieces of the resin leading to digestive complications or even choking. Any necklaces should be avoided due to the risk of strangulation. There are tons of better options out there, so please avoid these.

Remedies That Are Safe and Effective

Gum Massage

Sounds simple, right? That’s because it is. Simply washing your hands and rubbing your baby’s gums for a few minutes can provide them with tons of relief. This may not work with all babies. Some are pretty independent and don’t like you helping (speaking from experience). The AAP and FDA also recommend wrapping your finger in a slightly chilled, soft gauze or cloth for added comfort.

Teethers

There are tons of approved teethers on Amazon.com and even more on trusted baby retail sites. Finding the right shape, size, and type is sometimes the tricky part. Our daughter was fairly picky, but eventually we found the type that she preferred. You can also use cold cloths or even some solid foods (if they are at an age where they can handle solid foods). We recommend checking out these teethers. They have been one of our daughter’s favorites.

Note: Putting teethers, cloths, and snacks in the refrigerator is always a great idea to provide an added level of comfort for your child. DO NOT put them in the freezer. Your child’s gums are still sensitive and frozen items can cause more harm than good. Chilled, not frozen, is the best rule of thumb.

Pain Medication

If all other options have been exhausted, pain medications are a good last resort for relief. Please speak to your pediatrician before giving any though, as they can direct you on the correct dosages and types of medications.

More Information

What Order Will My Child’s Teeth Come Out

Please note that the order below is the norm, but as all children are different, the order may vary for your child.

Caring for Your Child’s Teeth

Did you know that good dental care starts even before your child’s first tooth has come out? Cleaning your baby’s gums often with a clean, damp, soft cloth can prevent a done of issues later down the road. Before they have teeth, just water is fine. Once they have teeth, adding a SMALL amount of toothpaste is a good idea. The amount can be increased as they grow and are able to spit it out.

It is also important to get your child accustomed to the dreading process of flossing. The earlier they are exposed to it the more likely they are to continue it through adulthood. Making it a part of the daily routine is always a great idea.

With a full set of teeth, getting your children used to brushing twice a day is also the recommended schedule by most dentists.

Of course, discussing all care regimens with your pediatrician or dentist is highly recommended.