Do Kids Usually Get Sick With Teething?

The emergence of your little one's first teeth can be exciting and difficult. While it's to be expected that your baby will experience some pain and discomfort, teething doesn't make your child sick or more likely to develop an illness. By understanding common teething misconceptions, you will be better able to distinguish between teething and illness and know when it is time to call the doctor.

  1. Teething Basics

    • In most babies, the first teeth begin cutting through the gums between ages 4 and 7 months, according to KidsHealth. While some babies have no discomfort during teething, teething can be quite uncomfortable for others. Signs and symptoms that you can expect during teething include drooling, gum sensitivity, mild fussiness and an increased desire to chew on objects. These signs usually present three to five days before the tooth breaks through the gum, according to WebMD.

    The Link Between Teething and Illness

    • According to HealthyChildren.org, a service of the American Academy of Pediatrics, teething does not lower a child̵7;s resistance or contribute to the development of an illness. Instead, HealthyChildren.org blames illness on the fact that babies begin to lose the transplacental antibodies that they received from their mothers between six and 12 months. When babies begin chewing on objects, they are also more likely to come into contact with germs.

    Other Teething Misconceptions

    • Many parents assume that when fever, diaper rash, diarrhea or excessive crying occur around the time of teething, it is a result of the teething itself. Teething, however, should not cause symptoms beyond drooling, gum irritation and mild fussiness. Even if your child is teething, you should suspect other causes if your child is running a fever that exceeds 101 degrees Fahrenheit and is crying excessively.

    When to Call the Doctor

    • If you̵7;re not sure whether your child̵7;s symptoms are a result of teething or an illness, call your child̵7;s pediatrician. You should also call your child̵7;s doctor if your child̵7;s teething symptoms are severe and last for more than a few days. To ease mild teething-related discomfort, consider giving your baby something appropriate to chew on, such as a rubber teething ring or a wet washcloth that has been placed in the freezer. Use over-the-counter pain relievers only with the supervision of your child̵7;s doctor.

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