Can Teething Cause a High Fever? What to Know

Here’s the short, honest answer: No, teething does not cause a high fever. Full stop.

This is something we find ourselves explaining to anxious parents almost every single week at our clinic. You have a miserable baby, a rising temperature, and a little white bud poking through their sore gums. It seems obvious that one caused the other, right? We get it completely. It feels like it should be connected. But it’s a correlation versus causation thing, and it’s one of the most persistent myths in paediatric health.

Let’s break down what’s actually happening, what you can do about it, and critically when and how we as dentists will step in to make sure your baby gets the right care from the right professional.

The Lowdown on Teething and Body Temperature

We’re dentists, not physicians, but we deal with the oral cavity and its connection to the rest of the body every single day. Your baby’s system is going through a massive change when those first teeth start trying to push through the gum line. The inflammation from a tooth cutting through tissue can cause a slight, very slight, elevation in their core temperature.

Think of it like a localised skirmish. The body sends extra blood flow and immune cells to that sore gum to help it heal and break through. This tiny battle can bump a normal 98.6°F up to about 99°F or 100°F.

But here’s the line in the sand: A true fever is defined as 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.

If your baby hits that number, or anything higher than 100.4°F, teething alone is not the driver. Period. It’s something else. Maybe a mild virus they picked up, maybe an ear infection. But it is not the tooth.

And here’s where our role as dentists gets serious. If we see that temperature in our clinic, or if a parent mentions it during a consultation, we don’t just note it and move on. We ask questions. We assess. And if we have even a flicker of concern, we refer. That might mean telling a parent to book a same-day GP appointment. It might mean sending them straight to Emergency treatment. And in a few cases, it’s meant picking up the phone ourselves to speak to a paediatrician or the local hospital triage team to make sure they’re expected and seen quickly.

That’s not overstepping. That’s duty of care.

Why Do Babies Get Fevers When Teething

This is where the “why” gets interesting, and a little sneaky.

Teething happens around the same time a baby’s immune system takes a big hit. They’re between 4 and 7 months old when those first teeth usually pop up. This is exactly the same time the passive immunity they got from you in the womb starts to wane. That protective shield your baby had at birth is slowly lowering.

Now add in the fact that they are putting everything within reach into their mouths toys, their hands, your keys, the dog’s tail. It’s how they explore the world, but it’s also how they get exposed to a huge new world of germs.

So, you’ve got a baby whose immunity is dropping and whose germ exposure is skyrocketing. And at that exact same moment, their first tooth shows up. You see a fever and think, “The tooth did this!” But the truth is, the tooth just happened to be there when a coincidental viral or bacterial infection took hold. The high fever is the infection, not the tooth.

When we’re examining a baby in our clinic, we’re looking at the gums, yes. But we’re also listening. Is the baby lethargic? Are they feeding poorly? Is there a rash? Those are our red flags. And when we spot them, we don’t guess. We refer.

What teething actually does to the body

A primary tooth does not simply “push through” the gum like a sharp object being forced through healthy skin.

The tissues around the developing tooth remodel as the tooth moves towards the mouth. The gum over the erupting tooth can become swollen, tender and irritated. Babies respond by biting and chewing because pressure on the gum can be soothing.

There is local inflammation around the eruption site. That helps explain symptoms such as:

• tender or swollen gums
• increased chewing
• drooling
• mild irritability
• rubbing the gums
• disturbed sleep
• a slightly raised temperature

But local inflammation around an erupting tooth is not the same thing as the systemic response that produces a genuine fever.

That’s the useful distinction to remember.

How High Can a Teething Temperature Get?

A mild rise may occur around the time of tooth eruption, but a temperature of 38°C or higher should not automatically be labelled a teething symptom.

Teething may cause a mild temperature elevation but not a fever. The NHS similarly describes a slightly raised temperature below 38°C as a possible teething symptom.

Temperature can rise up to 38.5°C but never above that and if it does, or if the temperature lasts more than 2 days, it is not from teething but from an infection.

There has been some debate in dental research, however, and this is worth explaining rather than pretending the evidence has always been completely straightforward.

A 2017 systematic review and meta-analysis looked specifically at the relationship between primary tooth eruption and fever. Across the studies included, the researchers did not find an overall association between fever and primary tooth eruption. Interestingly, a subgroup using rectal temperature measurements did show an association. The researchers concluded that the available evidence was limited and inconsistent.

So why do modern patient guidelines generally say that teething doesn’t cause fever?

Because the practical clinical message is more important than trying to squeeze every borderline temperature change into the definition of “fever”.

A child may have a small temperature increase around eruption.

That does not mean a temperature of 38.5°C, 39°C or 40°C should be dismissed as a tooth coming through.

If the thermometer says there is a genuine fever, look beyond the tooth.

How Long Does a Teething Fever Last?

If by “teething fever” you mean a slight temperature rise associated with teething, it should be short-lived and mild.

Teething discomfort itself commonly comes and goes around the period when a tooth is emerging. Some babies barely notice it. Others are clearly uncomfortable for a few days.

But there is an important distinction:

There is no recognised pattern of a high fever that lasts several days simply because a tooth is erupting.

If your baby’s temperature remains at or above 38°C, particularly if it continues beyond the period when the gum is obviously sore, don’t keep waiting for the tooth to appear.

The tooth may be real.

The fever may be something else.

And both can exist at the same time.

Signs That Point More Towards Teething

The following combination is much more typical of ordinary tooth eruption:

• swollen or red gum directly over an emerging tooth
• increased chewing and biting
• more drooling than usual
• rubbing the mouth or gums
• mild irritability
• temporarily disrupted sleep
• a slight temperature increase, but below the usual fever threshold

One particularly useful clue is where the symptoms are happening.

If you can see a localised area of swollen gum where a tooth is about to appear, and the child otherwise looks reasonably well, teething becomes a much more convincing explanation for the discomfort.

A baby who is lethargic, unusually difficult to settle, refusing fluids, breathing abnormally or simply looking genuinely ill needs a different level of attention, regardless of whether a tooth is visible.

Signs That the Temperature Probably Isn’t from Teething

Think beyond teething if there is:

• a temperature of 38°C or above
• fever that keeps returning
• fever lasting longer than expected
• significant vomiting
• diarrhoea
• persistent cough
• breathing difficulty
• marked sleepiness or unusual difficulty waking
• poor feeding or refusal to drink
• noticeably fewer wet nappies
• a widespread rash
• unusual or inconsolable crying
• symptoms suggesting an ear infection
• a child who simply looks much more unwell than you would expect from sore gums

The important point isn’t to diagnose the illness yourself.

It’s to avoid allowing the phrase “probably teething” to stop you from noticing something that needs medical attention.

How to Soothe Teething Pain

Because a true fever isn’t a teething problem, you shouldn’t be trying to “break” it with teething remedies. If the temperature is 100.4°F or above, you’re treating an illness, and you need to get them to a paediatrician.

But for that miserable, mildly warm, clinging to your leg teething phase? Here’s what actually works, based on clinical evidence and our own years of practice. These are the things we can confidently recommend as dental professionals.

1. The Gold Standard: Cold Pressure

It sounds simple because it is. Cold pressure on the gums is the most effective, evidence-supported method we have.

• Chilled, Not Frozen: Use a solid, silicone teething ring and pop it in the fridge. Do not freeze it. A frozen ring is rock hard and can actually bruise those fragile gums, making things worse.
• Gum Massage: Wash your hands thoroughly, then use a clean finger or a wet gauze pad to gently rub the sore gum in a circular motion for a minute or two. The pressure releases some of the tension, and the rubbing stimulates mechanoreceptors that can block some of the pain signals being sent to the brain.

2. Distraction and Comfort

Sometimes the simplest things work best. A change of scenery, a cool flannel to chew on, or just extra cuddles can make a world of difference. The pain is real, but so is the comfort of a parent’s presence. We see babies who are completely inconsolable in the waiting room, and then the moment they’re in their parent’s arms with a cold teether, they settle. It’s not a cure, but it’s genuine relief.

3. Keep Fluids Going

A fever from an unrelated illness can increase fluid requirements, while sore gums may make feeding less comfortable.

Offer normal feeds and fluids appropriate for the child’s age. If the baby is refusing fluids or producing substantially fewer wet nappies, that’s no longer simply a teething-comfort issue that’s a red flag that needs medical attention.

4. The “No-No” List

There are things we see parents try that are either useless or genuinely dangerous. These we can speak to with absolute authority.

• Teething Gels with Benzocaine: The FDA have issued warnings on these. They can cause methemoglobinaemia, a rare but serious condition that reduces oxygen in the blood. Please avoid any product containing benzocaine for children under 2.
• Teething Tablets: Many of these contain belladonna (a toxic plant extract). They’ve been recalled before, and for good reason. They can cause serious side effects including seizures. We’ve seen parents bring these in, and we always advise against them.
• Essential Oils: Do not rub clove oil or any other essential oil on your baby’s gums. They aren’t formulated for that and can cause severe irritation or toxicity if swallowed. We’ve seen chemical burns from this in clinic it’s not worth the risk.
• Amber Teething Necklaces: We have to mention these because they keep coming up. They’re a choking and strangulation hazard. No evidence supports them. We actively advise parents against them.

If medication is being considered for pain or fever, dosing should be based on the child’s age, weight and the specific medicine. That is something to discuss with a pharmacist, GP, paediatrician or other appropriate healthcare professional rather than guessing from an adult dose.

When We Refer a Baby to a Doctor or Hospital

When a baby has a fever, we take a careful history and examine the mouth, gums and teeth for any dental cause of discomfort.

If the temperature is below 100.4°F (38°C) and the baby is otherwise well, we can offer teething advice and recommend monitoring. A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or above, or warning signs such as lethargy or poor feeding, should not be assumed to be teething. We refer the child for appropriate medical assessment.

The level of urgency depends on the symptoms. Non-urgent cases may need a GP review, while concerning symptoms may require same-day assessment or Emergency treatment.

Knowing when something is beyond dentistry is part of responsible dental care.

The Red Flags: When We Say “That’s a Doctor’s Job”

As dentists, we can spot when something doesn’t add up. We don’t diagnose medical conditions, but we know when to step back. Here are the signs that make us stop the dental exam and refer:

• Fever of 100.4°F or higher for any baby under 3 months
• Fever of 102.2°F or higher for a baby 3 months or older
• A fever that lasts longer than 24 hours
• Your baby is lethargic, not waking up to feed, or refusing to drink
• High-pitched crying or inconsolable fussiness that doesn’t respond to anything

There are other signs too, such as dehydration, rashes, or persistent vomiting. These are not symptoms we assess as part of a dental consultation, and we won’t pretend to know what they mean. What we can recognise is that they are not typical signs of teething.

When a parent mentions them, or we notice them during a consultation, our role is to make sure you get the right help. We don’t guess or offer false reassurance. Instead, we’ll point you towards the appropriate healthcare professional.

If any of these signs are present during a consultation, we’ll act rather than simply telling you to come back another day. Where appropriate, we’ll recommend that you seek medical assessment there and then.

When It Is a Dental Issue

Now, let’s be fair. Sometimes the issue is dental. Not every feverish baby with sore gums has an unrelated infection. Sometimes there’s a genuine dental problem that needs our attention.

If we see something like a dental abscess a localised infection around a tooth that hasn’t erupted properly, or an infection in a primary tooth that’s firmly in our lane. In those cases, we can provide treatment. That might involve draining an abscess, removing an infected tooth, or treating the source of the infection.

And when we do provide treatment, we can also manage the associated pain and inflammation that comes with it. That’s within our scope of practice as dentists. We’re trained to manage acute dental pain, including the inflammatory response that comes with it.

But here’s the important distinction: we manage the dental problem. We don’t manage the systemic problem. If there’s a fever that’s truly caused by a dental infection, treating the dental infection is what resolves the fever. We don’t prescribe antipyretics that’s a medical job. What we do is remove the source of the infection, manage the local inflammation, and let the body do the rest.

The Temperature-Reading Detail Parents Often Miss

If you’re trying to decide whether your child has a fever, don’t compare numbers from completely different methods as though they’re interchangeable.

For example, a reading taken under the arm and one taken using another method may not be identical. Ambient temperature, the child’s clothing, recent activity and the device itself can also influence readings.

If you think your baby has a fever, check their temperature with a thermometer rather than relying on how warm they feel. If the reading seems unusually high, seek medical advice or emergency care.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Dentist’s Role: Where We Stop and Where a Doctor Begins

Our role covers your child’s teeth and gums. We can assess teething, gum inflammation, eruption, dental infections, and how to care for new teeth.

But a genuine fever is not something we should simply call “teething”. If we have concerns, we’ll explain what we’ve found and refer you to the appropriate healthcare professional.

The aim is simple: clear dental advice, honest boundaries, and the right care when your child needs it.

Why choose Trinity Dental for your child’s dental care?

At Trinity Dental, we know where our expertise ends and a doctor’s begins. We look after your child’s teeth, gums, drooling, biting, sleepless nights and first wobbly tooth, but we also know when to step back and say, “This needs a doctor.”

When something falls outside dentistry, we don’t simply send you away. We explain what we’ve found, where to go and what to expect. Your child’s health is a shared responsibility, and we take our part seriously.

If you’re worried about your child’s teething or dental development, book an appointment with us. We’ll give you clear dental advice and tell you honestly when medical care is needed.