As many mothers and grandmothers can attest, teething can make your otherwise cheerful baby or toddler cranky and miserable. Teething causes inflammation of the gums, and this can raise your toddler's body temperature a fraction of a degree, says Drugs.com, but teething the molars should not cause a noticeable fever.
Teething Symptoms
By the time your toddler cuts his molars, he already has gotten in most of his front teeth, with the exception of his eyeteeth. The symptoms of molar eruption are the same as those of teething the smaller teeth and include general crankiness, drooling and sleep disturbances. Your child might refuse to eat for a day or two, or might wake up crying and in pain. Some children barely seem to notice teething their molars, and others seem irritated and tearful for weeks.
Likely Fever Causes
If your child has a fever while cutting her molars, the most likely explanation is that she has picked up a virus and the timing is coincidental. She might be developing a cold, influenza or a stomach virus. If she had immunizations within the past few days, she might be having a mild reaction, which can include a low-grade fever. She also ight be coming down with an infection, such as an ear infection.
Keeping Baby Comfortable
Offer your toddler cold teething rings, frozen bagels, or a wet, frozen washcloth to chew on for relief while his molars are erupting. If he is in a lot of pain or has a fever at the same time that he is teething, ask his pediatrician whether you can give him an over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Drugs.com recommends that you avoid using anesthetic teething gels unless your doctor recommends them, because some children have an allergic reaction to the numbing ingredients.
When to Call the Doctor
Any time your baby or toddler has an unexplained fever over 101 degrees, call the pediatrician so she can be evaluated for an ear or urinary tract infection. Since teething does not cause high fevers, do not assume that a fever is caused by molar eruption. While your baby might react to teething with irritability and crankiness, if it seems excessive to you, take her to the doctor to check for another cause. If your toddler has not seen a dentist by the time her molars come in, make an appointment for a checkup.
