Toddler morals are the large teeth located in the back of the mouth. Most children develop these teeth between 13 and 19 months, according to pediatrician William Sears. Because of their large size, molar teething may be especially painful. Some toddlers develop a low-grade fever during teething. There is some debate among child experts about what causes this and whether parents should be concerned. If your child develops a fever while teething, contact your pediatrician to ensure the fever is not caused by an infection.
Anatomy of Teething
Children develop 20 baby teeth in the early years of childhood, and most kids have all of their teeth between ages 2 and 3. The process of teething is painful because of the pressure exerted on the gums by the teeth themselves. Toddler molars may go unnoticed by parents because they are located in the back of the mouth. These teeth help babies crush and chew food, and play a critical role in digestion by reducing food to tiny particles.
About Fevers
A fever is the body's way of fighting off an infection. When the body temperature is raised, some bacteria are killed and the infection-fighting white blood cells are activated. Fevers are often associated with inflammation in the infected area because white blood cells, lymph and other fluids pool and swell.
Teething-Fever Debate
Many parents report that their babies experience fevers during teething, according to parenting website babycenter.com. However, experts disagree about whether teething actually causes fevers. Some believe that the fevers are a mere coincidence, associated with some other illness that occurs during teething. Sears argues that the drooling associated with teething may cause a fever. The excess saliva irritates the stomach, causing diarrhea, diaper rashes and other ailments that can cause fevers. In some cases, teething causes infections in the gums. If your child's gums are swollen, oozing puss or inflamed, she may have an infection requiring medical treatment.
Teething Treatment
If your child develops a fever while teething, contact your pediatrician. She may have another illness or an infection as a result of inflamed gums. To help ease the pain of teething, give her cold teething rings and hard teething biscuits. Gum-numbing gel helps ease the pain some babies experience. Never give a baby aspirin or cut the gums to allow space for the teeth. Cutting the gums can cause a serious infection.
References
- "The Portable Pediatrician"; William Sears, M.D., et al.; 2011
- "American Medical Association Family Medical Guide"; American Medical Association; 2004
- "Health, Safety and Nutrition for the Young Child"; Lynn R. Marotz; 2011
- Babycenter.com: Teething
- AskDrSears.com: Teething
