Does Growing Teeth Cause a Low-Grade Fever?
When a baby reaches four to five months old, they begin to develop tooth roots. However, many people observe that children who are teething seem to be particularly prone to low-grade fever and even diarrhea. Naturally, this leads to the assumption that teething can cause fever. But does teething actually cause fever?
Teething itself does not cause fever in babies. During the teething process, babies may bite into unclean objects due to itchy gums, which can lead to throat or gastrointestinal infections, resulting in fever or diarrhea.
1. Teething Does Not Cause Fever
Teething itself does not cause any fever. The fever observed during teething is primarily due to the itchy gums of babies during this stage, who tend to bite into things. If they bite into unclean objects, it can lead to throat or gastrointestinal infections, causing fever or diarrhea. The growth of teeth itself does not cause fever or diarrhea in babies.
2. Handling Low-Grade Fever in Teething Babies
Some children may experience fever during teething or growth spurts, as tooth development requires significant effort. If the fever remains low and the child's spirits are good, there is no need for concern. Simply ensuring adequate water intake and avoiding foods that may cause irritation is sufficient. Each baby's constitution is different, so some babies may recover from fever spontaneously, while others with weaker constitutions may experience fever and illness during teething.
3. Precautions for Baby Teething
During this period, mothers can introduce semi-solid foods to their babies, such as mashed potatoes, egg yolk, and oatmeal, to help them transition from liquid to thicker foods. Slightly thicker foods allow babies to become aware of the changes in their diet, preparing them for the introduction of solid foods and the use of their teeth for chewing.
4. Nursing Tips for Baby Teething
During the neonatal period, salivary glands are not fully developed, resulting in limited saliva production. However, as babies begin to teeth at around 6-7 months, saliva production significantly increases due to itchy gums caused by tooth eruption. Babies often drool due to their shallow mouths, immature nervous systems, and poor swallowing reflexes. This saliva should be wiped away promptly to keep the lower lip dry and clean. As the baby grows and teeth erupt, drooling will gradually decrease.
Some babies may develop swollen gums with varying sizes of bumps around the erupting teeth. These bumps may appear blue-purple and vary in size but are limited to the erupting tooth's cutting edge or chewing surface. The swelling is caused by blood accumulating under the gums as the tooth breaks through the gum tissue. It appears as a small hematoma, known as a teething hematoma. These hematomas usually do not cause discomfort and do not require special treatment, as they will resolve spontaneously.
