Did you know there are several common misconceptions with infant teething? Some of these include fevers, diarrhea, rashes, correlation with cognitive development.
Fevers are not directly associated with teething, teething has been shown to cause mild temperature increases however they do not cause actual fevers, above 100.4 degrees fahrenheit. Infants and children commonly have increased body temperatures and fevers due to other reasons including viruses and bacterial infections. Infants and children are teething on average from age 4 months all the way up to three years old, if teething caused fevers then infants and children would have a constant fever. If your child has a fever its is likely not due to teething, visit your child’s pediatrician to rule out infections.
Another big misconception is that fevers cause diarrhea. It’s not true! Diarrhea can be caused by infections, food allergies, poisoning and drinking too much fruit juice. If your child has diarrhea it is likely not due to teething. Speak to your child’s pediatrician to find out the cause and avoid risk of dehydration.
Less common misconceptions are that teething causes rashes- also another myth. Excessive drooling, which is a common symptom of teething, can cause irritation if left on babies chins and necks. Be sure to keep areas dry.
The last misconception I want to discuss is that age of teething correlates with developmental milestones. Teething charts are averages! I have seen babies born with teeth and babies who do not have teeth until 24 months. These babies are typically meeting all their developmental milestones. Teething is tricky and varies with every child however, some female babies teeth sooner than their male counterparts.
If your baby is not teething yet and you are concerned, I suggest you visit a pediatric dentist who can do a more thorough evaluation.
Are there any other misconceptions about teething you would like me to discuss? Comment below!
