I have a baby that is just under one year of age. They are crying a lot and have a low grade fever that comes and goes. Is it possible this is from teething or is something more serious going on? There is some swelling of their lower gums. A friend of mine says when that happens they slit their baby’s gums, but that idea terrifies me. Is there a simpler option?
Adriana
Dear Adriana,
(Photo courtesy of St. John’s Pediatric Dentistry, St. John’s, FL)
Yes, it is possible for teething to cause a fever. However, it will be a mild fever. Very mild. It will generally be accompanied by other symptoms as well, such as:
- Fussiness
- Tender or swollen gums
- Drooling
- Difficulty sleeping
- A drop in appetite
That being said, do NOT slit your child’s gums. This is a really bad idea. The pressure on your baby’s gums that make them look swollen is because the teeth roots are growing. If you shortchange that process by slitting the gums, the roots may not develop correctly, which can cause serious dental problems later on.
The best things you can do is a combination of tylenol and something safe for them to chew on. There are over the counter numbing medications that you can put on their gums, but in my own experience it doesn’t work long and they mostly just enjoy the taste and odd sensation.
Once this tooth pops through, be sure to get them seen by a pediatric dentist. The earlier they are exposed to dental care the better. It’s important that they have positive experiences at the dentist before there is time for any actual dental problems to pop up. You don’t want their first dental appointment to be a traumatic one from a dental emergency.
This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.