Can Teething Cause a Fever
Posted by writeradmin
My daughter is 8 months old and keeps getting fevers that our pediatrician can’t explain. She is on the verge of cutting teeth. Someone told me that teething can cause fevers and the best way to help is to slit their gums. She did her son’s gums herself, but I don’t feel comfortable with that. Do pediatric dentists do it?
Amelia
Dear Amelia,
Whatever you do, do NOT slit your daughter’s gums. There are a lot of old remedies past down for generations. Some of them are wonderful, but others are quite flawed. This is one of them. The way your daughter’s body was designed, the pressure your daughter is feeling and the swelling you see is from the growth of the tooth root. As it gets longer, it directs the tooth upward and will push it out of the gums, helping to strengthen the root. The concern with slitting the gums is that if you disrupt that process and the root may not develop well enough to support her teeth. So, let the beautiful function of her body work its course.
As for the fevers, while not typical of every child who is teething, there is evidence that teeth can cause a low-grade fever. But, it is important to note that it will only be a low-grade fever. If it gets higher, there is something wrong. If your daughter’s doctor can’t find it, then you need to get a second opinion. If it is a low-grade fever and your pediatrician sees no signs of infection anywhere, then I would give her some children’s Tylenol or Acetaminophen, in order to keep her comfortable.
A time you might need to get a pediatric dentist involved with her teeth is if her adult teeth are starting to come in, but her baby teeth are not coming loose. Then, you would go in and have her dentist help extract her baby teeth. Otherwise, you’ll end up with the baby teeth deflecting the adult teeth, which will lead to the need for orthodontics later.
This blog is brought to you by Mount Dora Dentist Dr. Michelle Stillman.