Teething in Babies

Comfort, what is normal, and when to seek care

MEDICALLY REVIEWED - APPROVED FOR WEBSITE PUBLICATION

This page is for general education only and does not replace individualized medical advice. This resource does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. For questions about your own child, contact your child's current healthcare professional.

Magnolia Pediatrics, Valley Children's Healthcare
2497 E. Herndon Avenue, Suite 101, Clovis, CA 93611 | 559-538-3070

Teething is a normal developmental milestone. It can cause temporary gum tenderness, drooling, chewing, and mild fussiness. This guide explains safe comfort measures and helps families avoid overlooking symptoms that need their own evaluation.

Urgent warning signs - check this first

Call 911 now for trouble breathing, blue or gray lips or face, a child who is limp or unresponsive, a seizure, or another life-threatening emergency.

Seek urgent medical care if your baby is hard to wake, cannot keep fluids down, has signs of dehydration, or you are seriously concerned that your child is very ill.
For a baby younger than 3 months (12 weeks), a rectal temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher needs prompt medical evaluation. Do not assume it is from teething.

What is commonly normal with teething

Most babies begin getting teeth between about 6 and 10 months, although timing varies. By about age 3, most children have 20 primary teeth. The lower front teeth often come first.

More drooling, chewing on clean safe objects, and rubbing the gums.
Gums that look or feel tender, swollen, or a little bumpy where a tooth is coming through.
Mild fussiness, a temporary change in sleep, or wanting extra comfort.
Skin irritation around the mouth from drooling. Gently wipe saliva away and use a simple protective ointment if advised by your child's healthcare professional.

Symptoms that should not be blamed on teething

Teething does not cause a true fever, repeated or severe crying, vomiting, significant diarrhea, or a baby who acts very ill. A slight rise in temperature can happen, but a temperature above 100.3 F (38 C) is unlikely to be caused by teething and deserves attention, especially in a young infant.

Contact your child's healthcare professional for fever, diarrhea lasting more than a day, repeated vomiting, worsening fussiness, a widespread rash, poor feeding, or less urine than usual.
Do not delay care for a possible ear infection, urinary infection, viral illness, or other problem by assuming symptoms are teething.

Safe ways to soothe sore gums

Massage the gums gently with a clean finger.
Offer a firm rubber teether or a clean, cool washcloth. Supervise your baby and keep the item clean.
A teether may be chilled in the refrigerator, but do not use a frozen ring or any object that is hard enough to injure the gums.
Continue usual breast or bottle feeding as tolerated. Offer calm, close comfort; a shorter feed or brief extra breaks may help some babies.
Pain medicine is often unnecessary. If you are considering it because your baby seems very uncomfortable, ask your child's healthcare professional for individualized advice. Do not use another child's medicine, leftover prescription medicine, or aspirin.

Products and practices to avoid

Do not use benzocaine or lidocaine gels, sprays, or liquids for teething. They provide little benefit and can cause serious harm if swallowed or absorbed.
Avoid homeopathic teething tablets, gels, and other unregulated teething remedies. The FDA warns that some can be dangerous for infants and young children.
Do not use amber, silicone, wood, marble, or other teething necklaces or jewelry. They can cause choking or strangulation.
Avoid liquid-filled teethers that can break or leak, and avoid hard foods or objects that could break apart or cause choking.

First teeth and dental care

Clean the gums with a soft cloth before teeth appear. Once a tooth comes in, brush twice a day with a smear of fluoride toothpaste, using a soft, child-sized toothbrush. Arrange a dental visit after the first tooth appears and by the first birthday.

Sources and medical review

Sources checked: August 14, 2026 | Medical review completed: August 14, 2026