Does Teething Cause a Fever? What to Know
Teething can make a baby raise their body temperature slightly, but it does not cause a true fever. Blaming a real fever on teething can delay finding the actual cause. Here is what teething does and does not do, where the line sits, and when a fever needs to be treated as a fever.
The short answer
Teething can make a baby a little warmer than usual, but it does not cause a true fever. A temperature of 37.5°C or above is a fever, and it should not be put down to teething. If your baby has a real fever, the safer assumption is that something else is causing it.
This matters because babies teethe on and off for many months, and during that time they also catch the usual coughs, colds, and infections. Blaming every warm forehead on teething can delay spotting an illness that needs attention.
What teething does cause
Teething is real and can genuinely make a baby miserable for a few days around each new tooth. The common signs are mild and local to the mouth:
- Drooling more than usual, and chewing or biting on things
- Sore, red, or swollen gums where a tooth is coming through
- Mild irritability or fussiness
- Disturbed sleep for a few nights
- A slightly raised temperature, but staying below the fever range
Teething does not cause a high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, a runny nose, a cough, or a rash. If any of those show up, they belong to something other than the teeth.
Where the line sits
A temperature of 37.5°C or above is a fever. Teething might nudge a baby up toward that line, but it does not push past it in any meaningful way. A reading of 38.0°C or above is clearly a fever and should be treated as one, with teething ruled out rather than assumed.
If your baby is over 3 months and uncomfortable, or the temperature is 38.5°C or above, you can give paracetamol by weight for comfort. Check the dose against your baby's current weight rather than guessing from age.
→ Check the correct paracetamol dose by weight
Soothing a teething baby
For the discomfort of teething itself, simple comfort measures usually help:
- A clean, cool (not frozen) teething ring or a cold, damp washcloth to chew on.
- Gently rubbing the sore gum with a clean finger.
- Wiping away drool to prevent a rash on the chin.
- Extra cuddles and patience through the unsettled days.
When to see a doctor
Treat a fever in a teething baby the same as any other fever. See your GP or polyclinic if the fever lasts more than 3 days, your baby is not feeding well, or you are unsure what is causing it. A baby under 3 months with a fever of 38.0°C or above needs urgent assessment, and teething should never be the assumed reason at that age.
Go to the nearest 24-hour A&E, or call 995, if your baby:
- !Is under 3 months with a temperature of 38.0°C or above
- !Is drowsy, floppy, or very hard to wake
- !Is breathing fast or struggling to breathe
- !Is refusing feeds or drinking very little, with fewer wet nappies
- !Has a rash of small red or purple spots that do not fade when pressed
→ Fever in a baby under 3 months: what to do
→ How to take your child's temperature accurately
Frequently asked questions
Does teething cause a fever?+
Teething can raise a baby's body temperature slightly, but it does not cause a true fever. A reading of 37.5°C or above is a fever and should not be put down to teething. If your baby has a real fever, look for another cause rather than assuming the teeth are to blame.
What temperature counts as a fever rather than teething?+
A temperature of 37.5°C or above is a fever. Teething might nudge the temperature up to just below this, but anything 37.5°C and above is more than teething can explain, and 38.0°C or above is clearly a fever that needs to be treated as one.
My teething baby has a fever. What should I do?+
Treat it as a fever, not as teething. For a baby over 3 months who is uncomfortable or whose temperature is 38.5°C or above, you can give paracetamol by weight for comfort. For a baby under 3 months, a temperature of 38.0°C or above needs urgent assessment, and you should not assume teething is the reason.
What symptoms does teething actually cause?+
Teething commonly causes drooling, chewing on things, sore or swollen gums, mild irritability, and disturbed sleep. It does not cause a high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, a runny nose, or a rash. If those appear, look for a separate cause.
Why does it matter whether it is teething or a fever?+
Because blaming a real fever on teething can delay finding what is actually wrong. Babies teethe for months, and during that time they also catch the usual infections. Assuming every temperature is "just teething" risks missing an illness that needs attention.