What are the signs of teething?

Teething may cause a very slight increase in body temperature, but it does not cause true fever. The AAP defines fever in infants as a rectal temperature of 100.4F (38C) or higher. Any temperature at or above that threshold should be evaluated by your pediatrician as a potential sign of illness,…

Teething discomfort often intensifies at night when there are fewer distractions, causing babies to wake more frequently, resist falling asleep, or have shorter naps. Sleep disruption tends to peak in the 2-3 days before and after a tooth erupts, then resolves.

Babies often become noticeably more irritable and clingy in the days before and during tooth eruption. The discomfort from gum inflammation and pressure can make them fussier than usual, particularly during feeding and bedtime when they are already less regulated.

Swollen, red, or bulging gums are a direct sign that a tooth is pushing toward the surface. You may notice a visible bluish-white area on the gum ridge where the tooth is about to erupt, or the gums may appear puffy and inflamed in the area where the next tooth is expected.

Excessive drooling (sialorrhea) is one of the earliest and most common signs of teething. Saliva production increases as the gums become stimulated by teeth moving beneath the surface, often starting weeks before a tooth actually breaks through.

Babies who are teething instinctively chew and gnaw on anything they can get into their mouths -- fingers, fists, toys, crib rails, and clothing. This counter-pressure on the gums provides natural pain relief. Increased mouthing and biting behavior is one of the most recognizable teething signs.