The formation of baby teeth is a stressful situation for a baby, to which his body usually reacts with an increase in body temperature. Of course, this happens not only because of teething. It will be useful for many parents to know what to do when their baby suddenly has a fever.
What causes body temperature to rise during the formation of baby teeth?
There is a misconception that a child’s elevated body temperature during the eruption of baby teeth is not normal and therefore measures should be taken to lower it to a normal level. In fact, this is not so. The fact is that at the site of tooth eruption, the body’s immune defense decreases. Harmful bacteria enter the disturbed gum and cause an inflammatory process, which is always accompanied by an increase in body temperature. It should be understood that elevated temperatures have a detrimental effect on harmful microorganisms. Of course, this does not mean that excessively high temperatures during teething are normal.
Parents of the baby should not worry if, during the formation of baby teeth, the baby’s body temperature does not exceed 38 degrees.
In one-year-old babies, the process of tooth formation is much more complicated. It is after the first year of life that a child’s canines and molars begin to form. These teeth erupt much more slowly and, accordingly, increased body temperature can persist for a long time. Their long formation is explained by the uneven shape of the molars and their size. Sometimes it lasts several weeks.
The same situation occurs during the eruption of eye teeth. Their roots are located much deeper than the rest of the baby's teeth. Therefore, the growing eye tooth has to travel a longer path to the gum surface. All this time, the child experiences discomfort, and his body responds to it with an increase in body temperature.
In essence, the emerging baby teeth tear the soft tissue of the gums, and this cannot be painless. In this place, the immune defense is weakened due to injury. During the formation of molars, children often develop a fever. This happens when the impact of harmful microorganisms becomes too powerful, that is, an infectious infection has occurred. In this case, the body temperature rises to 38 degrees, and sometimes above.
What is the maximum permissible body temperature of a child during the formation of teeth?
How high a baby's body temperature can rise depends on the condition of his body. During teething, a normal body temperature is considered to be between 37.5 and 37.7 degrees. The maximum permissible temperature is 38 degrees. If it increases further, then measures should be taken to reduce it.
Parents should remember that during the period of formation of baby teeth, the child’s body temperature should be measured more often.
If the child’s body temperature reaches 39 - 40 degrees, this means that urgent medical attention is needed, since, most likely, the infection has penetrated the baby’s respiratory system.
Temperature at the appearance of the first teeth
The appearance of a baby's first teeth is a very important event that all parents look forward to. But, unfortunately, this process does not bring such joy to the baby himself. Teething is most often accompanied by pain, swelling of the gums, constant itching, as well as possible fever, runny nose and even cough. In rare cases, the appearance of the first teeth is not felt at all by the baby, and the entire process is painless. But, more often than not, long sleepless nights await the baby and parents. Sometimes the baby’s temperature rises to 39 degrees. In such cases, it is necessary to resort to professional medical help, and in no case self-medicate. Let's figure out why a child's temperature rises when his first teeth appear. Before it appears, the tooth cuts through the bone tissue, and then through the gum. All this is accompanied by swelling and itching of the gums, hence the pain. The place where the tooth erupts becomes inflamed, and the child’s immunity decreases. Due to this, the temperature rises. As the baby cuts his first teeth, his salivation also increases. Thus, the body protects itself from possible infection, because saliva has an anti-inflammatory effect. As a rule, the temperature during teething rises to 37 - 37.7 degrees. This temperature should not be brought down; this is a kind of protective reaction of the body. The main thing is to constantly monitor the baby, control the rise in temperature, because there are often cases when the thermometer shows 38 and 39 degrees. It is necessary to measure your temperature every hour, especially in the evening when it can rise sharply. If antipyretics and rubbing do not help, and the mark on the thermometer does not decrease, you should immediately consult a doctor. And if the temperature is above 39 degrees, immediately contact an ambulance. Typically, the rise in temperature during teething lasts 1-3 days. On the 4th day it should decrease. If your baby has a fever for a longer period of time, you should consult a doctor. It is necessary to accurately determine the reason why the temperature does not decrease. Indeed, when it rises to 38-39 degrees, the baby, in addition to the appearance of teeth, develops some kind of infection. The attending physician will be able to diagnose the cause of the disease. It is simply necessary to invite a specialist in such situations, because you cannot risk the health of a small child. Drugs to reduce fever during teething A large number of different antipyretic drugs have now been developed for very young children. Basically, they are presented in the form of candles or syrup. Antipyretic medications most often use paracetamol or ibuprofen. After taking the drug there will be no immediate effect, you need to wait 45-60 minutes, only after this time will it work. It is necessary to choose the right remedy based on the symptoms of the child’s disease and the recommendations of the treating pediatrician. You should not make a diagnosis and select treatment on your own. It is also important to strictly adhere to the instructions for use of the drug for infants and young children, to correctly calculate the dosage based on the age and weight of the baby, as well as the frequency of use of the medicine. Health to you and your kids!
How long can an elevated body temperature remain?
There is no clear answer to this question. It all depends on the health of the baby. As for the results of long-term observations, on average, the increased body temperature of a child during the formation of baby teeth persists for one to three days. It is important to note that when the top of the tooth appears above the surface of the gum, body temperature returns to normal. This happens as each tooth erupts.
However, statistics show that in some children, elevated body temperature persists for four or even five days, and the fever can last only a few hours and go away on its own.
Knowing all of the above does not mean that parents should not show their baby to pediatricians. An extra examination by a specialist will never hurt, but, on the contrary, will help identify diseases at the earliest stage of their development.
What symptoms can accompany high temperature?
During the period of teething, in addition to elevated temperature, the child may exhibit other symptoms. Often at this time, swelling of the gums occurs, which can reach the mucous membrane of the nose. This phenomenon is accompanied by a runny nose and copious discharge of clear fluid from the nose. Swelling most often occurs when the baby's upper teeth erupt.
If the elevated body temperature persists for five days, then you should immediately call a doctor.
You should also know that during teething, babies produce copious amounts of saliva. It is especially pronounced when the lower teeth erupt.
Maximum allowed values
Today there is no exact understanding of what temperature is dangerous for a child.
It all depends on how the baby feels. However, if numbers above 38.5 appear on the thermometer, then you should definitely give medicine. An ambulance should be called when the numbers are 39 and above. If a child’s temperature does not go down after taking antipyretics, then what to do? You should definitely call a doctor at home or go to the clinic to determine the exact cause of this condition, which is incomprehensible to parents.
Warning symptoms
During the period of teething, the child’s body is weakened and therefore more susceptible to viral or bacterial diseases. At this time, you need to monitor your baby with maximum attention. You should seek help from a doctor if you have the following symptoms:
- The baby's nose is very stuffy and a purulent substance is released from it. Such signs indicate the likelihood of rhinitis, which can only be cured with medication.
- The appearance of diarrhea does not mean that it is directly related to teething. Most likely, an infection entered the child's stomach through toys or a gum teether. The baby should be shown to a doctor.
- During teething, the baby's mouth produces copious amounts of saliva. The child does not always have time to swallow it, and this causes him to cough, or rather, cough. If the cough becomes prolonged, this means that the baby’s respiratory system has become infected. You can’t do this without the help of a doctor.
- It should also be taken into account that teething cannot cause redness in the throat. If this happens, it means that the child has pharyngitis or a general respiratory disease.
- Vomiting at elevated body temperature during teething is an alarming signal. This happens when the nervous system is damaged or due to an intestinal infection. Calling a doctor in such a situation is mandatory.
All of the above symptoms are alarming, even if they appear without elevated body temperature.
Child's body temperature when replacing baby teeth with permanent ones
During the period of loss of baby teeth and the appearance of permanent teeth, the child’s body temperature remains normal. Only some children's body temperature rises when permanent molars begin to form. The reason for this is the size and shape of the molars.
Typically, children's first permanent teeth begin to form at the age of six. If at this time the child’s temperature rises, then there is a possibility of gingivitis. This disease is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the gums and requires treatment.
How to reduce a child’s temperature with medications - tablets, syrups
Today one of the most popular drugs is Nurofen.
It is available in the form of syrup, capsules and rectal suppositories. For each age, you can choose your own option to safely and painlessly give medicine to your baby. Paracetamol, which can be found in the pharmacy in the form of tablets or syrup, has a good effect.
Some parents use ibuprofen, which is recommended for acute inflammatory diseases, teething and other pathological conditions, starting from 6 months.
How should parents behave when their child’s body temperature rises?
Many parents, having discovered an increase in the child’s body temperature during the period of teeth formation, try to bring it down with antiviral or antipyretic drugs. Meanwhile, there is no need to rush in such a situation.
A body temperature within 37 degrees should not cause anxiety in parents, since this is the norm during teething, and more precisely, a normal protective reaction of the body. In such a situation, you just need to wait until the body itself copes with the pathogenic microorganisms that have penetrated it.
However, if the body temperature exceeds 38 degrees and the baby experiences attacks of fever, it is advisable to use antipyretic drugs. If this does not help, then the baby should be wrapped in a diaper soaked in a weak vinegar-alcohol solution or simply moistened with cool water.
If high temperature and fever attacks occur for three days, then a medical examination of the baby is necessary. He probably developed some kind of disease that had nothing to do with teething. It is allowed to use homeopathy instead of antipyretic drugs. These drugs cannot reduce body temperature, but at the same time significantly improve the general condition of the baby. This in turn contributes to a speedy recovery. However, the use of homeopathic medicines without the approval of a pediatrician is unacceptable.
Reasons for the increase
A child does not develop a high temperature without a reason.
However, it is very difficult for parents to find the cause at home. It is for this reason that it is advisable to show the baby to the pediatrician. The most common reasons are:
- 1. Colds and viral diseases.
- 2. Intestinal infections.
- 3. Inflammatory diseases of internal organs.
- 4. Pneumonia and other lung diseases.
- 5. Inflammation of the ears, especially otitis media.
- 6. Sore throat.
At the same time, parents need to understand what a normal temperature value is. The average human body temperature remains at 36.6 – 36.9 degrees. Anything below this figure is called hypothermia. Anything higher is hyperthermia. This indicator is also classified according to another scale, which is often used by doctors.
Low-grade fever is in the range of 37 – 37.9. This is followed by febrile, which starts from 38 and ends at 38.9. If there are higher numbers on the thermometer, then it is already paretic, and above 41 degrees is called hyperpyretic.
Will walking during teething be harmful?
If during the period of teething the child’s body temperature does not exceed 37 degrees, and the baby himself does not suffer much from this, then walks will benefit him. In such a situation, the baby should be dressed for the weather and walked with him away from people to avoid possible infection. You should not get involved in active games at this time.
If the baby’s body temperature has risen above 37 degrees, and he himself does not feel well, then it is better to refrain from walking until he recovers.
In conclusion, let us remind you that self-treatment of children is always fraught with bad consequences. Do not hesitate to contact your doctor again.
