9 Baby Teething Symptoms: Is Your Infant Cutting Teeth?

Teething is a painful process for parents and their babies. Learn more about the timeline for growing teeth and how to recognize the telltale symptoms.

A baby's first teeth usually appear around 4 to 6 months—and these chompers help your child talk and eat solid foods, says Tanny Josen, DDS, a pediatric dentist at Kid Island Dental in Long Island, New York. However, although teething is an important developmental milestone, it can be painful for babies (and their parents). Here, experts break down the teething process, and they share how to recognize the signs of getting those pearly whites.

Your Baby's Teething Timeline

Your child will grow a complete set of 20 teeth between ages 1 and 3—but developing them starts much earlier. Are you wondering how long teething lasts? Check out this baby teething timeline from the womb to toddlerhood.

Related: When Do Babies Start Teething?

Second Trimester of Pregnancy: Tooth Roots

Yup, that's right: your baby's teeth first start developing while they're still in the womb. Around the second trimester of pregnancy, tooth buds begin to form under the gums in your baby's mouth.

Eventually, the roots begin to grow, forcing the crown up. "The tooth puts pressure on the tissues above it, and they slowly begin to break down," says Michael Hanna, DDS, a spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. "The tissue gets thinner and thinner until it breaks and the tooth pops through."

4-6 Months: Top and Bottom Teeth

The first teeth to come in are usually the two bottom front teeth (central incisors), followed by the four upper teeth (central and lateral incisors). Because these are thinner with a knifelike edge, they often slide through fairly easily.

1st Birthday: Molars

Around your baby's first birthday, the first molars will start to arrive in the back of the mouth; then come the canines (the pointed teeth between the molars and incisors); and then around age 2, the second molars, behind the first set. "Teething molars are often much more painful because they are a big, fat, broad-surfaced tooth," says Dr. Hanna. "Those are the ones where you tend to see bulging gums."

In some cases, fluid can build up, creating a bluish cyst over the unerupted molar. When the tooth breaks through and pops the cyst, your baby may wind up with a mouthful of blood, but it looks a lot worse than it is, says Dr. Hanna. "Once the sac erupts and the fluid comes out, it's over. The situation has corrected itself."

Related: How to Help Your Teething Baby Sleep

9 Teething Symptoms in Babies and Toddlers

So, how can you tell if your baby is starting to teethe? Baby teething pain is usually most severe in the days before a tooth cuts through the gums. A child's reaction to teething depends upon many factors, including their tolerance for pain, personality, and gum density, says Dr. Hanna. That said, most children experience the following signs and symptoms of teething.

Swollen gums

Swollen gums are a common teething symptom. If your child's gums are swollen and you can feel at least one tooth-sized lump, that means teething is in progress. When a tooth is moving and about to erupt through the gumline, the surrounding tissue can become tender and inflamed, leaving your baby with swollen, sore gums. Gently rub your baby's gums or give them something cold to chew on, like a chilled, wet washcloth.

Chewing, biting, and sucking

Because your child's gums are irritated, you might see them gnawing on just about anything—toys, crib rails, even their clothes, and fists. Keep any objects they could choke on far away from their reach. Offer your baby a teething ring that they can safely gnaw on to help alleviate their discomfort.

Rubbing their gums, ears, and cheeks

Your baby might rub their gums to relieve pressure from their teething symptoms. They might also pull their ears and fidget with their cheeks—especially when their molars appear. (Note that yanking on ears can also signal an ear infection, so it's important to bring up this symptom with your pediatrician.)

Related: How To Soothe a Teething Baby at Night

Drooling

No one knows why teething babies produce so much saliva, says Dr. Hanna. However, the theory is that the increase of muscle movement in the mouth during this teething period simulates chewing, activating the salivary glands. Excess drool can also cause occasional gagging or coughing.

Drool rash or mouth rash

Drool rash is a common teething symptom when the continual wetness from excess drooling causes a rash around the mouth, chin, or neck. Drool rashes are harmless, although they can feel tender and uncomfortable for babies.

To prevent a drool rash—or to help clear one up—wipe up drool whenever possible. Create a barrier on the skin by applying petroleum jelly, which can help keep moisture in and prevent drool from sitting on the skin.

Irritability and nighttime fussiness

Not surprisingly, teething makes many babies crankier and fussier than usual. "Teething babies may be edgy or hard to settle at naptime and bedtime because of throbbing gums, but it's a dull pain, so you can usually distract them during the day," says Ari Brown, MD, a pediatrician and coauthor of Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Baby's First Year.

Note, however, that if your baby is grumpy all day long and appears uninterested in other activities, your baby might have an ear infection, so it's best to contact your pediatrician.

Decreased appetite

Some kids lose their appetite and refuse to eat or drink. This teething symptom should be short-lived, though.

Low-grade fever

This is characterized by a fever of less than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, taken rectally, and can be caused by gum inflammation. If low-grade fever is accompanied by a runny nose, a bout of diarrhea, or other strange symptoms, call your pediatrician to rule out an infection of some kind. Jill Lasky, DDS, a pediatric dentist at Lasky Pediatric Dental Group in Los Angeles, says teething doesn't cause these symptoms.

There are four categoric elevations of a fever, with the low-grade being the lowest or mildest type. Check out the table below to see the general guidelines on what is considered a low (or high) fever.

Loose stools

Babies may have loose stools from swallowing extra saliva or from changes in diet (teething babies typically try various solid foods for the first time). But Dr. Brown says to call the doctor "if the stools are explosive, numerous, or accompanied by blood or mucus."

When to Visit the Pediatrician

Until fairly recently, experts widely thought that teething was responsible for practically every cough, sneeze, and cry in a baby's first years. But experts now say that if your baby has worrisome symptoms, it's best to have their pediatrician examine them to rule out something more serious. That's because "the tiny open wounds in the gums that result from the teeth erupting makes it more likely for the baby to catch a little bug," explains Dr. Lasky.

Contact your pediatrician if any of the following symptoms are present:

• High fever, diarrhea, or vomiting

• The gums are red or blue instead of pink (this usually indicates an eruption cyst, a swelling of the gums above an erupting tooth; although most cysts are benign, it's best to have them checked)

• The gums have lesions or bumps

• Your baby is refusing to eat and drink for more than a couple of hours

• They have rashes on their body

• Your child appears ill

Key Takeaways

Teething can be a rough time for babies (and parents!) You can help your baby find comfort while their pearly whites make their big debut by understanding teething symptoms, from drooling and gnawing to fussiness and loose stools. If your baby's teething symptoms get worse or don't seem to improve, call your doctor to rule out illness or infection.

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