The short answer
No, not a real fever. Teething can make a baby's temperature rise slightly, but the NHS describes this as less than 38°C, and a review of 16 studies found that tooth eruption could raise temperature but not to the level of a fever. A temperature of 38°C or more is a fever with another cause, such as malaria, a urine, ear or chest infection, or a virus, and it should be treated as one. Teething also does not cause diarrhoea: the NHS says there is no evidence for it.
See a paediatrician by videoMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
What teething does look like
Most babies start teething at around 6 months, and most children have all their milk teeth by 2 to 3 years. Some teeth come through with no fuss at all. When there are signs, they are local and mild:
- A sore, red gum where the tooth is coming through
- Dribbling more than usual
- Chewing on fingers, toys and anything else within reach
- Being fretful or irritable for a few days
- Feeling slightly warm, with a temperature below 38°C
Why "it is just teeth" can be dangerous
Babies teethe for most of their first two years, so a tooth is almost always on the way when a child falls ill. Blaming teeth for a fever, diarrhoea or a cough can delay the test or treatment the child needs. In Nigeria that matters most for malaria, which can become severe within a day in a young child, and for diarrhoea, which can dehydrate a baby quickly. If your baby has a fever, measure it with a thermometer and treat it as a fever.
Easing teething discomfort
Give something clean and firm to chew, such as a cooled teething ring. Rub the gum gently with a clean finger. Wipe the dribble from the chin to stop a rash. Do not cut or scratch the gums, and do not give any medicine or herbal mixture without checking with a doctor or pharmacist what is safe for your baby's age and weight.
Go to a hospital now, not a teething remedy
Go straight to an emergency department, or call 112, if your baby:
- Has a fit, or is very drowsy, floppy or hard to wake
- Is struggling to breathe, breathing very fast, grunting, or the chest sucks in under the ribs
- Has blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue (on dark skin, check the palms and soles)
- Has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it
- Cannot drink or breastfeed, or vomits everything
- Has a stiff neck, or a bulging soft spot on the head
- Is a baby under three months with a temperature of 38°C or more
What it costs on Mezo
One fixed price, paid online.
Common questions
Does teething cause a temperature of 39°C?
No. A temperature of 39°C is a fever, and teething does not cause one. A baby aged three to six months with 39°C or more should be seen by a doctor in person today.
Does teething cause diarrhoea and vomiting?
The NHS says there is no evidence that teething causes diarrhoea. Diarrhoea or vomiting in a baby is usually an infection, and the main danger is dehydration: keep offering breast milk or feeds and watch the nappies.
Does teething cause a runny nose?
Teething brings extra dribble, not catarrh. A runny nose with fever is usually a cold or another infection.
Can a paediatrician tell teething from illness by video?
Often, yes. The paediatrician asks about the temperature, feeding, nappies and behaviour, looks at your baby on camera, and tells you whether a test or an examination is needed.
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Is it teeth, or is it something else?
Talk it through with a paediatrician by private video call, with your child beside you. The fee is shown before you pay, and if your child needs to be examined or tested, the paediatrician tells you where and how soon.
See a paediatrician by videoSources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Baby teething symptoms. NHS. Patient information.
- Signs and Symptoms of Primary Tooth Eruption: A Meta-analysis. Massignan C, Cardoso M, Porporatti AL, et al. Pediatrics 137(3):e20153501, 2016. Peer-reviewed.
- Fever in under 5s: assessment and initial management (NG143). National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Clinical guideline.
- High temperature (fever) in children. NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 29 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.