Does Teething Cause a Fever? What Parents Should Know

If your baby feels warmer than usual while a tooth is coming through, it is easy to assume teething is responsible. Teething can be associated with a slightly raised temperature, but NHS guidance says this should stay below 38°C. A temperature of 38°C or higher is considered a fever and should not simply be put down to teething.

That distinction matters because babies can become ill at the same time as they are cutting a tooth. If your baby has a true fever, especially if they are very young or seem unwell, it is safer to consider other possible causes and follow NHS advice about when to seek medical help.

Can teething raise a baby’s temperature?

The NHS lists a slightly raised temperature below 38°C as one possible sign of teething.

Other common teething signs can include:

A sore, red gum where the tooth is coming through
One flushed cheek
Increased dribbling
Chewing and gnawing on things
Ear rubbing
A facial rash
Greater fretfulness
Poorer sleep

Some babies have several noticeable symptoms, while others seem barely bothered as their teeth appear.

A baby feeling a little warm alongside sore gums and increased chewing may therefore be experiencing teething symptoms. Once the temperature reaches 38°C, however, NHS guidance classifies it as a fever.

What temperature counts as a fever in babies?

The NHS defines a high temperature or fever in babies and children as 38°C or above.

If your baby feels unusually warm, checking with a digital thermometer is more reliable than judging by touch alone.

According to NHS guidance, a baby’s temperature can vary slightly. Factors such as recently having a bath or being wrapped in a blanket can temporarily affect a reading, so you may need to wait a few minutes and check again.

For children under 5, the NHS recommends taking the temperature with a digital thermometer in the armpit.

Teething temperature vs fever

The simplest way to understand the difference is:

Temperature NHS guidance

Below 38°C A slightly raised temperature can occur with teething 38°C or above This is considered a high temperature or fever

The number is only part of the picture.

How your baby looks, feeds, breathes and responds to you also matters. A baby with a relatively modest temperature who seems seriously unwell still needs medical attention.

Likewise, the urgency of a fever depends partly on your baby’s age.

Why you should not assume a fever is teething

Teething is common, so it can easily overlap with ordinary childhood infections.

A baby may genuinely be cutting a tooth and have an infection at the same time.

This is why a visible tooth does not automatically explain a fever.

NHS guidance says high temperatures in children are commonly associated with the body’s response to infections. Vaccinations can also sometimes cause a temporary high temperature.

If your baby’s temperature reaches 38°C or higher, treat it as a fever rather than assuming the tooth is responsible.

What if your baby has other teething symptoms too?

A baby can have red gums, dribble constantly, chew everything and still become ill.

Look beyond the gums.

If your baby has a fever alongside other symptoms such as a rash, vomiting, diarrhoea, breathing changes, unusual drowsiness, reduced feeding or fewer wet nappies, seek medical advice as appropriate.

The NHS specifically says there is no evidence that teething causes diarrhoea.

This is a useful reminder that symptoms occurring during teething are not necessarily caused by teething.

Does teething cause a temperature of 38°C?

NHS teething guidance describes the possible temperature rise associated with teething as less than 38°C.

A reading of 38°C or above meets the NHS definition of a high temperature.

That does not tell you exactly what is causing the fever. It does mean you should not dismiss it as a normal teething symptom.

Your baby’s age and general condition will help determine what to do next.

Fever in babies under 3 months

Fever needs particular attention in very young babies.

The NHS advises calling NHS 111 or your GP surgery if your baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38°C or higher, or if you think they have a high temperature.

Do not wait for obvious signs of illness or assume the temperature is caused by early teething.

Some babies do start teething before 4 months, according to the NHS, but a fever in a baby under 3 months still requires medical advice.

Fever in babies aged 3 to 6 months

For babies aged 3 to 6 months, NHS guidance advises contacting NHS 111 or your GP surgery if their temperature is 39°C or higher, or if you think they have a high temperature.

You should also seek advice sooner if your baby has other concerning symptoms or you are worried about how they are behaving.

Temperature thresholds are useful, but they are not a reason to ignore a baby who seems significantly unwell at a lower temperature.

How to check your baby’s temperature

If your baby feels hot, use a digital thermometer rather than relying on how their forehead feels.

The NHS recommends placing the thermometer inside the top of the armpit for children under 5.

Gently hold your baby’s arm against their body and keep the thermometer in place for as long as its instructions specify.

If your baby has just had a bath or has been wrapped warmly, wait a few minutes before taking the temperature because this can temporarily raise the reading.

Keeping a note of the temperature and when you took it can be useful if you need to speak to a healthcare professional.

What should you do if your baby has a fever?

If your baby has a high temperature but does not meet the criteria for urgent medical assessment and otherwise seems well, NHS guidance recommends offering plenty of fluids and checking them regularly, including during the night.

If you are breastfeeding, continue to offer breastfeeds as normal.

Watch for signs of dehydration, such as nappies that are less wet than usual, sunken eyes or no tears when crying.

Do not undress your child or sponge them down in an attempt to cool them. The NHS also advises against covering a child with too many clothes or bedclothes.

If you are unsure what to do, contact NHS 111, your GP or a pharmacist.

Can you give medicine for a teething temperature?

Pain relief may sometimes be appropriate if a baby is distressed or uncomfortable, but the medicine must be suitable for your baby’s age and circumstances.

NHS fever guidance says paracetamol should not be given to a child under 2 months. Ibuprofen should not be given to a baby under 3 months or under 5kg, and it is not suitable in some other circumstances.

Do not alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen unless a healthcare professional tells you to do so.

Always check the packaging and patient information leaflet for the exact product you have. If you are unsure whether a medicine is suitable for your baby, ask a pharmacist, GP or NHS 111.

Do not use medicine as a test for teething

If your baby’s temperature falls after medicine, this does not prove the fever was caused by teething.

Fever-reducing medicines can lower temperatures associated with many illnesses.

Continue watching how your baby behaves and whether other symptoms develop.

If your baby’s condition worries you, seek advice even if their temperature has come down.

What other symptoms should you watch for?

A thermometer reading is useful, but your baby’s overall condition matters just as much.

Pay attention to:

How easily your baby wakes and responds
Their breathing
How much they are feeding
Wet nappies
Any vomiting or diarrhoea
Any new rash
Whether their crying is very different from normal
Changes in skin or lip colour
Whether they seem to be getting better or worse

If something about your baby’s behaviour feels significantly different, you do not need to wait for their temperature to reach a particular number before asking for advice.

When to get professional advice

Call NHS 111 or your GP surgery if your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C or higher. NHS guidance also advises urgent medical advice for babies aged 3 to 6 months with a temperature of 39°C or higher.

You should also seek medical advice if your child has a high temperature for 5 days or more, has signs of dehydration, has a rash alongside a high temperature, is not interested in feeding or normal activities, or is not their usual self and you are worried.

Call 999 if your baby or child has serious warning signs such as difficulty breathing, blue, grey, unusually pale or blotchy skin, is drowsy and difficult to wake, is not responding normally, has a first seizure, has a stiff neck or develops a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass.

Teething may make a baby a little warm, fretful and uncomfortable, but a true fever deserves to be considered separately. If you are uncertain, getting medical advice is appropriate.