Teething in Babies: Soothing the Fuss Without the Old Wives' Tales
Teething brings drool and grumpiness — not high fever or diarrhoea. What actually soothes sore gums, what to skip, and when the 'teething' is really illness.
Teething in Babies: Soothing the Fuss Without the Old Wives' Tales
The first tooth is a milestone every family celebrates — usually the two lower front teeth, often arriving around six months, though anywhere from four to ten months (or later) is perfectly normal. Teething can make babies miserable for a few days around each tooth. The trick is soothing the real discomfort without blaming teething for things it doesn't cause.
What teething actually looks like
Genuine teething signs are fairly mild:
- Lots of drooling
- A strong urge to bite and chew on fingers, toys, the edge of a bib
- Sore, tender gums and general crankiness
- Slightly disturbed sleep and feeding for a day or two
That's largely it. Uncomfortable, yes — but not dramatic.
The myth worth busting
Across India, almost anything that goes wrong during the teething months gets pinned on the teeth: fever, loose motions, coughs, colds, rashes. The evidence is clear — teething does not cause high fever, diarrhoea, or a cough-and-cold. It may nudge the body temperature up a touch, but not to a true fever.
Why does this matter so much? Because a baby around six months is losing the antibodies passed on during pregnancy, starting solids, and putting every object into the mouth — so real infections are common at exactly this age. Blaming a genuine fever or diarrhoea on "just teething" can delay treatment for something that actually needs it.
Safe ways to soothe sore gums
Simple and low-tech works best:
- Gum massage. Rub the gums firmly for a minute or two with a clean finger or a damp gauze/muslin cloth. The steady pressure genuinely helps.
- Something cool to chew. A clean teething ring or a damp washcloth chilled in the fridge (never frozen hard — that can bruise gums).
- A cool feed or, for weaning babies, cold food — a spoon of chilled curd (dahi), or a large chilled (not frozen) piece of peeled carrot or cucumber under close supervision.
- Extra cuddles and patience. Comfort is half the cure.
What to skip
Some popular remedies do more harm than good:
- Teething powders and "tonics" of unknown composition, and gripe water — unnecessary and unregulated.
- Teething gels rubbed on the gums — many contain numbing agents best avoided in babies unless a doctor advises.
- Amber or black-thread teething necklaces — a real choking and strangulation risk, with no proven benefit.
- Honey on the gums — never before age one, because of the botulism risk.
- Hard rusks or biscuits that can snap off and choke.
When it isn't teething — check with the doctor
Treat these as illness, not teeth, and see your paediatrician: a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher, diarrhoea or vomiting, refusing feeds, unusual drowsiness or listlessness, or a baby who just seems unwell rather than grizzly. And once those first teeth are through, start wiping them with a soft cloth or a tiny smear of toothpaste — dental care begins with tooth number one.
If your baby's discomfort seems far beyond a bit of gum-soreness, don't assume the teeth are to blame. A quick word with your paediatrician will sort out what's really going on.