01/27/2026
❗️ MYTHBUSTING: It’s a common misconception that teething directly causes a fever. Not only is this not true, but Dr. Lisa Diard, a pediatrician in Ohio, say it can also be a dangerous misconception.
“If your baby has a fever, you don’t want to ignore it and think it’s something it’s not,” she continues. “Teething doesn’t cause a fever. If your baby has a fever, something else is going on.”
It’s also important to remember that you may be thinking of a fever in different terms than a healthcare provider does. Some may worry their child is showing a fever if their temperature is anything above normal range - generally around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). However, healthcare providers define a fever as anything higher than 100.4 F (38 C).
Teething may cause your child to have a body temperature that’s higher than normal, but still below the threshold for a fever. Fevers are the immune system’s way of fighting off an infection. Not all fevers are a reason to worry.
However, Dr. Diard says you should talk with your children’s healthcare provider if:
-Your baby is younger than 3 months old and has a fever above 100.4 F (38 C).
-Your baby older than 3 months has a fever above 104 F (40 C).
-The fever remains for more than three days or doesn’t come down with the use of fever-reducing medication like Tylenol® (acetaminophen).
-Your child is difficult to wake from sleep.
-Your child isn’t drinking enough or is showing signs of dehydration, such as urinating infrequently.
Source: Cleveland Clinic
