What are the symptoms of teething in a child?
Applies to age: 3–30 months
In short
Teething can happen with no pain or discomfort, or with mild symptoms that last a few days. Possible symptoms include, among other things, a sore and red gum, a slightly raised temperature below 38°C, more drooling, fussiness and poorer sleep. There is no evidence that teething causes symptoms such as diarrhea.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Baby teeth sometimes come in with no pain or discomfort, or with only mild symptoms that last a few days.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Baby teeth sometimes emerge with no pain or discomfort, or only mild symptoms that last a few days.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- One possible symptom is a sore and red gum where the tooth is coming through.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
their gum is sore and red where the tooth is coming through
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A slightly raised temperature is possible, but below 38°C.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
their temperature is slightly raised but less than 38C
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A possible symptom: one flushed cheek.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
they have 1 flushed cheek
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A possible symptom: a rash on the face.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
they have a rash on their face
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A possible symptom: rubbing the ear.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
they're rubbing their ear
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A possible symptom: drooling more than usual.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
they're dribbling more than usual
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A possible symptom: gnawing and chewing on things a lot.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
they're gnawing and chewing on things a lot
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A possible symptom: crying and fussing more than usual.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
they're more fretful than usual
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A possible symptom: poorer sleep.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
they're not sleeping very well
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- There is no evidence that teething causes symptoms such as diarrhea.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Some people think that teething causes symptoms such as diarrhoea, but there's no evidence to support this.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Most children start teething at around 6 months of age, but some start before 4 months and some after 12 months.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Most babies start teething at around 6 months, but others start teething before they are 4 months old and some after 12 months.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Most children have all their baby teeth by the age of 2 to 3 years.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Most children will have all their milk teeth by the time they are 2 to 3 years old.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
Worth discussing with a doctor:
- With any symptoms that cause concern, it is worth seeing a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Get medical advice if they have any symptoms that are causing you concern.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
- Call 112 (the emergency number in Poland) or 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) if life or health is at risk.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Zadzwoń na 112 lub 999, jeśli zagrożone jest życie lub zdrowie.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
See a doctor
- Night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) is medical help outside the working hours of primary care (POZ) clinics.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna to pomoc lekarska po godzinach pracy przychodni POZ.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
Myths
Unproven Myth: “Teething causes diarrhea”
Why it is wrong. There is no evidence that teething causes symptoms such as diarrhea.Instead. With any symptoms that cause concern, it is worth seeing a doctor.Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Some people think that teething causes symptoms such as diarrhoea, but there's no evidence to support this.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
Get medical advice if they have any symptoms that are causing you concern.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
- NFZ i Akademia NFZLicense: Treści NFZ – wykorzystanie ze wskazaniem źródła, bez obrotu komercyjnego. Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ. Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.