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Teething - Management
How do I know my patient has it?
- Consider teething as a cause of discomfort only if other causes have been excluded (see Differential diagnosis).
- A wide variety of symptoms and signs are attributed to teething (sometimes incorrectly) and are common to a range of conditions and physiological changes (for example, salivary glands begin to function at 2–3 months of age and contribute to constant drooling).
- Limited evidence suggests that symptoms of teething tend to be mild and localized.
- Teething does not cause children to become systemically unwell.
- Symptoms associated with teething:
- Include increased biting, drooling, gum-rubbing, sucking, irritability, wakefulness, ear-rubbing, facial rash, decreased appetite, disturbed sleep, and (possibly) mild temperature elevation (less than 38°C).
- Generally start 3–5 days before each tooth eruption.
- Check the mouth for signs of tooth eruption.
- The gums swell and are tender to palpation just before tooth eruption.
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