Friday Parenting Myth #3

This is a new feature-Please write it in any myths that you would like us to write about! Have a nice weekend

-Dan

Myth: Teething causes Fever

Teething has a long history in medicine. Fever, diarrhea, infection and death have all been attributed to teething. There was a point in history where lancing the gums was considered a treatment for this "ailment!" After looking at parents' reports of symptoms, measurements of fever, and having a pediatric dentist look for signs of tooth eruption, no causality was discovered. So why do parents believe this myth? I think it is because tooth eruption occurs over months and years when many other childhood illnesses and developments occur.

Teething may change an infant's food preferences for bottle or solids. Additionally, putting various objects in the mouth to relieve the teething pain may expose the infant to more viruses that may cause a runny nose or diarrhea. However, the tooth eruption, itself, is not responsible for diarrhea or congestion. When molars come in, some children complain of ear pain and this may be due to swelling in and around the Eustachian tube.

References:

Macknin, Michael L. et al. "Symptoms Associated with Infant Teething: A Prospective Study" Pediatrics 105.4 (2000): 747-752.

Wake, Melissa et al. "Teething and Tooth Eruption in Infants: A Cohort Study" Pediatrics 106.6 (2000): 1374-1379.

Filed under: Common Myths