Appearance
Teething and oral care
Teething often starts around 6 months, but the range is wide. Drooling, chewing, gum discomfort, and a general level of fussiness can all be part of it. Teething is common, but it is also one of the easiest normal stages to blame for symptoms that actually belong to an illness 12.
What teething usually looks like
Teething can cause sore gums, drool, extra chewing, interrupted sleep, and irritability. It may also change appetite for a day or two. What it should not do is make a baby dramatically ill. High fever, persistent diarrhea, significant lethargy, or obvious breathing trouble should not be waved away as teething just because a tooth is close to coming in 12.
What helps
A clean washcloth chilled in the fridge, a firm rubber teether, and gentle gum pressure are reasonable first steps 1. Make sure any teether is big enough to supervise and not so hard that it injures the gums. If the baby wants to chew on your finger, that is usually fine too, as long as you are prepared for the slobber tax.
Avoid teething jewelry and avoid frozen items that are too hard or cold for the gums. The FDA has reported choking and strangulation injuries with teething necklaces and warns against oral products that numb the mouth, including benzocaine and lidocaine products used for teething pain 4. Homeopathic teething tablets are also not a safe shortcut 4.
Oral care starts early
Begin brushing as soon as teeth appear. In the U.S., the CDC advises a soft toothbrush and a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste, with a dental visit by the first birthday 2. Canadian guidance is similar in spirit: brush with fluoridated toothpaste in the right age-appropriate amount and get oral health professional advice early 3. If your local clinician gives different toothpaste guidance, follow that local advice and ask why.
The habit matters more than the brand of toothbrush. What you are building is the routine: brush twice a day, keep sugary drinks out of bottles and bedtime routines, and do not let the baby fall asleep with milk pooling around new teeth 23.
When it is not just teething
Teething can coexist with illness, but it should not become the default explanation for everything. Call your clinician if the baby has high fever, respiratory symptoms, poor feeding, repeated vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration signs, or seems distinctly unwell rather than merely grumpy 14.