9 Common Teething Symptoms

Teething is one of those baby milestones that sounds simple until you’re living through it. Somewhere between four and twelve months (though some babies start earlier or later), those first tiny teeth start pushing through the gums, and it can bring a run of symptoms that leave you wondering what’s normal and what’s worth a call to your GP or health visitor.

Every baby handles teething differently. Some sail through with barely a grumble, others seem to feel every millimetre of movement. Below are nine of the most common signs to watch for, along with practical, tried-and-tested ways to help your baby feel more comfortable, plus a note on what’s worth flagging to a healthcare professional.

1. Excess Drooling

Increased saliva production is one of the earliest and most reliable teething signs, often starting weeks before a tooth actually appears. It can soak through clothes fast.

What helps: Bibs are your best friend here, and it’s worth having a few on rotation so you’re never caught out. Wipe the chin and neck gently and often, because constant wetness can lead to a sore, chapped rash. A thin layer of a fragrance-free barrier cream or petroleum jelly on the chin can stop the skin cracking.

2. Wanting to Chew on Everything

The pressure of a tooth moving under the gum is uncomfortable, and gnawing on something firm seems to counter-press against that feeling and bring some relief. You’ll notice your baby mouthing toys, fingers, furniture, whatever’s within reach.

What helps: Offer solid silicone or rubber teething rings, ideally ones you can cool in the fridge (not the freezer, as very hard, frozen surfaces can actually bruise sore gums). Always check teething toys for cracks or loose parts, and avoid anything with liquid gel filling that could leak if it splits.

3. Disrupted Sleep

Discomfort tends to feel worse at night when there are fewer distractions, so it’s common for a baby who normally sleeps well to start waking more often during a teething spell.

What helps: Stick to your usual bedtime routine as closely as you can, since consistency is genuinely reassuring for babies. A bit of extra comforting overnight is fine and won’t create bad habits long term. If sleep disruption goes on for more than a week or two, or seems severe, mention it to your health visitor, as it’s worth ruling out other causes.

4. Going Off Food

Sore gums can make sucking and chewing genuinely painful, so it’s common for babies to feed less enthusiastically, refuse the breast or bottle, or turn their head away from solids.

What helps: Don’t force feeds. Offer chilled foods like yoghurt, cold puree, or cucumber sticks (supervised, for babies old enough for finger foods) which can feel soothing on the gums. For younger babies, a calmer, quieter feeding environment can help. If your baby refuses feeds for more than 24 hours or you’re worried about wet nappies dropping off, contact your GP or health visitor.

5. Increased Fussiness or Clinginess

Ongoing discomfort naturally affects mood. Your baby might want to be held more, cry more easily, or seem generally out of sorts.

What helps: Extra cuddles genuinely do help, both physically and emotionally. Keep things low-key: familiar songs, gentle rocking, quiet play. It’s worth remembering that fussiness alone doesn’t confirm teething, so if it’s paired with a high fever or your baby seems unwell rather than just uncomfortable, get it checked rather than assuming it’s “just teeth.”

6. Gum Pain and Swelling

Before a tooth breaks through, the gum over it often looks red, puffy, and slightly bruised looking. You might even see a faint white edge of the tooth just under the surface.

What helps: A clean finger gently rubbed over the gum can provide surprising relief, babies often push their gums against the pressure. A chilled, damp washcloth (again, cool rather than frozen) works well too. Ask your pharmacist about sugar-free teething gels if you want extra options, but check the ingredients carefully.

7. Ear Rubbing or Pulling

Because the nerve pathways in the jaw and ear are closely linked, tooth pain can sometimes be felt as ear discomfort, leading babies to tug or rub at their ears.

What helps: This one deserves a bit of caution. Ear pulling is also a classic sign of ear infection, which needs proper treatment. If the ear pulling comes with fever, pulling at just one ear consistently, disturbed sleep beyond what you’d expect from teething, or your baby seems in real pain rather than mild discomfort, get it checked by your GP rather than putting it down to teething.

8. Mild Runny Nose or Cough

Excess drool can trickle down the back of the throat and cause an occasional cough, and some babies get a mild, clear runny nose during teething.

What helps: Saline drops and gentle wiping usually sort this out. However, it’s worth being clear here: proper colds, thick or coloured mucus, a persistent cough, or a raised temperature are not typically caused by teething itself, despite how often people assume they are. If your baby seems properly unwell, treat it as a separate illness and get medical advice rather than waiting it out.

9. Slightly Raised Temperature

Teething can sometimes cause a very mild rise in temperature, but genuine high fever (38°C or above in babies under three months, or a persistently high temperature in older babies) is not a recognised teething symptom on its own. This is one of the more common myths around teething, and it matters because a high fever needs proper attention rather than being dismissed.

What helps: If your baby has a temperature of 38°C or higher, or seems genuinely unwell (lethargic, not feeding, difficult to settle, rash, vomiting or diarrhoea), contact your GP, health visitor, or NHS 111 rather than assuming it’s teeth. Trust your instincts here. You know your baby best.

A Quick Word on Pain Relief and Teething Products

If your baby seems genuinely uncomfortable, infant paracetamol or ibuprofen (at an age-appropriate dose) can be used, but always check the dose for your baby’s age and weight, and ask your pharmacist or GP first if you’re unsure or if your baby is on any other medication.

A few safety notes worth knowing: amber teething necklaces are not recommended, as they carry choking and strangulation risks and there’s no good evidence they relieve pain. Teething gels containing benzocaine or lidocaine should generally be avoided in babies, as they’ve been linked to rare but serious side effects. Always read the label and, if in doubt, ask your pharmacist which products are actually suitable for your baby’s age.

When to Get Advice

Most teething discomfort settles with simple home comfort measures and passes within a few days as the tooth comes through. But it’s always worth getting in touch with your GP or health visitor if your baby has a high temperature, seems unusually unwell, won’t feed at all, has diarrhoea or vomiting, or if you’re simply worried and something doesn’t feel right. Teething is common, but it shouldn’t be used as a catch-all explanation for every symptom, and a proper check costs you nothing but a bit of time.

No two babies teethe exactly the same way, and you don’t need to expect all nine of these symptoms to show up at once, or at all. Keep a few soothing tools on hand, follow your baby’s lead on comfort, and don’t hesitate to ask your health visitor or GP for reassurance when you need it. You’ll get through this stage, and before long there’ll be a proper little smile to show for it.