Can teething cause spit-up? Almost every parent has concerns about whether teething and spit-up episodes happen together. As baby teeth develop, every part of their body responds through stomach and eating changes. Babies do not fall ill from teething pain but may swallow excessive saliva because of their drool. It might cause light spit-ups. Understanding these connections can help parents better manage their baby’s teething symptoms and ensure their comfort during this developmental stage.
What to Expect in Teething?
When teething occurs young baby teeth push up from their gums to take their place in the mouth. The teething process normally starts between 4 and 7 months of age yet some babies have their first teeth as early as 3 months. While each baby’s experience with teething can differ, here are some common signs and symptoms you can expect during the teething process:
- Drooling
Babies tend to drool more than usual during teething because their gums are actively working to push teeth through. The increased production of saliva can result in a wet chin and neck and may even cause skin irritation or rashes if not wiped away frequently. It is a natural response to the pressure building in the gums and the physical act of teeth breaking through the surface.
- Irritability or Fussiness
The process of teething is uncomfortable, and the pressure of the emerging teeth on the gums can cause significant pain and discomfort. It can make babies unusually cranky, especially at night when the pain is more pronounced. They may have trouble settling to sleep, and their usual comforting routines might not work as effectively. This heightened irritability is a common sign that teething is in full swing.
- Chewing on Objects
To relieve the discomfort in their gums, teething babies instinctively put objects in their mouths and chew on them. This behavior helps apply counter-pressure to their sore gums, providing some temporary relief. Common objects include toys, teething rings, fingers, and even clothing. It’s important to offer safe, clean teething toys to avoid any risks from harmful bacteria or choking hazards.
- Swollen or Tender Gums
The gum tissue around new teeth feels swollen and inflamed with redness as the teeth erupt. The teeth pushing through tight gum tissue produce swollen gums that feel tender and painful to touch. Some teeth are visible as small swellings within each gum flap that contains future teeth.
- Changes in Eating Habits
Teething normally affects how often and how well a baby will eat. Teething pain from sore gums can make babies choked up and they may stop eating altogether. Babies tend to lose focus during meals because their sensitive gums hurt them. Because of damaged gums, the baby may alter their usual nursing or bottle-drinking habits through nipple or bottle-chewing efforts.
- Ear Pulling or Cheek Rubbing
The discomfort of teething pain shows up near the ears and cheeks because the nerves connecting these areas to the mouth and jaw transfer pain signals. When teething pain spreads to different parts of their head, babies respond by pulling on their ears or rubbing their cheek areas.
- Slight Fever
It’s not uncommon for teething babies to experience a slight increase in temperature, typically no higher than 100.4°F (38°C). When babies develop fevers while teething, it's a typical reaction to discomfort, but doctors need to know if the temperature remains elevated or if other health issues also happen.
- Sleep Disturbances
Teething discomfort often keeps babies from sleeping well during the night. Teeth pain worsens in the evening so babies find it hard to both get to sleep and stay asleep. When their teeth hurt parents detect increased night wakings followed by increased fussiness and disturbed rest.
- Diarrhea
Some babies experience mild gastrointestinal symptoms, such as loose stools or mild diarrhea, while teething. It may be due to the excess drool that is swallowed or changes in the baby’s digestive system due to the stress of teething.
- Visible Teeth
When teething starts, the earliest indicators are small white teeth that appear through the gum line. After the lower central incisors show, the first teeth appear in the bottom front area, and the upper central incisors emerge in the front of the upper section of the mouth. Once teeth appear through the gums, they follow a months-long process until the twenty baby teeth emerge before age 3. The teeth's emergence pulls at the gums, leading to minor bruising or swelling at the eruption point.
Can Teething Cause More Spit Up?
Yes, teething can cause more spit-up in babies because it often leads to increased drooling. As babies produce more saliva, they may swallow excess amounts, which can upset their stomach and lead to more frequent spit-up or mild reflux. The stomach has to work to manage the extra liquid, which can sometimes contribute to an increase in spit-up.
How to Manage the Symptoms of Teething?
Managing teething symptoms can be challenging, but there are several effective ways to ease your baby’s discomfort. Here are some helpful strategies:
- Massage the Gums: Use your clean finger or moistened gauze to gently rub your baby's gums for two minutes. The Momcozy Finger Toothbrush offers gentle massage for both gum relief and early tooth cleaning when your baby's teeth start to show. You can also use an ice cube safely placed on moist gauze to provide additional cooling comfort.
- Teething Rings: You can protect your baby's gum tissue when you give them a rubber teether designed for chewing. When it comes to teething relief, the Momcozy Baby Teether offers a gentle performance that reduces gum pain. Frozen teething rings harm the vulnerable gum area, so steer clear of them. You should choose teething items designed with distilled water instead of gel-filled rings because the Momcozy Baby Teether produces fewer leaks than other options.
- Pain Relievers: When your baby's crying becomes extreme, use acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Follow your doctor's directions when you take pain medication for just 1 or 2 days.
- Other Remedies: Give your child chilled fresh options like a mesh teether with frozen berries or banana pieces. Put a clean washcloth into water and freeze it before letting your baby chew it.
- Comfort and Routine: Try to keep your baby comfortable and stick to your routine to provide stability during this phase. Additionally, the Momcozy Tongue Cleaner and Momcozy Baby Toothbrush are great tools for maintaining oral hygiene as new teeth emerge, ensuring your baby’s comfort while keeping their mouth fresh.
By combining these strategies, you can help soothe your baby’s teething symptoms and make them feel more comfortable during this developmental milestone.
When to See a Doctor?
Although normal teething pain disrupts your baby's routine, you should contact a pediatrician for medical review when specific issues develop. Here are some signs that may indicate it’s time to see a doctor:
- High Fever
Contact your doctor right away when your baby reaches or exceeds 38°C (100.4°F) in body temperature while teething. Teething problems cannot produce a temperature rise in the body.
- Excessive Vomiting or Diarrhea
Mild stomach discomfort during teething is normal, but excessive diarrhoea or vomiting indicates an infection or medical problem that needs a doctor's evaluation.
- Rash or Skin Issues
The teething process cannot easily explain a rash on your baby's mouth or body. See your doctor if your child develops skin rashes because they may show signs of a viral infection or allergies.
- Severe Pain or Distress
Talk to your pediatrician when your baby experiences increased discomfort levels past normal teething pain. The symptoms may show that your child needs healthcare treatment.
- Trouble Breathing
Any difficulty breathing, noisy breathing, or signs of respiratory distress are serious and require immediate medical attention.
- No Teeth by 12-18 Months
Babies often start teething between 6 months of age, but they might begin teething later than that. Make an appointment with your doctor to determine if dental delays mean, your baby has a developmental issue once your child reaches 12 to 18 months of age without any teeth.
- Unusual Swelling or Bleeding
If your baby’s gums become excessively swollen or if there’s significant bleeding, this could signal an issue like gum infection, and you should reach out to your pediatrician or a pediatric dentist.
- Changes in Appetite or Difficulty Eating
Take your baby to see their pediatrician when they stop eating regularly or drinking because of oral pain. Good eating habits depend on proper nutrition and drinking, so talk to your doctor when these basics become challenging.
- Behavioural Changes
If your baby’s temperament or behaviour seems unusually altered or if they are excessively lethargic or inconsolable, it’s a good idea to contact your pediatrician.
- Signs of Infection
If you notice any signs of infection, such as pus coming from the gums, a swollen face, or a foul odour from the mouth, seek medical attention right away.
General Rule:
If you’re ever in doubt about your baby’s symptoms or how they’re handling teething, it’s always best to consult with your pediatrician. They can help determine whether it’s a typical part of the teething process or if further evaluation is needed.
FAQs About Teething and Spitting Up
Can teething cause reflux in babies?
Feeding changes and drooling linked to teething do not create reflux problems yet may worsen existing baby reflux symptoms. The relationship between teething and reflux is not direct, yet teething discomfort can make babies drool more, swallow excessive saliva, and change their eating patterns. When stomach upset occurs during teething it leads babies to have more vomiting or reflux episodes. Although teething does not cause reflux itself, it can still appear alongside these problems and make reflux symptoms worse because of teething discomfort.
Will teething cause the baby to throw up?
A baby's increased saliva flow and food behaviour changes from teething rarely cause actual vomiting but create discomfort that disturbs the stomach. Talk to your pediatrician when vomiting continues to determine other potential reasons.
What are three normal signs of teething?
Teething itself doesn’t usually cause vomiting, but it can lead to increased drooling or changes in feeding habits that may trigger gagging or mild stomach upset. If vomiting persists, consult your pediatrician to rule out other causes.
Conclusion
Teething does not create spit-ups or vomiting but intensifies drooling and discomfort, which leads to more frequent spitting-ups. Giving your child teething resources plus massage plus medication helps decrease discomfort. Take your baby to a pediatrician if vomiting continues or if they show fever or additional warning signs. When teething babies start having new teeth, they experience discomfort before feeling better afterwards.
