What to do when a child has a fever while teething? Observe first and don’t treat blindly

I believe every child has had a fever. There are many reasons for fever. The most common one is the fever caused by teething, which is common among babies around 6 months old. At this time, mothers should first observe and cool down the baby physically, and do not blindly use antipyretics.

1. What to do if your child has a fever while teething?

Generally speaking, the above phenomenon lasts for 3-4 days, and the deciduous teeth will break through the gums and erupt. Some children may have late teething, but this does not mean there is anything wrong with their body. Newly erupted deciduous teeth cannot be used for eating, so children should not be given hard food, and mothers should not let children sleep with the nipple in their mouths.

The normal basal body temperature of children is 36.9℃-37.5℃. Generally, when the body temperature exceeds the basal body temperature by more than 1°C, it is considered a fever. Among them, low fever refers to body temperature fluctuating around 38°C, and high fever refers to body temperature above 39°C. Continuous fever for more than two weeks is called long-term fever.

It is a long process for babies to grow teeth. It takes about one and a half to two years for all 20 deciduous teeth to grow out. Teething may cause fever, drooling, and chewing. The increase in the number of teeth changes the baby's diet structure. Parents must take the baby's teething period seriously.

During the teething process, it is important to enhance immunity, and the best way to do this is to work on your baby's diet. Eat more foods that boost immunity and regulate your body. Only a healthy immune system can help your baby resist pathogenic bacteria and viruses and stay away from diseases. Eat more natural foods, vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins and minerals. In addition, do not let your baby develop a picky diet that may lead to nutritional imbalance.

2. Care during teething

1. Oral hygiene and prevention

After teeth grow, it is more likely to cause milk regurgitation and accumulation of food residues in the mouth. Once the baby has teeth, the bacteria that cause tooth decay - the so-called Streptococcus mutans can survive and multiply in the baby's mouth. Therefore, parents should pay attention to the cleaning of the baby's mouth. After each feeding, clean it with gauze or a large cotton swab dipped in cold boiled water. At around one year old, you can use a toothbrush or finger toothbrush to clean the baby's mouth.

On the other hand, try not to let your baby fall asleep with a bottle in his mouth. Do not feed your child before bed or at night after he is one year old, so as to avoid bottle tooth decay over time.

2. Falling and getting hurt

The baby's newly grown teeth and gum tissue are still tender. When the child learns to crawl, walk and explore the world, if he accidentally falls, it is very easy to hurt his teeth or cause his teeth to fall out. Therefore, do not leave your child alone in a walker, swing, or stroller. It is best to put him in a playbed to play.

3. Pacifier

Some parents worry whether sucking on a pacifier or fingers will have an adverse effect on the development of their gums. In fact, babies have a strong desire to suck, and simply sucking from a bottle often cannot satisfy their desire. The frequency, intensity and duration of smoking determine whether it has an impact on the oral structure.

It is best to stop the pacifier habit before the age of 2. Most children will automatically stop sucking their thumbs when they start school at the age of 4 or 5. For children over 5 years old, if they are willing to stop this habit, psychological support such as praise and encouragement can be used to improve it. If it is still unsuccessful, then consider using corrective devices to help.

4. Intake of sweets

Babies as old as 4 months old can start taking complementary foods. The original flavor of the food should be preserved as much as possible without adding seasoning. In particular, foods that contain sugar and easily stick to teeth should be introduced as late as possible. The later they taste sweetness, the less likely they are to get tooth decay. Cheese, fresh fruits, nuts, etc. are good snacks. Most fruit juices contain sugar and should be diluted before drinking. Biscuits, candies, sugary lactic acid drinks, etc. should be supplied in limited time and quantity. It is best to eat it after a meal as it will not affect the main meal and can satisfy your craving.

5. Regular oral examination

Take your child to the dentist for an oral checkup every six months when he or she is around one year old. On the one hand, this will allow your child to become familiar with the dental environment so that he or she will not be afraid of visiting the dentist in the future. On the other hand, the dentist can provide oral hygiene guidance and dietary advice at different stages.