My Pedi Says Teething Is 'Myth'. Thoughts?

I specifically remember being 6 and my adult teeth coming in and being in lots of discomfort. It felt like little needles poking from the inside of my gums. I had earaches and sometimes headaches.

Sometimes, my mom would have me chew on a cold frozen wash cloth to help numb the pain, but to also be able to push on the gums, hoping the teeth would cut through.. and yes, the teeth cut through the gums, it is not like there is a magic hole that opens up and the teeth come through.

She would also give me "baby aspirin" to help relive the pain and take away the small fevers that I would get.

That is why when I respond to moms about their infants teething, I have such great sympathy. I remember how it felt to me, makes my heart break to think an infant is going through that pain.

Methinks that Mr. Pediatrician's 3 kids were solely cared for by his wife! ;)

My pediatrician has the opposite views, and my kids were miserable while they were teething.......and so were my husband and I! Haha! I'm glad that's over!

I think it's a lot like a cold, the flu or even child birth...

No one answer is "right" or "wrong". I think there are too many factors that determine how something like teething affects a person - pain tolerance, thickness of gums, etc.

I think it's strange for a doctors to say that it's a MYTH. I tend to think that if a lot of parents notice a correlation between teething and crabbiness, restlessness, etc. then there must be SOME truth to it.

Even tho he has 30 years of experience of being a pediatrician, I'd bet his wife might give you a different answer. LOL

The wisdom tooth that has been trying to come in for a few months was causing me some serious hell last night! Its sore and puffy and red and advil barely relieved it! Point of the story, its gotta hurt! And to be little and not know how to express it! Misery!

Totally disagree with your pedi. Have you had a toothache as an adult? Tooth pain hurts like hell. I can't imagine a medical professional calling it a "myth." My kids had a fairly easy time of things but even they had distinct phases of discomfort. They would suddenly become "not themselves" - cranky. drooly, irritable, etc. and I would think they were sick, would look for signs of illness and inevitably, there would be a new tooth coming through their angry, inflamed little gums. You're lucky that your kids didn't have any problems - I feel bad for anyone in your practice whose concerns about the pain and discomfort were ignored or minimized.

Umm your ped is a joke. And you are a lucky one. My son teeths multiple teeth at a time so there is defiantly teething symptoms going on. A couple years ago I suddenly was in a lot of pain. I looked in my mouth and I could see the tops of my wisdom teeth. Yeah there is such thing as a baby in pain with teething.
With my son, he is just grumpy. Occasionally he will feel warm, but not fevery. I got him a teething bracelet and I had no idea that he was teething this last tooth :)

I don't agree. I'm so surprised a ped would say this! It makes him sound very inexperienced. I believe it's the truth for some babies but certainly not all or most.

I'm STILL cutting my wisdom teeth. I only have one left. When it's cutting in, my whole mouth hurts. It's obvious it's my tooth. It's done it the same with my other wisdom teeth (I don't remember growing in any other molars). It aches a lot and my gums are quite sore as they separate. I absolutely know that teething hurts - at least in me. It makes eating more difficult and it's not fun. With the coping skills of a baby, I can see why they feel awful.

With my four, they have had varying degrees of reaction to teething. Bodies experience things differently than each other, so it only makes sense that it might hurt one a lot more than another. Plus personality differences, etc. My super easy going babies still get fussy, but they deal with it much better. My very spirited little girl deals with it horribly. She turns into a monster when she is teething and wants to rip everyone's head off. My other daughter just feels miserable, but she isn't mean.

I know it's teething because they aren't sick. It'll go away and come back and not run a course like a normal illness does. They sometimes run a fever and won't stop crying. If something touches the spot that is cutting a tooth, they scream and immediately pull away. They are very sensitive to anything touching that spot, including from nursing/bottle touching that area. It's not just a random guess that they are teething. There are very clear signs that that certain part of their mouth is hurting.

I've never heard a doctor say it was a myth. It makes me question his training, honestly, because it's such an easy thing to see and figure out. It makes me think of those women who have pain-free (or almost), medication free births and think that because they did it that everyone can do it. There is a *difference* in bodies. There is a difference in how labor feels or behave per woman and per birth within the same woman (or teething per child). Do you get what I mean? So silly! I do think he is right that *some* children teeth just fine. But it's obvious that it's not the case for all children and it is absolutely, 100% not a myth.

Plus, I'm teething right now (hehe!), and I know that it is not a myth.

I don't know whether your dr is in the minority of drs who think teething is a myth, but I'll bet most parents have had at least one symptom from their babies during teething. As for pain, how could it NOT hurt? These needle-like things are pushing through and making holes in the gums (which often bleed). Sounds painful to me!

As a health care professional before I had kids, I said a lot of things to patients that I didn't really know that much about. This may be the case with your pediatrician--passing on what he/she has read, but never having personal experience with it. My 3 kids have sleep issues 2 weeks before a tooth appears. Usually they wake more frequently at night and when they do sleep, they roll around in bed rubbing their ears and jaw area. Sometimes they drool and are irritable during the day as well. Just watching them makes me think that indeed teething does hurt for some babies/toddlers. Our pain perception is individual and it's possible that some kids just feel it more with teething than others. Midwife Mom of 3

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I'm sorry but the first thought that came to my mind, is typical male who was probably never around when his kids went through it!

I would have to say that I completely disagree. My first did seem to just pop teeth in without problem. But my 2nd as well as nieces and nephews and dozens of friends babies had fevers, rashes, drooled and had loose stools.

Consider yourself lucky and blessed you didn't have any problems.

Your pediatrician is a quack to make a generalized statement like that. And just because one child, your one child, didn't show signs of teething that doesn't mean that she didn't feel any.

When teeth are moving around in the jaws, babies/children feel it. It aches and it hurts. It coincides with mild fevers for many babies, even if it's not all the time. Why does this guy think that babies chew hard things or drool during teething?

When my eldest teethed, she cried and was miserable. I had to give her Tylenol in order for her to get any sleep. She cut her first tooth in a store and the fricking thing BLED. Her gum was swollen and white for days... and it seriously cut through her gum while I was watching her cry and scream and then it bled.

My middle daughter not only teethed horribly, but she teethed all of her teeth twice. They would erupt out of the gums and then go back in. It was horrible. Even now that she's 8 yrs old it's not any better.

But think about this, really. Do you remember getting your wisdom teeth in? Because I do. Teething them hurt like a freaking mofu. I had all of the typical symptoms of "teething" and remember thinking "no wonder babies cry!"

My pediatrician said it does cause all of those things. My kids got diarrhea, fevers, ear infections and they threw up sometimes too. Pain can cause a lot of other symptoms. I guess it is up to each Dr. to decide for themselves but I had 3 kids and I helped raise at least another dozen or two more and they all had sleepless nights, fevers and all of the other symptoms.

You are very lucky.

I had two children, my first had every kind of reaction to teething that you've ever seen out there with every tooth. Sure sometimes it could have been sickness, but its just too much of a coincidence that every time a tooth cut a symptom of one thing or another came up and then disappeared just like that.
My second daughter.....complete opposite. Like both of your children. Oh wow, look she cut another tooth? No symptoms at all.

I never really went to my ped for teething symptoms but when I did ask about things, I do remember him saying low grade fevers (but low grade only) were sometimes associated with teething. So I think he more or less believed in some symptoms.

I didn't read all of the replies..but will say...I have taken care of children as my lifes work for 24 (of my adult) years. Many kids DO have some sort of discomfort or symptoms. Crankiness...bottle/nursing babies may not want to suck, slight runny nose..even a low grade fever. The parents who say the super runny noses or the higher fevers are "just teething" are the ones who make me nutso (in my line of work)!!!

I do not treat what a Ped says as the "bible". I had my own disagreeable experiences with my own ped's office (regarding my now teen daughters now finally "on the record" allergy to the sun...idiots!)....they don't know everything. I have cared for ALOT of kids...for hours and hours a day. Dr's often see patients for a few minutes at a time...even if they work in a hospital.

And personally, as someone with alot of dental pain and sensitivity...this stuff can hurt alot and creep into the face, ears, head and neck. Some babies have to feel something...we all have different pain thresholds.

I don't know what my doc says, I have never asked, my kids never seemed to show "symptoms" either. But it kinda bugs me when docs say that this or that "doesn't hurt a baby." How do they know? Some docs say babies don't feel pain the same way, and therefore circumcisions don't require pain management. Again, how do they know? Maybe they don't feel pain the same, maybe they feel it MORE rather than less. But ultimately, I guess it doesn't matter too much. If you think your child is in pain, regardless of the cause, then do what you can to soothe it for them. Why does it matter of the snotty nose or fever is from teething or a virus? I think we just feel a little better if we can come up with "answers" or explanations.

I don't believe that at all. I am a dental hygienist and when molars come in on older children they will even complain they hurt. So in a baby that could def lead to fussiness. My son ran an unexplained fever recently when he was getting 2 teeth. The dr did say a fever during teething is a myth but I am not totally convinced. My older son would have loose BMs when teething. I believe there is something to teething symptoms.

i tend to agree with you and your pediatrician until they get molars. Babies tend to get a lot of illnesses and sleep "issues" the first year and it's easiest for people to just blame teething for everything. BUT my 2.5 year old had been extremely irritable and miserable for about 4 days, and I couldn't figure out what was up with him. He was waking up screaming in the middle of the night and had awful poops like he did when he was getting teeth as a baby. I honestly thought he was done getting teeth but I guess I was wrong--he was screaming once and I saw two huge molars popping out in the back and his gums were very purple and swollen. I asked him if it hurt when I touched it and he screamed YES! Gave him some motrin and teething tablets and his grumpies went away

I think it is different for every baby. My son had teeth come in early and fast (He was 4 months old and 4 came at once. Then 2 more immediately after) and I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but he had a horrible time with a LOT of crankiness, drool, biting everything in site, and general suffering. He was up off and on all night long many many nights. My friend's daughter who was the same age had her teeth come in slowly and showed zero signs of teething and always slept well. I can't say anything about fevers, but definitely my son suffered a lot and he was a much happier boy once his teeth were in. Just to add - my son is now 7 and his "6 year molars" are coming in and he tells us it hurts. He even was chewing on his finger for a while. If I had to guess I'd say it does hurt but the amount of pain ranges from slight discomfort to all out pain depending on how fast the teeth come in and how sensitive your child is.

my ped told M. some doctors think like this but scientifically there will be more saliva in the mouth at this point which could cause kids with a sensitive stomach to have bathroom issues and also as extra saliva goes down the throat can cause cold symptoms and slight fever...evry other animal is in pain during teething...hence why dogs gnawl on things and whimper at times...i know when wisdom teeth come in it hurts b/c there are no baby teeth they're replacing so I would assume the same of baby teeth.....I think every baby's threshold to pain is diferent...my daughter had reflux and was always in pain so the teeth coming in upset her somach but didn;t make her cry naymore...but she was sed to being in pain

I think each kid is different, just like when they are teenagers and get wisdom teeth. I got headaches and was pretty cranky but my cousin was fine. She also had more room and hers were not impacted.

My DD was more affected by molars but she did chew on things, bite things, and fuss when her teeth were coming in. Some worse than others. I think you were fortunate with your teethers and that teething symptoms are very real. I figured it was teething by her behavior - and how it improved when the teeth came through. I have a really hard time thinking that babies aren't affected by bones shoving through their gums.

I wish your ped could "teethe" so he would know that its for real and it does hurt and he would druel and get a diaper rash and run a fever...yeah then he would know.

I don't care what doctor's say about, any mom will tell you its real!

I can agree to a degree with your pedi, I do not think it is major with everyone but some kids do show a fever w/ no other reason, do show a change in sleep patterns during this time etc. I do not think it is too painful for the most part but I would use the word uncomfortable. Have you ever woken up with swollen gums? I have a molar that plays "peek a boo" still have not had it pulled (dont ask why) ... but every few months it trys to come up, what hurts are the swollen and pinched gums in my mouth ... when I am not eating/chewing too much for the day not as big of a deal I can ignore it better but days that I eat actual food that I have to chew are not always pleasant. So from my experience I can see both sides of the arguement, I really did not have issues with teething in my home but I know many who have.

I believe ours said that the fevers are not the cause of teething - that if they have a fever they are sick not simply teething.....However the degree of pain I think depends on the child - just like we all have different pain tolerance as well as different degrees of 'fussiness' associated with pain and not feeling well. I do think a lot is blamed on teething but I do certainly think there is an amount of pain/fussiness/etc.

I think back to when I was a teenager and my wisdom teeth started coming down and I said, "Wow mom, I can't imagine a baby going through this paid - this hurts!!!!" When I became a mom and started seeing my kids show signs of teething I thought of that and felt more sympathetic!

My son had a terrible time cutting his first few teeth. His upper gum was dark purple and swollen for 4 days when suddenly he bit down on a spoon and it actually squirted blood out of his mouth. But then I could hear the spoon tap on the tiny point of the tooth. By the next day the swelling and bruised color was gone and half the tooth showed. A week later, he had the other top tooth with very little trouble. My daughter on the other hand, would wake up every now and then with a new tooth and we had no idea how long it had been there.

I think most Pedis say this. I think it's because there are no medical facts to back up the claim of "teething symptoms". Us mothers know better :-)

I disagree with your ped and I'm delighted your kids got their teeth w/o any outward discomfort. Each of my son's teeth came in at a cost, and my ped said it was different for all kids (he has two children that flank my son's age by a year). My own childhood pediatrician told MY mom the same thing yours told you - that teething does not cause diarrhea, pain, low-grade fever, whatever. His nurse pulled mom aside and said quietly, "I know what Dr. Benson told you, but as the mother of three, I'm going to tell you otherwise - teething can be really tough and it can cause those symptoms" listed above.

I believe that teething does cause pain in some babies.

I had an impacted molar and when it would go through it's "teething" it hurt me, so I don't know why that doctor doesn't believe sharp bone pushing through tender flesh would hurt a baby. It's pretty ignorant of him to assume that just because it doesn't happen to ALL babies that it doesn't happen to SOME. I don't know about the fever thing. I've heard that fevers aren't caused by teething, but never looked into it.

I don't know what our ped thinks of teething, I never asked. @ of my 3 kids had no problems with teething but 1 of them did, kind of...nothing seriousness, just overall 'looking different', like I could tell something was up and a runny nose accompanied most of his teeth breaking thru.

~I am also one of those weird moms who can not only tell my kids are sick just by looking at them but often I know its coming on because I can smell it on their breath, seriously!

My ped's opinion, which I agree with, is that teething can hurt and cause drooling, crankiness, and an urge to bite. However, I don't agree with people who say that fever is caused by teething. My baby is currently teething and he will hold his hands against his jaw and fuss, he's also drooling a lot.

And, for what it's worth, I got my wisdom teeth when I was in my early 20s, and I can tell you from experience, it hurt when they were coming in!

Well my first was like yours, we didn't notice anything with teething. We would just see a tooth and go, oh ok, there it is! But my second was different. He has always slept with no difficulty at all, just a really easy baby. In his 16 months he has only woken up twice in the middle of the night, (since he started sleeping through at about 8wks). Both times we could not figure out what was up but that child would not sleep and was just hysterical. Once I gave him some Tylenol and slathered those little gums with baby oragel, he was out cold. He does seem crankier when he is getting a tooth as well, I only notice because he is such a sunny baby, hardly ever a tear. So I think it is different for every child.

I DO think that certain things that people think that go along with teething are false as well! Based on experience AND logic. For one, there's NO REASON a child should get a fever or a runny nose when they are teething, and they DON'T get them because of teething. Maybe it doesn't hurt the child as much as irritate the child- making them want to chew on things.

If I was a Doctor, I'd possibly say something similiar because as a mother it is irritating to hear a mom tell me her kid isn't sick "he's just teething"... and what do you know? A couple days later my kid gets sick as well :(

I've got four kids and have babysat/been a nanny to dozens. It is obvious that all teething causes is a bit of irritation and some drooling.

i believe teething symptoms do exist. my sons teeth came in one by one or some came in together but he also had no problems what so ever. but all my little cousins had the fever and the irritabilty. and the symptoms eased as the teeth got further out. And i remember when my adult back teeth started coming out, it kind of hurt so i can see where it would hurt a child. maybe your pedi says that because he/she was lucky enough to have an easy time with teething.

Well, I remember when I was in high school and my wisdom teeth came in. It hurt like a dickens, I was miserable at night and all I wanted to do was chew gum...and I HATE chewing gum. I remember thinking, I need to remember this feeling so I know what my babies will go through.

Both my sons got the sniffles, fussed at night (they were usually excellent sleepers), and drooled buckets. If your kids skipped that, then I say YAY for you. You're one lucky mama!

I say bull to your pedi. That's why my daughter screamed with her first two set of teeth when she was otherwise a happy baby and got ear infections and she also had low grade fever. I did take her to doctor and she had no illness but teething. Every child is different.