While teething occurs in your baby's oral cavity and an ear infection occurs in their ear, they both have similar symptoms. An ear infection is an infection of the middle ear, the air-filled area right behind the eardrum. They're quite prevalent in children, and common symptoms include:
While you may not visibly see the ear infection, you should be able to notice red, swollen gums when your baby is teething. Other common signs of teething include:
Some of these symptoms overlap, but many differentiate one from the other. Trust your parental instinct and pinpoint those symptoms to recognize what your baby is experiencing.
Because your child isn’t old enough to say, “my ear hurts” it’s helpful to know the symptoms of baby ear infections that don’t overlap with teething. These include:
If common teething and ear infection symptoms (fever, ear tugging, fussiness, trouble sleeping) are accompanied by drooling, or excessive gnawing and biting you can probably attribute it to teething. If you see fluid draining from the ear or one of the other symptoms indicated above it could be an ear infection. If in doubt, check with your baby’s doctor. Your doctor may monitor your child’s condition to see if it improves before prescribing treatments.
So, teething and ear infection symptoms are similar. But does one cause the other? Nope. No. Never. Ear infections are typically bacterial infections. Teething is a natural developmental stage around the 8-month mark. There's no connection to each other. They just happen to occur during a similar window in your baby's lifetime. Similar symptoms, close proximity, but that's it. Hopefully, you can avoid ear infections and tame the teething stage.
Any parent knows the struggle of getting a baby to stop crying or to fall asleep. Enter the pacifier. The calming comfort it provides is extraordinary. But some studies have connected pacifier use to an increased risk of ear infections. Long-term pacifier users could also have their oral health affected in a variety of ways. Use it sparingly, and then try to wean them off their binky by the time they reach 1-year-old. Better safe than sorry with your little ones.
Okay, you looked at the symptoms, and you determined it's not teething but an ear infection. Cool. Consult your pediatrician to find the best treatment option for your child. Here are some common options, according to the Mayo Clinic:
If, however, you know your baby is teething, you have some options as well. Some common teething treatments include:
While both teething and ear infections are unrelated, neither is underrated. Both require a proper diagnosis and swift and sensitive treatment from parents. If you have any questions, reach out to your dentist or pediatrician. Your baby's smiles are worth it.
Oral Care Center articles are reviewed by an oral health medical professional. This information is for educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist, physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
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