Normal teething symptoms: what you can expect (and what’s not normal)

What’s normal during teething (and what isn’t)
Reassuring guidance from the dentists behind MamaSmiles

Teething is one of those stages everyone talks about but very few people explain clearly. You might see your baby chewing more, drooling more, waking at night, or just seeming “not themselves” in small ways. The question every parent asks at this stage is simple: is this normal?

I’m Jack, one of the practising dentists behind MamaSmiles, and we see teething babies in clinic all the time. The truth is that normal teething behaviour can look a little dramatic, but most of it is harmless and expected. Knowing what’s usual (and what isn’t) helps you feel calmer and more confident as your baby’s mouth changes.

The normal symptoms we see every day

Extra chewing and biting
Babies chew to relieve pressure under the gums. Toys, fingers, your shoulder - anything within reach. It’s instinctive and completely normal.

More drooling
Teething often triggers extra saliva. Some babies dribble so much they need multiple bibs through the day.

Pink or slightly swollen gums
You might see the gum line raise or redden where a tooth is working its way through.

Fussiness that comes and goes
Irritability in short waves is typical. Babies often want more comfort or contact during these moments.

Disturbed sleep
Teething doesn’t cause full sleep regression, but it can make settling harder for a night or two.

Mild changes to feeding
Sometimes sucking feels different on tender gums. Babies may pause more or fuss briefly, then go back to feeding as usual.

All of this sits firmly in the “normal” range we see in clinic.

Behaviour changes that are very common

Clinginess
Your baby might want to be held more often. Teething can make them seek reassurance.

Face rubbing or ear pulling
Pressure from teething can spread to nearby areas. Light rubbing or pulling is common and usually nothing to worry about.

Curiosity about the mouth
Babies may put their fingers inside their mouth more, exploring new sensations.

These behaviours often surprise parents, but they’re part of the process.

What usually isn’t part of teething

Teething symptoms can be uncomfortable, but they stay mild and manageable. Signs that feel more dramatic tend to come from something else.

Things that are not typical of teething include:

• strong, persistent crying that doesn’t ease with comfort
• refusing feeds consistently
• rashes away from the mouth area
• symptoms that continue for many days with no sign of a tooth

If something doesn’t match the pattern above and feels out of character for your baby, trust your instincts.

If something doesn’t feel right, or your baby seems unwell in a way you can’t explain, speak to your GP, health visitor or NHS 111.

Why so many things get blamed on teething

Parents often hear that teething causes everything from fevers to diarrhoea. It’s a very old belief . But in practice, many of those symptoms are caused by common illnesses that often happen around the same age.

Teething can happen at the same time as colds, viral rashes, or digestive bugs. It’s the timing that overlaps, not the cause.

As dentists, we see this confusion all the time. The aim isn’t to dismiss your worry, it’s to help you understand when discomfort fits the teething pattern, and when it might be something else.

How long normal teething symptoms last

Teething tends to come in short phases. Symptoms usually rise and fall over a few days around each tooth, rather than lasting for weeks on end.

Once a tooth breaks through the gum, most babies settle quickly, although the next tooth can start its journey not long after.

When to see a dentist

You don’t need to wait for a full set of teeth before visiting a dentist. We encourage parents to bring their baby along to their own check-ups so we can take a quick look, answer questions, and help your baby become familiar with the dental environment.

A proper first visit around age one is ideal, or sooner if you’d like reassurance before then.

Quick summary

• Chewing, drooling, fussiness, and short-lived sleep changes are normal teething signs
• Mild feeding changes and clinginess are also common
• Symptoms should come and go in gentle waves, not stay intense
• Strong or persistent symptoms usually come from something other than teething
• Trust your instincts and ask for advice if something doesn’t feel right

Teething comes with messy bibs, restless nights, and a lot of guesswork. But once you know what’s normal, it becomes far less overwhelming. At MamaSmiles, our goal is to help you feel supported, informed, and confident through every stage,  one little tooth at a time.

Dr Jack
Dentist and Co-Founder, MamaSmiles