Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Types

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prognosis

Coping

This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment of teething rashes.

Karl Tapales / Getty Images

A teething infant with his hands in his mouth

Types of Rashes

What Are the Symptoms of Teething Rash?

In addition to a mild rash, other common symptoms of teething include:

Teethingdoes not cause fevers,diarrhea, a runny nose, or inconsolable crying.If your child is experiencing these symptoms, call a healthcare provider.

Causes of Teething Rash

A teething rash occurs when saliva is in constant contact with the skin. While saliva is important to oral health, it can cause irritation to a child’s skin. That is because saliva often contains bits of food that sit on the skin’s surface.

It also contains ptyalin, adigestive enzymethat helps with digestion and protects the teeth against decay. Ptyalin is known to irritate the skin and cause a red rash.

Why Do I Drool When I Sleep?

How Is a Teething Rash Diagnosed?

If your child seems to be having trouble swallowing or breathing, seek emergency medical care immediately.

How Is a Teething Rash Treated?

Most teething rashes are mild and can be treated at home. Prevention is the best way to treat a teething rash. When your child is teething, try to wipe away excess drool from their face as often as possible.Use a soft cloth to pat the area dry gently. This will prevent skin irritation and redness.

To soothe a teething rash, consider the following topical treatments:

Drool Rash vs. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD): What Are the Differences?

Teething rashes are a common part of getting teeth, and most babies experience one at some time or another. The rash usually resolves on its own once your child starts drooling less.

See a healthcare provider if the rash becomes red, cracked, or painful. Any signs of infection, like pus or a fever, should also be reported to your provider.

Teething is an uncomfortable experience for babies. Remembering that a teething rash is usually not itchy or painful is helpful.

To help your child cope with teething, provide cold comfort items to soothe their gums, including:

Summary

Other common teething symptoms include swollen gums, fussiness, trouble eating or sleeping, and an urge to bite down. If your child is experiencing excess drool with difficulty swallowing or breathing, seek emergency medical care. A teething rash is usually treated at home with barrier creams. To prevent a teething rash, gently remove excess saliva from your child’s face as often as possible.

11 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Academy of Pediatrics.Teething.

MedlinePlus.Teething.

American Academy of Pediatrics.Thrush and other Candida infections.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HFMD symptoms and complications.

MedlinePlus.Teething symptoms.

Seattle Children’s Hospital.Teething.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Safely soothing teething pain and sensory needs in babies and older children.

Deen A, Visvanathan R, Wickramarachchi D, et al.Chemical composition and health benefits of coconut oil: an overview.J Sci Food Agric. 2021;101(6):2182-2193. doi:10.1002/jsfa.10870

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