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How do I Tell the Difference Between Teething and Ear Infection?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

The best way to tell the difference between teething and ear infection is to have a medical practitioner examine the baby or toddler’s ears. There are some other signs suggestive of one or the other condition, but sometimes babies can have both. An infection indicates the presence of bacteria, and without treatment this could cause damage. It always makes sense to see a doctor, if in doubt. Still, parents can look for other signs that differentiate between teething and ear infection such as drooling, response to pressure on the gums, type of nasal mucus, worsening illness, and greater discomfort in a prone position.

One of the difficulties with trying to tell teething and an ear infection apart is that both conditions may be accompanied by a slight fever. Usually, fever with teething doesn’t exceed 100 degrees F (37.78 degrees C), but sometimes an ear infection presents without fever or a low grade fever. Alone, this symptom is unreliable in telling the difference between the two.

When teething, babies tend to drool.
When teething, babies tend to drool.

Some classic symptoms of teething may help make this judgment call. Teething is usually accompanied by an increase in drooling, which isn’t common in ear infections. Babies may also respond if the gums are pressed down lightly. This may either be comforting or provoke an annoyed or pained response. Looking in the baby’s mouth can help determine if any teeth are appearing. Gums might look swollen or bulging and there could be evidence of a tooth or more than one breaking through the gums.

When a child is teething, toys like teething rings may provide some relief.
When a child is teething, toys like teething rings may provide some relief.

One test to tell the difference between teething and ear infection is the lying down test. Teething babies tend to be uncomfortable all day long, but babies with ear infection are often most uncomfortable when they’re lying down. During naps and at nights, pain of ear infections may surge, making it difficult to sleep. Teething babies may also have trouble sleeping, but they tend to show consistent irritation during the day. This test isn’t fully reliable.

Nasal discharge is more common with ear infections than teething.
Nasal discharge is more common with ear infections than teething.

Another way to evaluate these differences is to consider nasal discharge. It’s uncommon for a baby who is teething to show much evidence of nasal discharge, though they might have a small amount of clear nasal mucus. Ear infections are often more indicated when a baby has a classic stuffy nose with yellow or green mucus. Recent illness on the part of the baby also makes ear infection a more likely diagnosis.

Teething and ear infection can share in common the following symptoms:

  • Pulling on the ears
  • High irritation
  • Fever
  • Poor sleep
  • Difficulty eating
  • Positive response to pain medicine
  • Mouth pain
  • Diarrhea

Given these shared symptoms it simply makes sense to see a doctor if there is any reasonable suspicion of ear infection. Protecting a baby’s hearing through appropriate treatment, as needed, is important.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Rundocuri
My children were always rubbing the inside of their mouths when they began to teethe. I never had any trouble knowing what the problem was. Usually ear infections present with other symptoms too, like redness, or extreme ear sensitivity.
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    • When teething, babies tend to drool.
      By: Ana Blazic Pavlovic
      When teething, babies tend to drool.
    • When a child is teething, toys like teething rings may provide some relief.
      By: Pamela Uyttendaele
      When a child is teething, toys like teething rings may provide some relief.
    • Nasal discharge is more common with ear infections than teething.
      By: doble.d
      Nasal discharge is more common with ear infections than teething.
    • Signs a baby is teething include excessive drooling and fussiness.
      By: Szasz-Fabian Erika
      Signs a baby is teething include excessive drooling and fussiness.
    • The presence of an ear infection may cause fever in infants.
      By: fred goldstein
      The presence of an ear infection may cause fever in infants.