Key Takeaways

No. Teething does not cause a runny nose. The AAP symptom checker lists runny nose among the things teething does not cause ¹.

The largest prospective teething study agreed — congestion and runny nose were not linked to tooth eruption ².

Drool comes from the mouth with chewing and wet chins. A cold brings snot from the nose plus sneezing ³⁴.

Treat a runny nose as a cold: saline drops, gentle suction, fluids, and humid air ³. A new tooth plus a runny nose means two things at once.

Verdict: no, teething does not cause a runny nose

If your baby is cutting a tooth and has a runny nose, the tooth did not cause the snot. The AAP teething symptom checker is explicit: teething does not cause runny nose, fever, diarrhea, or diaper rash ¹. Teething pain is mild gum discomfort with drooling and chewing — not a nose symptom ¹⁵.

The research matches. In the largest prospective study of teething symptoms, congestion and runny nose showed no link to tooth eruption ². A meta-analysis of teething signs likewise found no runny nose or congestion signal ⁶. Our overview of teething vs. ear infection vs. cold puts it plainly: runny nose and cough point to a cold, even when a tooth is also coming in.

Why the confusion happens

Teeth and colds arrive on the same schedule. The first teeth appear around 6 months, exactly when babies start catching colds from daycare, siblings, and outings. A cold during teething looks like “teething with a runny nose.” It is really two things at once: a tooth and a cold.

Drool adds to the mix-up. Teething babies drool heavily, and a wet upper lip can look like a runny nose at a glance ⁵⁴. But drool and snot come from different places and behave differently.

Drool vs. snot: how to tell

Clue	Teething drool	Cold runny nose
Where it comes from	Mouth and chin — clear saliva, wet shirt, drool rash on chin and cheeks ⁵⁴	Nose — drips or stuffiness, often with sneezing ³
What else you see	Chewing, gum-rubbing, sore gums, mild fussiness ²⁵	Sneezing, cough, watery eyes; snot may start clear and thicken after a few days ³
Fever	None, or a slight rise below 100.4°F (38°C) ⁷⁵	Often 100.4°F (38°C) or higher with a cold or flu ⁷³
Timeline	Comes and goes with a new tooth, eases after breakthrough ⁴	Runs its course over about a week or so, tooth or no tooth ³

The simple test: fluid from the mouth plus chewing is teething. Fluid from the nose plus sneezing is a cold. When both happen together, soothe the gums and manage the cold separately. Our baby teething chart covers the eruption timeline and safe soothing if the gums are the fussy part.

What it actually is: a common cold

A runny nose in a baby is almost always a cold virus irritating the nose lining. The NHS describes the usual picture: a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, a cough, and sometimes a mild fever ³. No tooth can do that — viruses do. If stuffiness and cough are the bigger problem, see can teething cause congestion or cough.

Colds need no antibiotics and mostly need time. Home care keeps your baby comfortable while the cold runs its course ³.

Home care for a runny nose

Saline drops plus gentle suction. A drop or two of saline in each nostril loosens mucus, then a bulb syringe clears it before feeds and sleep ³.
Keep fluids up. Breast milk or formula as usual. For babies over 6 months, small sips of water are fine. Watch wet diapers ³.
Add humid air. A cool-mist humidifier in the bedroom or a steamy bathroom sit can loosen stuffiness. Clean the humidifier daily ³.
Clear drool too. Wipe the chin and cheeks often so saliva does not add a face rash to the cold ⁵.
Skip cold medicines. Do not give over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to young children unless your pediatrician directs it ³.
Soothe the gums separately. Gum massage with a clean finger and a chilled (not frozen) teether help the tooth part. Never use benzocaine gels, homeopathic tablets, or amber necklaces ⁵.

When to call the doctor: the red lines

A runny nose alone is rarely urgent, but call promptly for any of these — none of them is teething ¹⁷³:

Trouble breathing: fast or noisy breathing, wheezing, or ribs showing with each breath.
Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, measured rectally. Any fever under 3 months old is an emergency.
Poor feeding: refusing most feeds, far fewer wet diapers, dry mouth, no tears, or a sunken soft spot.
A baby who looks seriously ill: inconsolable crying, unusual sleepiness, floppiness, or ear drainage.
A cold that will not quit: symptoms dragging on with no improvement, or a fever that will not come down.

Frequently asked questions

Does teething cause a runny nose?

No. Runny nose is not a teething symptom. The AAP lists it among the things teething does not cause, and prospective research found no link between congestion and tooth eruption ¹². A runny nose with a new tooth means a cold plus a tooth.

How can I tell drool from snot?

Drool comes from the mouth — clear saliva, a wet chin and shirt, lots of chewing, sometimes a rash on the chin and cheeks ⁵⁴. Snot comes from the nose — dripping or stuffiness plus sneezing, sometimes with a cough ³. Mouth fluid with chewing is teething. Nose fluid with sneezing is a cold.

Can teething cause congestion or a stuffy nose?

No. Congestion was not linked to tooth eruption in the prospective studies or the meta-analysis ²⁶. A stuffy nose points to a cold or irritated nasal passages, not to the gums ³.

My baby has a runny nose and a slight fever while teething — is that normal?

The fever is the clue that matters. Teething can nudge temperature up slightly but never causes a true fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher ⁷⁵. A runny nose plus a true fever means infection — usually a cold — not teething. Take a rectal temperature and call your pediatrician if it reaches the fever line ⁷.

Should I treat the tooth or the cold first?

Treat both for what each is. Soothe the gums with massage and a chilled teether, and manage the cold with saline drops, suction, fluids, and humid air ³⁵. If a true fever, breathing trouble, or poor feeding appears, the cold — not the tooth — decides the next step.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Every baby is different. Always consult your pediatrician with questions about your baby’s symptoms, fever, or health.

American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org), “Teething” (KidsDoc Symptom Checker), by Barton Schmitt, MD, FAAP, copyright 2000-2025 Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC. Source ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵
Macknin ML, Piedmonte M, Jacobs J, Skibinski C, “Symptoms associated with infant teething: a prospective study,” Pediatrics 2000;105(4):747-752. Source ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵
NHS, “Colds, coughs and ear infections in children,” page last reviewed May 14, 2026. Source ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶
Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials, “Teething Doesn’t Cause Fevers, and Other Myths To Sink Your Teeth Into,” by Lisa Diard, MD, published Feb. 25, 2026. Source ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵
Mayo Clinic, “Teething: Tips for soothing sore gums,” published Dec. 21, 2024. Source ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰
Massignan C, Cardoso M, Porporatti AL, et al., “Signs and Symptoms of Primary Tooth Eruption: A Meta-analysis,” Pediatrics 2016;137(3):e20153501. Source ↩ ↩²
American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org), “Fever and Your Baby,” published Sept. 23, 2025. Source ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵