Puffy gums - Before a new tooth erupts, it can cause a red, swollen, bruised-looking area on a baby's gums. Additionally, small cysts near erupting teeth are common and harmless.

Irritability - As the sharp little tooth rises closer to the surface your baby will likely become extremely fussy as the gums become increasingly sore and painful.

Drooling - From three to four months of age your baby may start drooling more often than normal, since teething actually stimulates drooling. It becomes problematic as it tends to collect around the lips and chin, especially at night, causing a "drool rash" on the cheeks. To help prevent the irritation, apply a lanolin-based barrier ointment, such as Soothe and Heal by Lansinoh, several times a day, including at bedtime. At night, baby rubs those chubby cheeks against a drool-soaked bed sheet and wakes up with a rash on his cheeks. around his mouth and cheeks. The ointment will act as a barrier against the irritation. Also, have baby sleep on its side. Otherwise, excessive saliva can puddle in the back of the throat and cause baby to wake up.

Coughing - The extra saliva can cause your baby to occasionally cough or gag. This is usually nothing to worry about as long as your baby seems fine and shows no signs of a cold or flu and does not run a high fever.

Believe it or not, excess drool can also result in irritation of your baby's bottom. Saliva is a natural laxative, which may lead to more frequent, looser stools and exacerbation of diaper rash. So, apply the same protective barrier ointment on baby's bottom.

A change in eating habits - Babies who are eating solids may want to nurse or bottle-feed more because a spoon irritates their inflamed gums. Others may do the opposite, eating more than usual because the counterpressure feels good. And babies who are still on the bottle or breast may begin to pull back because the activity of sucking puts uncomfortable pressure on the gums and ear canals.

Biting and Gnawing - A baby that is teething will gnaw and gum down on anything she or he can get their mouth around. The counter pressure from biting on something helps relieve the pressure from under the gums.

Cheek rubbing and ear pulling - Pain in the gums may travel to the ears and cheeks particularly when the back molars begin coming in.

Diarrhea - While this is a symptom that is disagreed upon by physicians, researchers and parents, most parents usually notice slightly looser bowel movements when a baby is teething. The most likely cause of this is the extra saliva swallowed.

Low-grade fever - When those little teeth twist and turn their way through the gums, they cause inflammation of the tissue, which produces pain and a low-grade fever (rarely more than 101°F). Since fever can more often be a symptom of infection, be extra safe and notify your doctor if a fever last more than two days.

Not sleeping well - With teething pain happening during the day and night, you may find your child wakes more often at night when the pain gets bad enough.

Cold like symptoms (runny nose, etc.) - Some parents find that their baby will show signs of having a cold. Runny noses, coughing and general cold symptoms are believed to come from the baby having their hands in their mouth more often while teething.

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