
Babies are usually born with 20 teeth that are just hanging out below their gums waiting to erupt — and erupt they will, sometimes painlessly and sometimes painfully. This process of baby teeth breaking through the gums is called teething and usually starts around 6 months of age. Some babies start teething sooner and some later because there is no such thing as a standardized baby. This lack of baby standardization also explains why some babies sprout teeth like it's no big deal whereas others start having discomfort a couple of months before a baby tooth even makes an appearance.
If your baby never really shows any signs of teething, good for both of you. But it is useful to know what teething signs to look for just in case your baby does experience some discomfort. Knowing and being able to identify the signs that your baby is teething can stop you from worrying unnecessarily that something else is wrong. Instead, you can focus on trying to relieve baby's discomfort. Again, babies aren't standardized and will, therefore, experience teething in different ways, but there are a few rather common things that happen that can tip you off that baby teeth are on the way.
Is your baby drooling more than usual?

All babies drool, but a teething baby drools a lot. If you've noticed an increase in drooling, chances are your baby is teething. Other than being messy, excessive drooling can cause rashes around a baby's mouth, cheeks, chin, and neck area. To prevent a baby from developing any rashes that could be caused by the bacteria in their saliva, try to keep them as dry and clean as possible.
Is your baby biting everything in sight?

It's true that babies in general like to explore and learn about the world by sticking things in their mouth, but if your baby is gnawing at things, there's a pretty good chance they are teething. The pressure of chewing on things helps relieve the pressure under baby's gums. You can help alleviate that pressure by giving your baby something cold to chew on, like a teething ring that's been chilled.
Red and swollen gums are definitely a sign.

Look inside baby's mouth, and if you see swollen, red gums, give those gums some love. You can use a clean finger to gently massage them. You could also soak a clean towel with water, wring out the excess water, put the towel in the fridge for a few minutes, and then use the cold towel to gently massage the baby's gums.
Teething might slightly increase your baby's temperature, but only slightly.

Lots of parents think that teething causes fevers, but experts do not agree. According to the Mayo Clinic, teething might increase your baby's temperature slightly, but it will not give your baby a fever. If your baby has a temperature of 100.4 F, it is a sign that something else is wrong and you need to consult the pediatrician.
Is your baby pulling their ear or rubbing their cheek?

A lot of times when parents notice that a baby is pulling on their ear a lot, they assume it is an ear infection. Ear infections are usually accompanied by a high fever. For infants, anything above 100.4 F is considered a fever and you should get in touch with the pediatrician. But if you notice ear pulling or cheek rubbing without an accompanying fever, then your baby might be experiencing pain in the gums from teething, which can travel to their cheeks and ears. You can try massaging their gums with a clean finger for a couple of minutes to alleviate the pain.
What about irritability and fussiness?

Yup, those can definitely be signs of teething. Do your best to comfort your baby by providing some extra snuggles and love. Also, try to keep them on their usual sleep schedule because teething babies who don't get enough sleep just end up becoming even more irritable and fussy.
Above all else, be patient with the process and with yourself. Sure, it's the baby that's going through the teething process, but you're going through it too, and anyone who's cared for a teething baby who's in pain can tell you that it's a painful process for everyone involved. When you get frustrated, take a deep breath and remind yourself that it's only temporary.