Full Answer. WebMD explains that ear, or tympanic, temperatures and rectal temperatures typically run 0.5 to 1 degree Fahrenheit higher than the oral temperature. Armpit, or axillary, temperatures and forehead, or temporal, temperatures are usually 0.5 to 1 degree lower than an oral temperature. About.com suggests that rather than adding or subtracting degrees from a recorded temperature, it is best to report the actual thermometer reading to a doctor and tell him what type of thermometer was used.