| Teething is a normal process by which an | | | | |
| infant begins to cut the first teeth (primary | | | | There is no evidence that teething was |
| dentition). The relationship between the | | | | associated with any severe, |
| eruption of the deciduous teeth and the | | | | health-threatening conditions. Thus, before |
| general health of infants has been documented | | | | charging any signs or symptoms of a |
| for over 5,000 years. Various physical | | | | potentially serious illness to teething, |
| disturbances (anything from minor upsets to | | | | doctors and parents must rule out other |
| potentially fatal illnesses) have | | | | possible causes. Severe systemic upsets are |
| historically been applied to teething. It is | | | | unrelated to teething and, if present, the |
| now accepted that the localized symptoms of | | | | infant should be promptly referred to a |
| teething vary between individuals. | | | | physician for an accurate diagnosis and |
| | | | appropriate treatment. In addition, most |
| On average, infants begin teething at six | | | | healthcare professionals believe that |
| months and by the age of three years all the | | | | teething predisposes to infections, most |
| first teeth have erupted. A variety of | | | | commonly colds and ear infections. |
| symptoms reported in medical literatures. | | | | |
| They include: | | | | All of these symptoms result in a distressed |
| | | | child and anxious parents. Professionals in |
| - Decreased appetite for solid foods; | | | | all groups believed that parents experience |
| | | | as much (or more) distress as the infants |
| - Biting, drooling, ear-rubbing, ear-pulling, | | | | themselves. However, "teething" continues to |
| and gum-rubbing; | | | | be a confusing illness that is often |
| | | | misdiagnosed by both healthcare professionals |
| - Irritability (crying); | | | | and lay people. |
| | | | |
| - Coughing | | | | The treatment modalities used in teething |
| | | | have been diverse throughout the ages, |
| - Rash on face; | | | | frequently depending on the beliefs of the |
| | | | medical profession and laypeople. The modern |
| - Sucking; | | | | principles for managing teething involve pain |
| | | | relief and supportive measures. |
| - Inflamed gums and red cheeks; | | | | |
| | | | Some teething symptoms can be eased |
| - Feeding problems; | | | | effectively at home with teething aids such |
| | | | as cold teething rings. Over-the-counter |
| - Abnormal temperature (defined as being | | | | treatments are available. Pain relief is |
| greater than a child's own mean temperature | | | | provided mainly in the form of analgesic |
| plus 1 standard deviation or fevers greater | | | | (Tylenol) and anaesthetic gels (for examples: |
| than 102°F); | | | | oragel, Paracetamol, and teething gels). |
| | | | Some of these topical gels also have |
| - Wakefulness (sleep disturbance); | | | | antiseptic properties. Moreover, gels such as |
| | | | those containing choline salicylate can be |
| - Smelly urine | | | | applied direct to the gums specifically to |
| | | | relieve pain and inflammation. Some medical |
| - Congestion; | | | | professionals also recommend antibiotics or |
| | | | naturopathic medications. The "alternative" |
| - Convulsions; and | | | | therapies, although they are not well |
| | | | documented in the medical literature, are |
| - Stool looseness | | | | also helpful. |