Signs and symptoms associated with primary tooth eruption: a clinical trial of nonpharmacological remedies.

Mahtab Memarpour,Elham Soltanimehr,Taherh Eskandarian

doi:10.1186/s12903-015-0070-2

Mahtab Memarpour, Elham Soltanimehr + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-015-0070-2

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Journal: BMC oral health	Publication Date: Jul 28, 2015
Citations: 55	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

BackgroundTo evaluate disturbances in primary tooth eruption and their management with nonpharmacological remedies.MethodsIn this nonrandomized clinical trial, 270 children aged between 8 and 36 months were selected and divided into 5 groups with 54 children initially enrolled in each group. The children were seen during an 8-day period during tooth eruption. At each appointment data were recorded from oral examination, tympanic temperature measurement and a questionnaire. The five methods used as remedies to reduce teething symptoms were: 1) cuddle therapy, 2) ice, 3) rubbing the gums, 4) teething rings and 5) food for chewing. Teething symptoms, the type of erupted tooth, symptoms of recovery and the mother’s satisfaction with treatment were evaluated.ResultsTwo hundred and fifty four children (mean age 16 ± 7.2 months) completed the study. The most frequent teething symptoms were drooling (92 %), sleep disturbances (82.3 %) and irritability (75.6 %). These symptoms were more pronounced in low birth weight children (p > 0.05). Canine eruption led to more loss of appetite than incisor (p = 0.033) or molars eruption (p = 0.014). Low grade increases in body temperature were observed only on the day of eruption (36.70 ± 0.39 °C), when body temperature was significantly different compared to the day before and the day after eruption (both p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between fever as reported by mothers and temperature readings obtained by the investigators. The most favorable results for time to recovery and the mother’s satisfaction were seen when teething rings were used, followed by cuddle therapy and rubbing the gums.ConclusionsThere was no association between teething and symptoms such as fever or diarrhea. Low birth weight children may have more teething symptoms. Teething rings, cuddle therapy and rubbing the gums were the most effective methods to reduce symptoms.Trial registrationIranian Registry of Clinical Trials: code IRCT201211127402N3

Highlights

To evaluate disturbances in primary tooth eruption and their management with nonpharmacological remedies
Systemic and local signs and symptoms ascribed to primary tooth eruption include general irritability, sleep
Teething may cause problems for children, there is controversy regarding the direct relationship between tooth eruption and systemic symptoms

Summary

Introduction

To evaluate disturbances in primary tooth eruption and their management with nonpharmacological remedies. Systemic and local signs and symptoms ascribed to primary tooth eruption include general irritability, sleep. Teething may cause problems for children, there is controversy regarding the direct relationship between tooth eruption and systemic symptoms. Memarpour et al BMC Oral Health (2015) 15:88 between teething and symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, rashes or infections [1, 3, 4]. Potentially harmful methods have been used such as local blistering, cautery [7] or gum lancing [13] for erupting teeth. Some methods have been assumed to be safe and easy to use, such as teething necklaces or quack remedies, they increase the risk of strangulation or aspiration of small beads [14]. Other approaches involve the use of opiates, poisons such as lead acetate, mercury and bromide [7], or cooling baths to treat fever [15]

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